New to me Athol vise

[bungy42]

I picked up this old Athol machinists vise yesterday for $15. It's seen some use, but it's all there and there are no cracks that I could see. It'll definitely be a good user when I get it all cleaned up. Can any of you vise gurus educate me on the Athol vise? I remember they merged with Starrett at some point. When was that? Would this vise have been made before or after the merge?

 

[Steevo]

Nice!

And $5 less than I paid for mine, too!

As found:

And today:

 

[EOC_Jason]

You both get today's "YOU ****" award...

I would guess that vise is pre-Starrett merger. Usually the Starrett vises you see "Starrett Co / Athol Mass" on them...

I'm no history expert on the subject, I'm sure someone else will have correct info.

 

[bungy42]

Also, do you suppose the green is the original paint? I suspect it isn't original since it's on the slide. Maybe the blue is original?

 

[bungy42]

Any other info on the Athol M&F Co.?

 

[bigdaddyisu]

Looks like the twin to the one i picked up a few weeks back and am in the process of restoring. Based on what mine had I'm guessing the original color was a blueish gray. No idea on the age.

 

[Burgerkong]

Looks like the twin to the one i picked up a few weeks back and am in the process of restoring. Based on what mine had I'm guessing the original color was a blueish gray. No idea on the age.

Yep, more of a hammered blight blue.

 

[bigcaddy]

The merger happened around 1912 so your's is pretty old. I had one with some original paint and they were a dark grey when new.

If i can get my pictures working, ill post some pictures of mine with their fresh coats of grey paint.

 

[bungy42]

Looking forward to some pics of the correct color. Thanks guys!

 

[J HAV]

YOU ****

 

[gatewaysysop]

Terrific find, looks to be in pretty good shape and I'm sure it'll serve you well. Of all the vises I've come across, Athol is a consistent favorite, as nobody makes them quite as uncompromisingly stout.

For $15 you stole that thing, so you've definitely earned a You **** on that one.

 

[SweetD]

For reference, here is the Athol I restored last year. I'm pretty sure it's "bastardized" in that the main screw extends past the far end of the slide, which I'm pretty sure would not be designed that way. It works great though. It's got to be pushing 100 years old anyway. Like yours, it's pre-Starrett...



Mine was so beat up when I got it I couldn't read the lettering at all. It took a serious electrolysis bath before I even knew it was an Athol:





Nice find!

Dave

 

[sometoyotaguy]

Nice score!

 

[bungy42]

SweetD, nice job on that restore!

 

[Catalyze]

Very nice Athol Dave! I could make some foolish remarks about your vise having gripped ****** and that is why the main screw is so long......but I would never do that.

Bungy - very nice old Athol and a great price to boot! We do love our Athols! They have some of the stoutest castings (the signature slide support) and outstanding machining (like the swivel base locks). You and Steevo stole yours so you both ****. I hope you both have guilt complexes.
Craig
View media item 14266