Gem #2 Machinist Vise questions

[Tarnished]

Picked up this Gem #2 Vise recently, weighing in at 54#. Great condition and wearing original paint I believe.


Now a couple questions for the vise experts please.
First question, does anyone have any information on these Gem's? Made right here in Springfield Ohio, but haven't found much info on them yet.
Question 2: on the threaded shaft, right behind the hand wheel, is what seems like a collar. (see pic 3) I thought this was just a slip collar, but it seems to be threaded to the shaft. It doesn't slide on the shaft, but turns with the threads. Could this be some sort of locking device??
I also have the smaller version of this vise (#1, weighing a mere 18#) and have to say they work great for drill press vises. Anyone else use them?

 

[Tarnished]

Anyone?

 

[zkling]

Those are very nice if you have a large enough drill press table. I have a no1? 3" version. : It's got a few lightning holes.

The threaded collar was probably added by the shop as a force/depth stop for production, common. They are a good production drill press vise. I'll assume you know how to use the ships wheel with bars as a handle.

I have the catalog saved on another computer, but here it is, thanks to ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MARTIN-GEM-...machinist-milling-drill-Catalog-/391042747185

 

[Tarnished]

Thanks for the link Z,
The #1 is really handy, and light enough to use on smaller drill press's. Have a buddy that has the #3, but at 132#, it is a monster! Would like to see the #8. Didn't know it existed. Amazing what you can find in the "bay".
As for the wheel, I know that you can put a bar in the holes to really clamp down on something. Looks like there was a special bar that came with the vise? I have never seen this bar, and assume that it was basically just a length of rod, correct?
Something else to look for...

 

[Hemi49]

Picked up this Gem #2 Vise recently, weighing in at 54#. Great condition and wearing original paint I believe.


Now a couple questions for the vise experts please.
First question, does anyone have any information on these Gem's? Made right here in Springfield Ohio, but haven't found much info on them yet.
Question 2: on the threaded shaft, right behind the hand wheel, is what seems like a collar. (see pic 3) I thought this was just a slip collar, but it seems to be threaded to the shaft. It doesn't slide on the shaft, but turns with the threads. Could this be some sort of locking device??
I also have the smaller version of this vise (#1, weighing a mere 18#) and have to say they work great for drill press vises. Anyone else use them?

Tarnished
The company I retired from had a few of these......They weren't used for production any longer......they could be found at single spindle drill presses for an occasional hole....I started there in 1975 and they were pretty old at that time....
Hemi

 

[Tarnished]

Thanks Hemi, I can trace them back to about 1922, but still can't find any further info on the vise or the manufacture.

 

[Bowhit]

Thanks Hemi, I can trace them back to about 1922, but still can't find any further info on the vise or the manufacture.

Hi.
I worked at J. E. Martin Machine Works for 10 years. They made 8 styles of vises from 8 lbs. to 325 lbs. The sleeve that is threaded behind the hand wheel is to position the hand wheel at the end of the screw. I have 4 of the vises and am always looking for the ones I don't have.

Bowhit

 

[Tarnished]

Hi.
I worked at J. E. Martin Machine Works for 10 years. They made 8 styles of vises from 8 lbs. to 325 lbs. The sleeve that is threaded behind the hand wheel is to position the hand wheel at the end of the screw. I have 4 of the vises and am always looking for the ones I don't have.

Bowhit

Thanks Bowhit! And Welcome!
I could see that there was a purpose for it, but didn't know for what, now I think I understand.

Know what you mean about having more... I have also been looking, but for being built around here, there doesn't seem to be many floating around.

Which of the 8 do you have? Gotta have pics, or it didn't happen!

When were you at Martin, and what was your job there? I tried to find info on the old co, but not much to see. Been gone for a while?

Think I will stop at the #2, as I really can't use (nor lift) anything bigger. "he said"...

 

[Bowhit]

I left in 1979. The company didn't last to long after that. The company closed up a couple years later. I have the # 1, 4, 5, and 8.
J. E. Martin Machine works started in 1912 By John E. Martin. It was handed down to his son (first name unknown to me). The next owner was W. Martin ( the sons widow). Sold in 1969 to John Turner with the parent company of Springfield Impregnators. The next owner was Blair Mfg. until they closed.
I started out as a laborer (part time) with my father in 1968. When I left in 1979 I was the shop foreman.

 

[Kevin54]

Bowhit......where was this company at (Blair). I live in Urbana, which is just a few minutes north of Springfield, and I never heard of it.

 

[Tarnished]

Bowhit: Thanks for the info. Am I right that the 4 & 5 are milling machine vises? (from the catalog zkling posted) I would love to have the #8. Looks like a sweet fit for all the small stuff, especially with the swivel or tilting base. Got any pics of that one?
Kevin: when I googled J. E. Martin Machine Springfield, I came up with an old brick building down town Springfield. Couldn't tell JEM had ever been there though. Didn't have much luck trying to find info on vise either.
I use to do bit of work in Urbana, what part are you located in? Love me some "Crabills"..... Right up there with "Maid Rite's" from Greenville!

 

[Bowhit]

Blair Mfg. / J. E. Martin machine Works was at 402 East street across from Brain Lumber Co.