Craigslist Win (I think)

[RLaCasse1]

Picked this up today for $75. It's 66" wide and 30" deep, 3" thick wood top covered with steel, cast iron frame. Extremely solid and heavy as hell. Previous owner said it came out of a GM factory.



Oh......and this came with it for free. Chas Parker #204, 1910. Looks like the brass jaw covers have been on it most of its life. Jaws are in great shape.



I'll be cleaning them both up and repainting them, as soon as I'm back from my Germany assignment. But overall, a massive upgrade from what I have now.

 

[zkling]

Very nice, and they have matching paint.

Just be careful when moving that table around. I've had to weld up a few legs like that for folks that try to drag the table from place to place and end up snapping a leg.

What is the height of the table?

 

[drivesitfar]

of course you know you did great. looking forward to either of both of those cleaned up, put in your garage and pictures to follow. the Parker is worth what you paid for the bench and that bench is no freebee. good job getting it on the truck and i bet that wasn't easy.

 

[RLaCasse1]

Very nice, and they have matching paint.

Just be careful when moving that table around. I've had to weld up a few legs like that for folks that try to drag the table from place to place and end up snapping a leg.

What is the height of the table?

I'll keep that in mind whenever I move it. Thanks for the tip.

 

[RLaCasse1]

of course you know you did great. looking forward to either of both of those cleaned up, put in your garage and pictures to follow. the Parker is worth what you paid for the bench and that bench is no freebee. good job getting it on the truck and i bet that wasn't easy.

Pretty much how I looked at it. Figured the vise alone was worth it.

 

[jakemac]

Looking at the drawers, it may be a LYON bench. But I'm not sure about the legs, the ones on mine look different.

$75 for the vise is ok, you stole that bench !

 

[RLaCasse1]

I can't remember the brand. I think Lyons sounds familiar, it was built in Aurora, Illinois.

 

[PugetDude]

Let me be the first to say..




YOU ****!




Nice score for $75.00

 

[rsanter]

Good deal
Of course if you can prove the GM factory story then it's worth 10x what you paid

Bob

 

[RLaCasse1]

I don't even know how I would prove the GM story. The guy I bought it from just said his brother-in-law was a pipe fitter and had helped dismantle a GM factory. And he snagged a few of the items that were being junked.

Edit: And it is made by Lyon, I went out and checked.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Good deal
Of course if you can prove the GM factory story then it's worth 10x what you paid

Bob

Why would being from a GM factory increase the value at all?

 

[Larch]

Great Job! The vice alone is worth what you paid, IMO. I am sure you will get many years out of those.

 

[BikerDad]

Killer score. Nicely done trolling for kudos as well.

Are you doing to leave 'em as they are, or restore 'em?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Why would being from a GM factory increase the value at all?

I'm curious as to why you would say that as well, Bob? Personally, if I had bought it I would like to know that as I think the history would be cool, and it would be validation as to how good of quality it is, but I can't imagine it having any substantive effect on the value.

You did great, OP.

 

[RLaCasse1]

Killer score. Nicely done trolling for kudos as well.

Are you doing to leave 'em as they are, or restore 'em?

Lol, at least it's friendly trolling.

When I come back from my tour in Germany they'll get overhauled. In the meantime, they will be used at my dad's home shop.

 

[zkling]

Good deal
Of course if you can prove the GM factory story then it's worth 10x what you paid

Bob

Eh, something is only worth what someone is willing to pay. I highly doubt for something like that, in that condition, even a die hard GM factory collector would pay that much more than what the OP did, let alone 10x.

 

[monomach]

Good deal
Of course if you can prove the GM factory story then it's worth 10x what you paid

Bob

Huh? Don't think it'd make it worth even a penny more.

 

[FJ 432]

I think you did great. I love those Lyon tables. If I'm not mistaken the drawers are modular; meaning you could remove one, two or all of them.

Excellent buy.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Very Nice!!! I'm really digging that bench

-Sam

 

[Bigplum]

Nice bench , now go and buy some decent tie down straps for the next time it's moved ,
A sharp tap on the brakes and the bench would have been trying to get in the front seat

 

[RLaCasse1]

In all honesty, I was more worried about the vice coming through the back window if I hit something.

 

[4x4gearhead]

Thats a great looking bench, I have one similar to it that came out of a leather belt factory. It has only one drawer and is also rugged as hell. Mine was free but I didnt get a vise with it! Definite you **** is in order.

 

[G_P]

Thats a definite You ****!

The vise alone is worth 75 if you need it especially if those brass jaw pads have kept the original jaws in like new condition.

 

[RLaCasse1]

Not necessarily "like new". But pretty well kept in my opinion. I'll post a pic in a bit.

 

[RLaCasse1]

This gives an idea of their shape. They are used but overall the scoring is minimal. The knurlinh (or whatever it's called) is a bit worn. But you can see how it wore off on the insides of the brass plates. Also, the jaw pads appear to be replaceable.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Major suckage on this find!!!!! Way to go. Are you located in Michigan??

 

[sberry]

Its sposed to be worn. I think the comment about the GM and value is that they didn't buy junk, this didn't come from the cheapest bidder and is well worth 10X what was paid for it.

 

[RLaCasse1]

No, not from Michigan. I'm in the Air Force, stationed at Scott Air Force Base right outside of St. Louis on the Illinois side. I picked this up while visiting family in Indiana. I typically monitor craigslist for deals wherever I go.

 

[Exceller8]

Great score!! Oh... YOU ****!!!!!

 

[WWIIjeep]

I think you did great. I love those Lyon tables. If I'm not mistaken the drawers are modular; meaning you could remove one, two or all of them.

Lyon made those drawer units in singles and doubles. The ones under that bench look like three singles stacked together.

Definitely a good score.

 

[RCStocker]

Who cares what the drawers and legs are. It is a complete workbench.
Nice score. They will clean up nice.

 

[jakemac]

Who cares what the drawers and legs are. It is a complete workbench.
Nice score. They will clean up nice.

The same could be said when discussing a Snap-On vs Chinese Import toolbox. Knowing the builder gives an indication of quality based on the company's reputation. Lyon is known as a builder of sturdy industrial benches that last for decades, and hold up to more abuse than say ... a newer Craftsman bench. Thus, having a higher value and prompting a chorus of "You ****"'s. Which the OP'er wouldn't have gotten if he had paid the same price for a Kmart bench and a Chicom vise.

This forum debates the same thing concerning Lista/Vidmar cabinets vs Husky/Kobalt boxes almost on a daily basis.

 

[tedsters]

heck of a score like others stated the vise is worth what you paid, i have a double drawer lyon table never seen a 3 drawer and they look a little wider then mine but i think GM could probaly have anything built from lyon they wanted the vise is nice but the table is awesome dude great find you did good.
Craigslist is a **** shoot you need to look and be in the right place at the right time and you were in the right place

 

[RLaCasse1]

heck of a score like others stated the vise is worth what you paid, i have a double drawer lyon table never seen a 3 drawer and they look a little wider then mine but i think GM could probaly have anything built from lyon they wanted the vise is nice but the table is awesome dude great find you did good.
Craigslist is a **** shoot you need to look and be in the right place at the right time and you were in the right place

That's essentially what it comes down to.