Found A USA Vise Doing A House Demolition

[Bighead38]

Wrecking this house the other day. I was sorting the last few buckets of debris to get the dirt out and saw this in my bucket. I threw it to the side and hopped out to put it in my truck. Unbelievably it’s not broken and everything works. Going to clean it up and put it to use in the new work area I’m setting up at home.

Prentiss Vise Co
No 20
New York, NY
3-20

 

[larry4406]

Nice save!

Great eye!

Looks like you are missing a jaw insert. KMScott made me a set for my Prentiss that are drop dead gorgeous!

 

[thehorse13]

I love everything about this thread. Please post a picture of your vise after you've cleaned her all up.

 

[RoninB4]

Great story, clean it up and post photos. Who knows how long it's been waiting for you to rescue it?

 

[Dagny]

you ****

 

[thehorse13]

Wrecking this house the other day. I was sorting the last few buckets of debris to get the dirt out and saw this in my bucket. I threw it to the side and hopped out to put it in my truck. Unbelievably it’s not broken and everything works. Going to clean it up and put it to use in the new work area I’m setting up at home.

Prentiss Vise Co
No 20
New York, NY
3-20

I just noticed that you're from Rockland County. I was born and raised there. Small world.

 

[Roberts210]

That is a swivel-jaw Prentiss vise. Nice and rare.

 

[AreBeeBee]

Great find! (When I read the thread's title, I wondered, "How's he demolishing a house using a vise??")

Good luck restoring it!

 

[Bighead38]

you ****

Took a few years but finally got a you **** lol. Thanks.

I just noticed that you're from Rockland County. I was born and raised there. Small world.

What town?

That is a swivel-jaw Prentiss vise. Nice and rare.

I have a bunch of vises but none are swivel jaw models. Should be a nice addition.

I meant to ask about the jaws. Are they available or is the only option having some made?

I cleaned up a small vise a few years ago. Just wire wheeled and clear coated it. Debating if I should do the same, bare metal but semi polished, or a color. Any opinions?

 

[Bighead38]

Also wondering if there is any way to figure out it’s age.

 

[SweetD]

Nice find! That vise was likely made a bit up the road from you in Watertown, NY where Prentiss had their factory back in the day. Likely made early 1900s.

 

[thehorse13]

Took a few years but finally got a you **** lol. Thanks.

What town?

I have a bunch of vises but none are swivel jaw models. Should be a nice addition.

I meant to ask about the jaws. Are they available or is the only option having some made?

I cleaned up a small vise a few years ago. Just wire wheeled and clear coated it. Debating if I should do the same, bare metal but semi polished, or a color. Any opinions?

Suffern. Right off the NYS Thruway.

 

[ChefRex]

Another "You ****!" here.
I want a swivel jaw.

 

[Lou's Garage]

Suffern. Right off the NYS Thruway.

I'm originally from Stony Point!

 

[thehorse13]

Also wondering if there is any way to figure out it’s age.

There are several clues to the approximate age. My guess is later 20s, early 30s.

Clue 1:
The jaws are screw on, not cast as part of the vise body and dynamic jaw. This means post 1910 because this is when Prentiss switched over to removable jaws.
Clue 2:
The knob on the handle. This is the "thin" version which first shows up around 1920. Prentiss made a larger version on their earlier vises which were almost identical to the early Rock Island vises.
Clue 3: The style of the logo. This version was seen first in the 20s and into the early 30s.

 

[ChefRex]

Forgot to ask, is the swivel free?

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Awesome find!!

 

[Shiftless]

Forgot to ask, is the swivel free?

All of the ones I have ever found in the wild had frozen up locking pins. They can be “quite challenging” to remove.

 

[ChefRex]

All of the ones I have ever found in the wild had frozen up locking pins. They can be “quite challenging” to remove.

Which is why I asked, I've read some of the stories of freeing them, lol.

 

[Shiftless]

I wrote at least one of those stories.

 

[Bighead38]

Forgot to ask, is the swivel free?

The base swivel is free. The jaw swivel is not and I don’t even know which way the knob is supposed to move.

 

[The Cobbler]

when I first read the title of this thread, I wondered how a vice could be doing a house renovation LOL
NICE SCORE!

 

[RAS61]

Nice, how about a few more pics of the 442 too?

 

[nadogail]

Let me add to those who have awarded you the prestigious You ****.

 

[Bighead38]

Nice, how about a few more pics of the 442 too?

I’ll post some today.

 

[Bighead38]

Does anyone know how the jaw swivel works? The “knob” in particular, which way is it supposed to move?

 

[Patrickm82]

Does anyone know how the jaw swivel works? The “knob” in particular, which way is it supposed to move?

If it’s original it “should” pull straight out it’s just a tapered pin. If when you take apart the vise you can see the hole from the inside and try to punch it out. They can be pretty stubborn to get out. I had one that took 2 days between kroil, heat and 4 lb hammer and punch. Good luck and awesome find!