Morgan Chicago Vise #4

[BKC2010]

Vintage Morgan Vise Chicago #4 + Restoration

Greetings from the South Side of Chicago!!! I need help identifying an antique vise. I called the Milwaukee Tool Co. and the gentleman I spoke with was not familiar with this particular vise. He stated that the vise more than likely pre-dates all vises they even currently provide parts for and are familiar with. Many times the Milwaukee Tool Co. will provided replacement parts for old Morgan vises when parts of an old vise fails. These older vises need to be a specific make and year. I was wondering if anyone has seen a vise like this or is even familiar with the history of this particular vise? I was wondering what the ball indention on the anvil portion on the vise is used for? Does anyone have a rough estimate for dating this old tool? I am looking to restore it. Not sure what the original color might have been. This could be the original paint job but I am not 100% certain on that. Any help would be awesome, thanks!

 

[Fierljeppen]

Greetings! Your Morgan No. 4 vise is classified as a utility vise. They would've been marketed for light-duty or home garage use vises. Based on the design and casting style, I'd guess it's from the 1930's - 1940's. That's an educated guess. Checkout the 1950's catalog scan of a newer version of the Morgan No. 4 vise, yours is clearly older.

Was Bad Leroy Brown from your neighborhood?

 

[BKC2010]

Thank you so much for providing the scanned image! Also, I appreciate your input. History can be difficult to pinpoint. Also, Leroy Brown does reside on my side of town.

Thanks again, Brandon.

 

[drivesitfar]

BKC: nice find on the old Morgan. it's a light to medium duty vise, but it's got a lot of good use left. it also has the pipe jaws that are usually MIA.

since it's got an open screw if you are planning on using it I'd throw a rag on the screw if you are cutting or sanding on something in the jaw so you don't get more debris and junk on the screw than you would normally and it might last another 50 years.

also WELSOME TO GJ!!

 

[BKC2010]

Thanks for the info! What exactly do you mean by open screw? Would you say open screw because it happens to be exposed and is not hidden? Your saying I should protect the screw because debris could begin to grind and wear on the threads?

Thanks again for the advice, Brandon.

 

[drivesitfar]

BKC: EXACTLY!! anything you can do to keep the debris and dirt and foreign material off the screw that should be greased or even oiled will help it work better and last longer.

I've seen many very handy guys with only a similar vise on their workbench cause really a vise is just a 3rd hand and shouldn't be a ALL IN ONE TOOL (PRESS, ANVIL, or other tool you might not own).

good luck and again Welcome to GJ and hope you stick around. post on other threads as you have time giving good words of encouragement to other members or if you have questions on what they are doing or talking about just ask. we don't have all the answers, but as a whole their are a lot of very handy and knowledgeable members willing to help or be helped.

cheers