Chas parker or not?

[j90st]

This is a live and learn lesson for me. Don't get emotionally attach to a vise before buying it. It clouds your judgment.
I picked this vise and the person did mentioned it needed work but I still went ahead and bought without thoroughly inspecting it. That's why I said don't get emotionally attached. The spindle nut is broken and they misplaced the spindle collar. The collar was included in the listing at the time. I'm able to fix the issues but it won't be original anymore.
The person was told this is a Chas Parker vise. It was the girl's pappy's ( that's what she called him) and did he use it and abuse it..lol.
I saw a different forum about Parker not casting their name on the vise at first. This is what I have. It's only a 3" jaw and it's going to be flat black when I'm done. It won't get heavy use from me though

 

[Fierljeppen]

Be emotionally attached to that vise, it's a very rare pre-1867 Parker no. 1 stationary patent vise! Parker used redundant model numbers early on and the following 1864 ad is the only one I know of showing the pre-1867 Charles Parker vise models.



The vise looks great for it's age and deserves to be in a museum, in my opinion. I'd pressure the seller a bit to see if they can find the collar somewhere, finding an original replacement will be almost impossible. Regardless, it's an amazing find and you should have absolutely no regrets on your purchase.

The ad lists your vise as having 3-1/4" jaws. Could you please remeasure the jaw width, and provide the jaw opening and weight, so that I can add your vise the "Vise Spreadsheet"?

Checkout the GJ link, "Oldest known Parker Vise" to see many more very early Charles Parker vises, from that era. You really should add some photos of your vise there, it deserves all the documentation it can get. Vise on!

 

[j90st]

Be emotionally attached to that vise, it's a very rare pre-1867 Parker no. 1 stationary patent vise! Parker used redundant model numbers early on and the following 1864 ad is the only one I know of showing the pre-1867 Charles Parker vise models.



The vise looks great for it's age and deserves to be in a museum, in my opinion. I'd pressure the seller a bit to see if they can find the collar somewhere, finding an original replacement will be almost impossible. Regardless, it's an amazing find and you should have absolutely no regrets on your purchase.

The ad lists your vise as having 3-1/4" jaws. Could you please remeasure the jaw width, and provide the jaw opening and weight, so that I can add your vise the "Vise Spreadsheet"?

Checkout the GJ link, "Oldest known Parker Vise" to see many more very early Charles Parker vises, from that era. You really should add some photos of your vise there, it deserves all the documentation it can get. Vise on!

Someone else said it's a howard, but the Howard's that look like mine had a casting on the side. I don't own that howard in the picture

 

[Fierljeppen]

There are obvious differences between the Howard and early Charles Parker vises. Your vise is all pre-1867 Charles Parker.

Are your vise jaws 3-1/4" wide?

 

[j90st]

I still have to check the width, but I might've found a parts vise. I just hope I can get it cheaper than what they are asking. It has the collar and hopefully a got spindle nut. The jaw is broken

 

[Cleave]

Very cool if its a pre 1867 Chas Parker. I have a Chas Parker and really like it.
What's the tab with hole over the spindle meatball?

 

[j90st]

Very cool if its a pre 1867 Chas Parker. I have a Chas Parker and really like it.
What's the tab with hole over the spindle meatball?

That's where the collar goes. This one screws from the top

 

[j90st]

There are obvious differences between the Howard and early Charles Parker vises. Your vise is all pre-1867 Charles Parker.

Are your vise jaws 3-1/4" wide?

The most I got was about 3 1/8" and that was measuring the bottom. It could've just worned down from use. Since I didn't have the spindle nut in there, I was able to get about a 5" opening,but it might be a little smaller when it's put together

 

[j90st]

Alright, I had to restomod the vise. I found a similar vise that was damaged but it was a little bigger. I believe the donar vise is actually the parker vise. It has the 3 1/4" jaw.
I had to modify the spindle nut in order to fit in the vise. I had to use the thicker spindle. The collar is bigger but I'm hoping the previous owner finds the correct collar