Old Reed vises in Norway

[Strandberg]

I have found a couple old American vises locally here in Norway over the years. The latest is a Reed 104, in ok mechanical condition

Anyone here good with the stamps on these?

As far as I can see there's a "18", "118 or 119" and on the other side 1 and a 9? And underneeth that a 0

1919?

I have a 405 that I think has been store outside for many, many years. We managed to free up the swiveling jaw, but the screw is rusted beyond repair unfortunately. And any stamps unreadable.

I also have an old 6" Wilton from 1951 if I remember correctly that used to belobg to the Norwegian Army.

There are plenty of great European vises available here but these old American ones make me happy!

 

[FJ 432]

Great Finds! It's amazing to me how some things travel so far.

Welcome to GJ.

 

[Mr_B]

amazing where they get to.
those swivel jaw models make a very useful vise

 

[PierceA]

Strandberg: I think the very faint date-stamp [they all are very faint] appears to be 119 or maybe 110_. I have seen Reed date stamps
have no zero for 01-19, so your 119 could be january of 19. Or it could be 11-0_, so November of 0_. could be 08, 09,
There should be matching numbers on the dynamic as well as the static jaw. Both on the same side of the vise.. A careful look with a
light held close to parallel to the metal surface can often show an otherwise invisible stamp.

For the 405: use a torch to reach into the slot in the bottom of the dynamic jaw's rear slide, heat the nut as best you can. Then dunk the
vise in a bucket of ATF, or Kerosene. If you are unable to get a bucket full of any oil product, Just squirt or spray the mainscrew where is threads into the nut.. Just keep it up, every few weeks or days.. One day you will be surprised and it will move..
You can gently smack the end of the mainscrew with a brass drift or brass rod. The fore and aft jarring of the screw inside the nut will help the oil penetrate and break free the rust.
Heat is the best method. A good heat gun will also work.
For more vise info, post this vise and questions on the main huge 'vises of Garage journal thread:

The VISES of Garage Journal

Timm didn't mention, but those jaw covers used to be copper pipe!. They came out great! Only the best pieces of cra.. I mean scrap I could find!

www.garagejournal.com

This thread is now at page 2301 I think.
There is a thread about Reed Date stamps. But I don't have a link for it.. It was started by member: 'Angry Beaver'

Best of luck,
PierceA

 

[Tom Graham]

Here’s the REED VISE DATE THREAD by GJ member AngryBeaver (for help dating all Reeds, not just for R Series)

 

[Beerhippie]

Seein' as the patent date is 1912, I'd go with Jan. 1919. My 1911 404 1/2 has no patent dates at all.

 

[dnschmidt]

How the hell something that's 60 pounds of steel gets from Erie, PA to Norway has got to be one hell of a story.