Help With Vise ID

[Screwtape]

So I just got around to pulling this thing out of the basement of a property I bought a couple years ago. It's marked: "MICH. STATE BD. OF CONTROL FOR VOC. ED." & "PATT. 4-A" & "PATT. 4-B"

The vise works really well and I think it's pretty interesting, I look forward to tackling a restoration on it but I'd like to know who manufactured it. Any ideas?

 

[Screwtape]

Having a hard time posting multiple pics...

 

[bluebolt]

That looks a lot like a Chas Parker. No sure if it was cast by Parker or if that was cast by the Michigan Vocational Education system as part of the vocational training. COOL VISE THOUGH! And a you **** for finding it on your property. What is the jaw width, 6"?

 

[wrenchguy]

looks parker, could it be reading the foundry pattern numbers 4-a and 4-b? unique 4 sure.

 

[jakemac]

It screams Parker to me as well.

 

[Carla]

Its a copy of a Parker, to be sure, but note the difference in the jaw faces, which, on this vise, are a simpler design, more readily done with common mill tooling.

At one time, simple tooling like vises, belt-driven grinders/buffers, and drill presses were commonly made in 'vocational school' training facilities.

Its easy enough to envision the patternmaker trainees copying a well-known make of vise, and the machine shop trainees doing the machining/fitting.

The best known of this class of equipment might be the 'Washburn Shops' light drill presses, which were made to sell as a 'fund-raiser' product item, approximately a century ago.

 

[bluebolt]

Check out this Chas Parker 107 6" jaw width vise. Looks they copied it but made the jaws a lot easier to make! http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44782

 

[Cope]

Handle stops are different than Parker.

 

[Screwtape]

4" jaw width, which seemed a bit weird to me because of the overall size of the thing, but what do I know.

I think the consencus is correct though and I've certainly learned something today!

 

[bluebolt]

Just realized you are from Michigan. Are there any OLD Vo Tech schools nearby?

 

[bluebolt]

4" jaw width, which seemed a bit weird to me because of the overall size of the thing, but what do I know.

I think the consencus is correct though and I've certainly learned something today!

I thought the collar was held on with two screws, is it only one?

 

[Screwtape]

The collar is held by one screw. As far as Vo Tech schools go, I have no clue. The house is old though, and it's located on US12 which goes straight to Detroit, so I'd be willing to bet it's from Detroit.

 

[Screwtape]

Here maybe?

http://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/cass-technical-high-school