Columbian 505 Vice ?

[1930]

I picked this up this afternoon, I believe it says Columbian 505 but wont be positive until after I have cleaned it up. I thought at first the swivel base was missing but a quick look on a 505 listed on E-bay showed that the vice possibly did not come with this feature.

Does this make it a cheap undesirable vice, maybe there was a swivel base avail that I can add too it.

I paid 60 dollars for it and I am hoping I did not pay too much?

I know there is prob. thread after thread going in minute detail all sorts of procedures to clean up these vices but I dont have the time to spend going thru post after post so if anyone would care to offer their opinions on how they would go about cleaning this thing up were it theirs I sure would like to hear them.

Thanks

After looking at pictures I can see that I could have done better with them. I can take closer shots tomm.

 

[1982fxr]

great score at 60. swivel noy used much by most folks. wire/cup wheel on angle grinder or just oil and use...

 

[Shiftless]

Nothing wrong with a fixed base vise, which is what the 505 is. Assuming there are no cracks or repairs, you certainly didn't overpay. Hard to tell from here. Lots of crud under that paint. what is that anyway... Kelly Moore?
Here is a pic of one I found on the Practical Machinist site. Personally, I like natural bare iron or a color other than black, but this gives you an idea of what yours might look like after a little work. Don't paint the slide, the jaws, or the handle, please.

 

[Shiftless]

Your Columbian doesn't look nearly as bad as mine.

 

[CNGsaves]

Time for some Electrolysis swimming !!!

OP . . . . awesome score on 5" jaw Columbian for $60 . . . YOU **** !@!

 

[1930]

Thanks, only issues I did see was a pretty good nick on one of the jaws and it looked like the jaws were smooth where Im used to seeing some sort of gripping pattern.

Need to look it over better today.

 

[1930]

Looking at the vice closer I see that the jaws are smooth as apposed to serrated like most other vices I have seen?

I did read on-line to look for jaws that would not be true when closed and this one does not appear to have that issue.

Hard to tell but I do not see any breaks in the vice.

EDIT: Easier to look at pictures and now I see serrated jaws, I guess mine are just worn in some places.

 

[1982fxr]

one i had...

 

[cbacres]

Looks to be in good shape.
I like the square head bolts. Must of been in the same spot for a while.

 

[1982fxr]

wrong one above, meant this one. OP, common for jaws to be worn like that...not a biggy for most people...

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, most fixed-base vises are lower by the height of the not-there swivel base and are thus more firmly fixed to the bench. I almost never use the swivel feature on those which have it and seldom miss it when it's not.

Another FWIW, the cheaper the vise, the more likely the swivel lock is to just be a couple of soft bolts. I've seen a few which would not hold against reasonable torque.


jack vines

 

[1930]

Looks to be in good shape.
I like the square head bolts. Must of been in the same spot for a while.

Id like to figure a way to re-use them, if someone was careful enough to have saved them the way they did than I should put a real effort into doing the same.

I was told it came out of a machine shop in Lakeland, old machinest passed and son had a field day with equipment.

 

[1930]

wrong one above, meant this one. OP, common for jaws to be worn like that...not a biggy for most people...

Any idea of years of manufacture? Any date codes on these things?

 

[1930]

FWIW, most fixed-base vises are lower by the height of the not-there swivel base and are thus more firmly fixed to the bench. I almost never use the swivel feature on those which have it and seldom miss it when it's not.

Another FWIW, the cheaper the vise, the more likely the swivel lock is to just be a couple of soft bolts. I've seen a few which would not hold against reasonable torque.


jack vines

Glad I did not pass it up cause I thought base was missing, I came close to doing just that.

 

[Shiftless]

Time for some Electrolysis swimming !!!

OP . . . . awesome score on 5" jaw Columbian for $60 . . . YOU **** !@!

It certainly is. That vise will have to wait in line for a while though.

BTW, I picked up mine ( 5 1/2 inch jaws for only $30). No extra charge for rust! (Craigslist)

Here is a close up of the surface and the model number which revealed itself after a little wire brushing. I love those little toothbrush sized metal brushes...available in steel or brass for very little $$

 

[1982fxr]

Any idea of years of manufacture? Any date codes on these things?

I read on here that curved lettering on both sides is first generation, then curved on one side and flatline text on the other, and 3rd gen is flatline text on both sides...if that helps any.

 

[1930]

I read on here that curved lettering on both sides is first generation, then curved on one side and flatline text on the other, and 3rd gen is flatline text on both sides...if that helps any.

Ok so first gen would have been manufactured prior to Jesus Christ, second generation after Jesus Christ and 3rd Generation came right after Obama took office and felt the hard working white boy wasnt still getting pinched hard enough. Thanks

Joke, thanks for reply

 

[1930]

1234

 

[bluebolt]

It's Columbian Hardware so it is older, they changed to Columbian Vise in the 1920's or 30's I think.

 

[1930]

It's Columbian Hardware so it is older, they changed to Columbian Vise in the 1920's or 30's I think.

Thanks, when you say older ..........older then what? Hardware indicates 20s and prior.

Wheres Rusty when you need him?

Ok you mean older than 20s or 30s Ill assume

 

[1930]

Trying to completely disassemble for a proper cleaning, everything good so far but I am trying to remove handle/thread assy and assuming I need to remove the center screw but it only wants to back out so far and then stop.

Dont want to force anything.

 

[1930]

Founded as The Columbian Hardware Company, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1926 this
company became The Columbian Vise and Mfg. Co.

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Columbian

Looking at the images it would appear to have been manufactured sometime between 1922 and 1926. That is satisfying to know, almost certainly not prior to 1921 if I am interpreting the adds shown correctly.

 

[1930]

If someone could point out the disassembly procedure question I posted above I think I can get under way to getting this old girl back into use.

 

[KMScott]

1930, take the cup set screw completely out, heat the collar just a little and tap with nylon or a hard wood the threaded end of your spindle screw. The collar was made to be a loose slip fit over your spindle, so it might be rusted in. The pointed set screw locks into a indention so make sure the set screw is out far enough to clear the spindle. Work with it and it eventually will slide off.

I have had to drill out the set screw on a Columbian I restored. hopefully you will not have to. Good Luck.

 

[1930]

1930, take the cup set screw completely out, heat the collar just a little and tap with nylon or a hard wood the threaded end of your spindle screw. The collar was made to be a loose slip fit over your spindle, so it might be rusted in. The pointed set screw locks into a indention so make sure the set screw is out far enough to clear the spindle. Work with it and it eventually will slide off.

I have had to drill out the set screw on a Columbian I restored. hopefully you will not have to. Good Luck.

Thanks, the collar does appear to become very loose when I back out the screw so I do not think I will have any problems getting it apart.

I like your avatar BTW