Help Lump ID huge unmarked 6" vise

[Lump]

I went and looked at a vise today at an estate sale. It was huge---6" wide jaws, 27" overall length (with jaws closed), and 12" tall (from bench to top of jaws). By the way...(that's 15.2cm X 68.5 cm X 30.5, for our metric-system friends.)

The vise was located in a dark and dingy barn, so it was hard to get photos. It was obviously an old USA-made machinist vise, with 6" wide jaws, no swivel base, and a swiveling rear jaw (the base has a mounting lip which hangs over the front of a workbench, so it never had a swivel base). It's in pretty darn good shape, but the original handle is missing. No welds or cracks that I could see. HOWEVER...it had no brand marking on it that I could find anywhere! I've never seen an old vise this big without a brand name cast boldly on the sides of the static jaw.

My good camera was stolen recently, so all I had with me was my cell phone. I took this one LOUSY photo , with my wristwatch laid on it for a size reference.

Does anyone have any idea what brand it might be? Does the lack of a brand name destroy its value, in your opinion? I've got to make up my mind and make an offer tomorrow...no later.

Your input will be much appreciated.

 

[kc-steve]

It might only be a clue as to it's age, but I don't think swivel bases were patented until around 1910 or so. I know Charles Parker got theirs in 1910.

Steve

 

[Even 11]

I'm taking a wild guess here and saying Prentiss. Some of the very old Prentiss vises only had the name on the back of the anvil section and it got pounded off regularly.

How much was it? Whats the story on the Parker you found?

-Dane

 

[demoman]

I agree that it is a prentiss. Check the tail end to see if it is split. Those prentiss have a bad habit of being split on the end of the slide. Get it bought!!! A torsion bar from a truck or old crysler car makes a killer handle that cannot be bent.
Brad

I went and looked at a vise today at an estate sale. It was huge---6" wide jaws, 27" overall length (with jaws closed), and 12" tall (from bench to top of jaws). By the way...(that's 15.2cm X 68.5 cm X 30.5, for our metric-system friends.)

The vise was located in a dark and dingy barn, so it was hard to get photos. It was obviously an old USA-made machinist vise, with 6" wide jaws, no swivel base, and a swiveling rear jaw (the base has a mounting lip which hangs over the front of a workbench, so it never had a swivel base). It's in pretty darn good shape, but the original handle is missing. No welds or cracks that I could see. HOWEVER...it had no brand marking on it that I could find anywhere! I've never seen an old vise this big without a brand name cast boldly on the sides of the static jaw.

My good camera was stolen recently, so all I had with me was my cell phone. I took this one LOUSY photo , with my wristwatch laid on it for a size reference.

Does anyone have any idea what brand it might be? Does the lack of a brand name destroy its value, in your opinion? I've got to make up my mind and make an offer tomorrow...no later.

Your input will be much appreciated.