Just scored an old vice

[MoparTrucks]

I just bought an old Rock Island Ill Mfg Co vice (no 92) at a yard sale for $39.00 and its old and a bit rusty but its in great shape. This is a hunk of iron without a swivel base and it has a lip on the bottom and three bolt tangs on the base for bench mounting.

I felt I got a good deal but I have found absolutely nothing about it through the magic of Internet...nothing like it even on E-Bay. It weighs 30lbs and the guy I bought it from said his dad used to work for the rail road down in Arkansas and he thought he got it there. (It is a machinists vice from what I can tell).

Anyone have any ideas on age or a reference site?

 

[Justanoldguy]

I guess you mean vise?

Here is me thinking the worst when I read the heading.

Vice is a practice or a behavior or habit considered immoral, depraved, or degrading

 

[DARK AGE 53]

Hate to say it but

 

[Al Bundy]

I guess you mean vise?

I would bet you will have better luck searching if you use the proper spelling.

 

[MoparTrucks]

I guess you mean vise?

Here is me thinking the worst when I read the heading.

Vice is a practice or a behavior or habit considered immoral, depraved, or degrading

Ahh I have plenty of vices too but thats another thread. You know I try and use spell checker so I dont look like an uneducated ******* and look what happens...!!!

Here are a couple of pictures. I have searched this forum and Rock Island seems to be conspicuously absent from most of the discussions but the action on this "vise" is really smooth and there is zero side to side movement of the dynamic head at all.

 

[Dale B]

I have an old Rock Island 505A, yours looks alot older , maybe from the '30's or '20's ?

 

[Justanoldguy]

I would bet you will have better luck searching if you use the proper spelling.

And that is what?

 

[MoparTrucks]

I would bet you will have better luck searching if you use the proper spelling.

Vice is the correct spelling from where I went to school but I sometimes rely too much on spell checker. Its spelled Vise in the US and Canada but Vice in most other English speaking countries so it messes me up.

I try to remember to correct my errant spellings but it doesnt always work out.

 

[SweetD]

That's an oldie for sure. Looks like the handle pissed someone off at some point!

Are you going to try and bend it back?

Dave

 

[MoparTrucks]

That's an oldie for sure. Looks like the handle pissed someone off at some point!

Are you going to try and bend it back?

Dave

I was thinking I would. I know most people clean them up and paint them but I think my plan more revolves around cleaning it some, lubricating it, and using it as is. There is just a paucity of information about Rock Island manufacturing company and its hard to get any information on it. I read the excellent thread on the old "vises" and Rock Island wasnt included unfortunately.

It sounds like the sellers story that his dad may have used it when he was working for the railroad might be true the more I look at it. I would say he was about 60 - 65 which would put his father somewhere mid 20th century during his early working years. I just missed out on a large anvil that someone bought from him shortly before I stopped; he sold it for $75.00.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Paucity?! PAUCITY?! A minute ago you couldn't spell vise, ha ha

I'm just busting your balls. (Now a bunch of the young guys are looking up "paucity"!)

 

[Justanoldguy]

Paw city ... sounds like a pet shop.

 

[Zeke]

So, in the UK they are called "Vice Grips?"

 

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

I thought this thread was going to be about a prior girlfriend...hehehe

 

[SweetD]

Rock Island vises are not super rare or anything...but they did make a really solid vise!

I think yours is older because of the raised top casting feature around where the jaw 'inserts' are cast into the static and dynamic jaws. I have a very old Clipper Tool Co. vise that has the same feature. From my research, my Clipper is about 100 years old.

Make sure to post some pics if you decide to try to bend the handle back to straight...!

Dave

 

[MoparTrucks]

So, in the UK they are called "Vice Grips?"

My grandfather called them "Mole Wrenches" of all things.

 

[WWIIjeep]

I think yours is older because of the raised top casting feature around where the jaw 'inserts' are cast into the static and dynamic jaws. I have a very old Clipper Tool Co. vise that has the same feature. From my research, my Clipper is about 100 years old.

I think those raised sections were a feature of certain sizes and models of Rock Island vises for a long time. I've got a Rock Island vise from the 1950s that has them.

Vice is a practice or a behavior or habit considered immoral, depraved, or degrading

So, if a vise is a vice in the UK, what do they call a practice or a behavior or habit considered immoral, depraved, or degrading?

 

[demographic]

My grandfather called them "Mole Wrenches" of all things.

Mole were a brand of vise grips*, most people I know call them Mole Grips over here.






*M.K.Mole if I remember right.

 

[Justanoldguy]

So, if a vise is a vice in the UK, what do they call a practice or a behavior or habit considered immoral, depraved, or degrading?

A vise of course ...

 

[1948]

i also have a rock island.

 

[santagary]

i think those raised sections were a feature of certain sizes and models of rock island vises for a long time. I've got a rock island vise from the 1950s that has them.



So, if a vise is a vice in the uk, what do they call a practice or a behavior or habit considered immoral, depraved, or degrading? :d

a sin!

 

[MoparTrucks]

Mole were a brand of vise grips*, most people I know call them Mole Grips over here.






*M.K.Mole if I remember right.

You know I never knew why he called them that so thanks!

 

[sublimate]

I think yours is older because of the raised top casting feature around where the jaw 'inserts' are cast into the static and dynamic jaws. I have a very old Clipper Tool Co. vise that has the same feature. From my research, my Clipper is about 100 years old.

I think those raised sections were a feature of certain sizes and models of Rock Island vises for a long time. I've got a Rock Island vise from the 1950s that has them.

My Rock Island model 140 has the raised section only on the static jaw and not on the dynamic one. I think it's from the 20s.