SirK: if you can buy that old (probably 1880's to 1905) Vanderman #3 I'm pretty sure your dad will love it. it's an old steamfitter's vise and if i recall correctly they made 3 (#1, #2, & #3) and all weigh over 100 pounds. I've got the #1 and it's a beast and I think the #3 weighs 150 pounds if not more. it was maybe the most expensive vise made in it's time and the one i picked up about 10 years ago was the only vise a big steel company was using in it's 10,000 square foot shop.
value is all over the board with them and since yours looks pretty decent i'd say it's worth quite a bit. I don't shop on Ebay, but you might look and see if any are available or that have sold recently and these are not that common but still show up now and then which is pretty good since some are close to 140 years old.
