cl vise and stand...

[dumper]

so, I picked up this Morgan #87, combo vise with 3-1/2" jaws, mounted on a brake drum stand. It seems very solid, and works great. I plan to hit it with some wd40 to see if it looks ok, as is. Anyone know if orange is an original color? What do you guys think?

 

[Catalyze]

Very nice find Dumper!
My Morgan was a Chicago origin vise and it had so many paint coats on it that you couldn't tell. I have always thought that they were blue....but maybe some of the smart folks can chime in.
Craig

 

[bigcaddy]

Orange isn't the original color. Try to track down some Federal Safety Blue, its very close to the original color they came. I just painted a Morgan No.40 last week with that color and it looks good.

Your vise dates to around 1946 at the latest. The company moved to Aroura after that date and vises no longer said Chicago. Its in great shape for its age.

 

[Outlawmws]

IIR, pre move they were grey, not blue.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yep, from my notes:

Chicago '29-'47-Early were grey, later blue
Aurora '47-'70
Milwaukee '70 to present

 

[dumper]

any idea on how to remove the sliding handle- I'd like to try and straighten it out a bit? It seems there may be some trace of battleship gray on the 2 pieces used to hold pipe. Maybe that was the originial color?

 

[SweetD]

any idea on how to remove the sliding handle- I'd like to try and straighten it out a bit? It seems there may be some trace of battleship gray on the 2 pieces used to hold pipe. Maybe that was the originial color?

You'd likely have to cut one of the handle end balls to remove it. You may be able to straighten it without removing it though.

If you have to cut it, cut the ball end as closely as possible to the shaft, then look to thread the shaft, and drill and tap the ball to reconnect.

Obviously your "easiest" fix is to straighten the handle without removing it from its current position...

Dave

 

[dumper]

thanks, Dave. I have a Craftsman vise, and one ball end of the handle actually unscrews from the rod so that it can be removed. I tried that with the Morgan, but so far, no luck.

 

[nine4gmc]

nice save, and you don't have to build a stand!!

 

[Outlawmws]

Just get the bent part of the handle into a press, it's not difficult.

 

[E.T.Privott]

great find, boy howdy, if the old vice could tell the life its seen. as times are hard every one around here (north west Fla., the panhandle) are scraping anything they can get there hands on so to see this vice in as good a condition as it is for the age, thats a great find and a good save. it good to here guys on this site that are trying to keep the old iron up and steal useful for the next sons and kids that well take over building and restoring the things we have held on to after so many years. teach'm well and hope they learn to do it the right way just as our fathers, brothers, grandads, or uncle showed us. thats a good find DUMPER, hell of a save.