fulton 23

[cory52000]

i picked up an old fulton vise. it is a 6 inch and is marked 23 and has a star on it. i am starting to think maybe i have the only one. i cant even find a picture of it. i am brand new to this forum and yes i did search for it on here and could not find it so if it is here dont beat me up to bad. any info would be awesom

 

[Shiftless]

Your vise is about 100 years old. If it’s in decent shape it is very collectible. If you’re looking for a user, my advice is to sell it and buy another old American made vise from one of the makers recommended on GJ. Check out the main vise thread.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8284414#post8284414

I assume yours looks a lot like this one, a Fulton model 20, posted on Garage Journal by KMScott.

 

[cory52000]

it is in horrible shape. i restore old tools as a hobby and got this a project. the jaws are really messed up and a picture would really help with the restoration. i also will have to build the swivel base so i am not sure there will be much collectible value in the end but i only paid 25 bucks and it is worth almost that in scrap lol. i am trying to post a pic but my computer skills are not the best

 

[Shiftless]

Build a base? Wow! Are you equipped to do custom casting? CNC a new one out of a big chunk of steel?

Too much trouble IMHO, for a user. I would keep looking for a better candidate for restoration.

 

[cory52000]

yes it looks just like that except it is a 23 and looks to have been used in a high school shop for a vise/anvil for the last 100 years

 

[cory52000]

in all honesty it is about the challenge and keeping vintage tools out of the scrap yard. i frequently have dozens of hours into tools that are not worth much. i have done some casting but am not set up for it now. i am anti cnc, for me it is about the challenge of the work holding and manual machining. as for the base creating one that looks original is probably beyond my ability currently. my thoughts are a chunk of steel and a turn table on the bridge port. here on the west coast people are nuts for this stuff and its really rare in the 2 years of vise addiction this is the first really big vise i have found for under 300 bucks

 

[cory52000]

adding another post so i might be able to post a picture

 

[cory52000]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eCQMRn6W5CyVHjKb9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3H777nfUmFLwQBff6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3iBMvq6RzuKMVy4b9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Q3PZGLakL3ZZ4P9x8
here she is in all of her glory

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Not that bad. Looks like a fun project.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Found only -1- other photo of a Fulton vise no. 23. It seems to be quite rare and definitely has some rich history.

Here's a tidbit of information about your vise. It was mfg. by the Fulton Vise & Machine Co., in Lowville NY. The founder was the legendary E.W. Fulton.

He was a very well educated child, given experience to work in foundries at a young age. E.W. Fulton had opportunities with vise makers in Watertown NY before starting his company in Lowville NY. He eventually left Lowville for bigger opportunities in Oswego NY, with the Oswego Tool Co. His vise career ended, managing the International Nutyp Corp.

Throughout his career, E.W. Fulton was known for always being passionately involved with the mfg. process. For this, I respect him the most.

 

[drivesitfar]

since I own a fulton (or 2 or ..) and at least one LMV i'm here to learn and maybe help.

gotta run now, but i'll check in after dinner or tomorrow for more information or if i can add anything.

 

[drivesitfar]

Cory: I'm happy that big old Fulton found it's way to you cause you sound like exactly the right person to own it.

another way to post up pictures if you have them saved to your laptop is to click on the paperclip just above where you are writing your posts and download them directly to GJ. that way it shows up as a thumbnail and if member looking at it wants to see full size it's only a couple mouse clicks.

good luck with your quest to bring that old Fulton back to life and also WELCOME TO GJ.

FJ: thanks again for the great posts and history!!

to add to that story about Mr. Fulton I'm pretty sure he married the daughter of Massey that was another vise company owner in the early 1900's. it was in some newspaper article if I recall correctly so might not be easily found again.

ALL: just to add a little more color to the thread I picked up this old L. M. V. that a local guy here tried his hand at painting and it needs new jaws when I get time to make some.

I actually saw a beat up old 6 inch Fulton mounted on a 900 pound bench up near me a few years ago that a member and even though he was selling the bench he didn't want to sell me just the vise. it was also beat up pretty good cause I'm pretty certain at some time in it's history it had been hit with maybe a sledgehammer or at least hard.

 

[cory52000]

thanks for the interest and info. i am in the middle of moving my shop but i will post any progress but this one might take a while. i guess this has been my week. yesterday i went to look at a steel top bench and it had a sweet art deco parker 631/2 there was at least 200 bucks work of steel in the bench and i got the whole mess for 50
https://photos.app.goo.gl/maRqDqbMLZdcPrva7
sorry about the link still working on how to get files from my google drive to the forum

 

[cory52000]

This should be a thumbnail

 

[drivesitfar]

Cory: i'm not a big fan of those smaller open screw old vises, but they did make them with THE LOOK didn't they. also i've seen more than a few of them on benches in shops where the shop's owner was a very handy guy. sometimes you just need a little vise to HOLD SOMETHING as most are intended to do.

now that you know how to post up pictures how about a few more of your fulton.

also if you'd like a bit more history on MR. FULTON a very knowledgeable GJ member posted up some about him and all the vise companies he worked for and owned over on the BIG VISE THREAD in general tools. I don't post on it much now that it became more talk about how much I paid or how much it's worth, but there are still many members on there sharing great stories and pictures so it might be worth a look.

you might not make a lot selling your vise or you might spend a lot of your time and money fixing it, but I applaud you for taking on the task cause it is worth saving some of our old history.

good luck

 

[cory52000]

Here is some better pics. I have not had it on a scale yet but it's every bit of 75 pounds.

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[drivesitfar]

Cory: nice to see you are able to post up pics now. that old Fulton sure has had a rough life.

what's your plan again?

are you going to mill a shelf for new jaws or just cut them straight and lose a bit of material?

if you have time to take pics of your vise as you are bringing it back to life to post here or on the vise repair 101 thread that would be great cause it sounds like you have the skills and we all like seeing good old cast iron come to life.

here's the link to the vise repair 101 thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830

 

[cory52000]

I don't have a solid plan yet and am moving my shop so it might be a while but I will post progress. In general I want it to be as original as possible but don't think getting to collectable level is possible so something working in the spirit of the original.

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[cory52000]

Hillbilly repairs removed. Now to figure out how to hold it in the mill

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[cory52000]

Got some work done in the last 2 days. I am about 8 hours in. Rough machining for the jaws is done. Now a little liquid cast iron for filler and then it's time to make some jaws

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[Fierljeppen]

Please post a lot of photos with your progress! My gut tells me this is gonna be a dramatic before and after vise.

 

[Roberts210]

Ditto that, and THANKS for saving another one.

 

[cory52000]

Here is today's progress about 6 hours of hand fileing, sanding and machining. About 16 hours total so far all the repairs on the static and dynamic jaw are done and the ball for the handle is repaired. Still a lot of work left but it's really looking good. This poor old vise was so bad I don't think there is much collector vale left so I am toying with cleaning up the rest of the casting. I live the original patina but it really contrasts with the repairs.

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[cory52000]

Boy I was riding the struggle bus this week. 3 days, 4 plans and a mountain of chips she finally has a handle that looks good and functions without slopp. I am starting to think I may need some bigger tools. This old vise is pushing the limits on my machine tools

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[cory52000]

Here is this weeks progress. Jaws are milled, fit and installed and did some cleaning. Waiting on a new vise and an end mill to add the checkering

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[cory52000]

Here are a few more

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[Fierljeppen]

Enjoying the progress and direction of your project!

 

[KMScott]

Nice work Cory. Enjoying your progress.

 

[Cleave]

Looking good!

 

[cory52000]

Got the jaws checkered, hardened, and tempered. And the rough machine work done for the pivot nut. Doesn't look like much but there is a lot of machine work in those jaws.

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[cory52000]

I am not sure. Could b3

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[cory52000]

Have not had much time this week but I made some progress. The rough machining is done for the swivel base. Now to finalize the design and start machining. Fyi turning a 9 1/2 inch circle on a 20 inch lathe is not for the faint of heart

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[Provincial]

If the first photo is turning a 9-1/2" circle, that is the smallest 20" swing lathe I have ever seen!

 

[cory52000]

Fat fingers 10 inch swing lol

If the first photo is turning a 9-1/2" circle, that is the smallest 20" swing lathe I have ever seen!

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[wrenchguy]

Looks like your RIGHT about the CHALLENGE, Looks to be a nice job with a mix of modern complimenting traditional. Looks good 2me.

 

[cory52000]

Here is this weeks progress. Slots cut and one of the pins made. A rotary table sure would have been nice but I came up with a pretty good alternative. It was a little scary and hard on end mills but it got the job done

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[cory52000]

Here is a little sneak peak. All the machine work is done. Time for some welding and paint. The end is near

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[cory52000]

More pics

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[cory52000]

Well its all done, its been fun but I am ready for a new project. About 160 hours and 75 bucks including the vice. I would never do another swivel base without a rotary table. Too dangerous and hard on end mills. Cast iron billets would have been better than the steel but were out of the budget for this build. I know I am going to get some **** for the color but it came down to 3 things. It's a resto-mod not a restoration. It's mine. I like red vices. Final weight is 167 pounds. I should have turned the pins from square stock so they would not spin in the slots. I had to add some dowel pins to keep them from spinning. Over all very happy.

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[Fierljeppen]

Thoroughly enjoyed your project, turned out great! I think your approach to the project was spot-on.