Thanks for the info, I will search around for info. Pre-1900 is just insane in my opinionYes, that is an early Parker, you can tell by the style and the jaws. Most vises with the center post like that are pre-1900... Newer vises they switched to multiple holes in the base for mounting, and eventually swivel bases and such.
Looks like the slide broke and it was repaired a long time ago. I'm sure it will continue to work just fine for a long long time.
The only ad I have showing an old parker with the one center post is from 1901 and it's a different model. I don't really get into those models so I don't keep any info I come across, though you can probably find some scanned catalog images on eBay if you search for "Parker Vise".
never seen yellow masking tape over here in US. by the way is the pizza good in your town?
Until now I postponed that project, mostly working either on the floor or with the Workmate..
Can someone let me know if it is a good/bad idea to rub WD40 over the slide to prevent it from rusting? Or can I put that same grease I put on the screw on the slide? Or preferably not? I can not get my hands on that wax, not sure why, but I can not find it. So am asking for alternatives in this area..
Also, does the 'handle' require any treatment? I would put some oil on it, but as I also use this vise (or will use) with woodworking, it would be a bit of a hassle to have an oily handle when I'm holding on to untreated wood.
Handle you can wax also, I've also seen some people paint them.

Would it be possible to link to (I assume there is) the tread where you detail the vise in your avatar? Looks really nice. Scrap that, I found your thread. Funny thing you mention somewhere along that huge thread that you were "Waiting on the sticker to arrive for the other side, but other than that it's good to go!" Sounds like the thing I'm thinking of doing on both sides, or are we talkig about a different sticker here? Any chance of getting some info on that?
not sure what materials you have or how big a piece you can transport, but commercial doors are a good source for a workbench top. if there is any remodeling of a nice office building going on around you sometimes the contractor will give you or sell the doors he is removing fairly cheap if you have the ability to haul it off. if you happen to get one long enough to cover the span under the window all you'll need to do is screw a couple 2 x 4's into the walls on each side, screw the bench top (door) onto the 2 x 4's and put the door knob hole at the back in the middle and uses for wires and you can roll the carts and tool boxes under it. make sense??
or just buy a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 inch plywood and cut it into 2 pieces that are 2 x 8 and treat that as your bench top. if the span is wider than 8 foot then you'll have to build some sort of legs and support other than using the walls.
mineral oil works and even olive oil might to keep the rust at bay and just an FYI WD 40 works and will dry out fairly quick so will have to keep applying as you propbably will with the oils.
I have some old Rock Island vises that have a tag on them, but I've never seen a Parker tag. some guys tape off the jaw portion a little different and the paint the parts you left unpainted where the handle goes in, but you are doing a great job and looking forward to seeing the final blue color on Gramp's vise. coats depends on the way you want it to look and the climate. i'd probably put a couple coats on and see how it looks when dry and add another if you like or if you have a muggy climate in the summer months.
good luck
is it possible those holes (2 each side of moving jaw) are to 'oil' the inside of the vise or something? I'm really wondering what they are there for..
looking good. What is that thing in the background with the wheel and shocks on it? A baby stroller????
you are doing great and I almost always use my copper jaws so no reason to get vise to shut any more. Gramps jaw covers look perfect on that vise.
keep up the good work and maybe this weekend a finished blue vise with pictures for us to enjoy.
i'm with Jason that usually only one oil hole and I've only seen them on the older Reed vises. you know some of the guys attached things to some of their tools. Did your Gramps vise ever have anything there attached or holding a punch or something?
Right on, but just to clarify, that is not my vise. I started saving pictures on my computer of all vises, I have probably a couple thousand photos, labeled with size and weight if it was given. Just a little database.
Yours has been added as well.![]()
It would just be cool if I could be certain that it is a Parker vise, but I guess there is no way of being certain
Ah yes, and on the vise, I found this ONE marking, it is on the knob. No clue what it means or stands for, but it seems to come from the factory and not afterwards like the weld for example
L2, or 12? Or something along those lines? It is not aligned perfectly..
Looks great Jean,
I'd get those inside once the initial cure is done, and under a heat lamp, not too close.
Its too cold this time of year to cure fast outside. (unless you are down under...) Check your paint can cure time instructions and add a day, as in my experience their times are optimistic... And this presumes you get then under a heat source...