Oldest known Parker Vise

[bobpal]

I was poking around the interwebs and Google and found this old catalog from the 1890s. The link below explains why they feel the Parker vises are superior to other makes. Lots of other cool stuff in the catalog.
http://books.google.com/books?id=btsOAAAAYAAJ&dq=blacksmith%20catalog&pg=PA162#v=onepage&q&f=false
I do find it amazing that as much as the world has changed, no one had figured out a better vise is well over 100 years.

Thanks for this link. It provided hours of great reading. The writing was great. I feel like I was with a friend looking at and talking about his tool collection.

 

[topop101]

Top: nice to see you posting and I posted up a few pictures of your crane accident recently and was hoping you were still doing ok.

speaking of that vise that Riley posted Tink posted up a few pictures of it over on the big vise thread and Zoomie just posted one that doesn't have a name, but only the dynamic jaw swivels.

cheers

Tink: if you see this and want to post more pictures of your Parker on this thread please do!!

Drives Thanks man. I'm making it slowly but surly. My buddy Tink was posting pics of my Parker 82 pipe vise. I'm one step closer to landing my unicorn the Parker 86. The 82 gives me hope that somewhere there still my be an 86 out there waiting for me to discover it.

 

[jimreed2160]

Thanks Gany!

Most of the black vises seem to have been semi gloss black, I suspect from the stove black commonly used back in the day, The foundry's and Smith's just used what they knew.

Even O'l Henry Ford was agreeable to any color you wanted, as long as it was black...

True. According to my research, industrial finishes were pretty primitive until well into the 20th century. Petrol chemical research led to modern paints which were first widely used in the 1930s. The big issue with lacquer based paints was drying time (time is money). Until then, most vises were probably the black japan finish (asphaltum and linseed oil) because it was inexpensive and dried quickly in ovens.

 

[Flangehead]

Hi all, new guy to this forum. I just picked up a Charles Parker Vise No. 1!!!! Don't know the significance (of No. 1) but haven't been able to search/find anything similar. It weighs about 41 pounds, 3-1/2 inch jaws, missing the screw collar but I see I can have one made at benchvisejaws.com. The jaws appear to be in good condition, no signs of abuse.

On one side embossed letters read "C. PARKER, MERIDEN CONN., PAT JUNE 20 1854. EXT'D."
Other side reads "PAT.MAY.23, NOV.26., DEC.17.1867, No.1."

In incredible condition and fully functional!!!! The lead screw was black with grease but on cleaning reveals really cool lathe/machining marks. I was able to remove the pin and the static nut which were well preserved by over a hundred years of grease and grime.

I've been dismantling and cleaning the vise up carefully and have tons of pics but don't think I can post yet as I'm a FNG, but I will try. Some forums require several posts before you can upload pics, not sure about this one. I really want you guys to see this.

Since I learned most of what I know about C. Parker vises from all your threads and posts, I figured I'd join and hopefully get some feedback from the crew.

Looking forward to some feedback/opinions/thoughts/expertise. Will post pics ASAP.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have an 1894 partial catalog page showing the No. 1.

3-5/8" jaws, 31-1/2 Lbs. Fixed base.

Nice find! looking forward to pics:

Posting pics 101:

Start from the "Go Advanced" posting menus, or the "Post Reply" button near the bottom of any page, (Or hit the "paperclip" button to get to the upload popup); and at step 5 copy it into the URL field after hitting the "postcard" button: (Step 4/5 is optional; you will still have thumbnails)

 

[Flangehead]

Thanks Outlaw! great catalogue reference. will try with pics after some much needed chow. Cleaning up an old vise is thirsty work, too much "pork chop in a can". time for some solid food

 

[Flangehead]

Can't post pics till 5 posts, as I thought

 

[Flangehead]

This makes 4 I think

 

[Flangehead]

This should be the fifth post, maybe now I can post pics.

 

[Flangehead]

I hope I did this right, here's some pictures:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=6453&pictureid=84694

 

[Flangehead]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=6453&pictureid=84692
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=6453&pictureid=84687
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=6453&pictureid=84686

 

[Flangehead]

Ahhhggg! Fng!!!!

 

[Outlawmws]

You are just posting links. click on the "postcard" icon and paste there.

 

[Flangehead]

Failure to follow your thorough instructions, sorry all


View media item 84692
View media item 84692

 

[Flangehead]

 

[Flangehead]

Ferchrisakes if I wasn't so bald I'd probably have a full head of hair, I'll read up on how to post pics before I piss off the whole tribe. Sorry

 

[Flangehead]

Images, Hopefully ....
View media item 84694View media item 84693View media item 84691View media item 84690View media item 84687View media item 84686

 

[Flangehead]

Thanks Outlaw, your instructions were fine, I just needed to get my head out of it.

 

[Flangehead]

Success!

 

[KMScott]

Flange, that is one nice looking Parker and a old one to boot. The jaws look pretty good for such a old vise. Good job sticking with the picture issues and paying attention to Outlaws instructions. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Outlawmws]

That's is a nice looking find on that #1! I have a #3 and would not mind finding more of the models of that era.

What are your use plans? bench, or stand?

 

[Flangehead]

Thanks KM! I need to replace the small spring in the handle and have a collar made. Otherwise will continue to clean it up without major restoration/electrolysis/paint, it's got some character!

 

[4xdog]

Thanks Zoom. Do you think that if it has the 6-20-1854 but not any of the 1867 patent dates, then perhaps manufactured between those dates? On the No. 172 with 4 dates, one patent is for a swivel base attachment (Dec 10 1867) which makes me think showing patents were prestige and advertising. But then, why would they not list the 1854 patent on the No. 172. I don't know.

One would need to check that 1854 patent for details, but it's possible Parker weren't actually using the invention claimed in that specific patent on the later vises.

Another option (although probably less likely) is that the vise was made after 1871 and the expiration of the seventeen-year life of the original patent.

 

[Flangehead]

Thanks Outlaw, and thanks for your help. Apologize for my ineptitude!
Will probably be mounted on a bench replacing a smaller Littlestown.

There's a 2nd hand store nearby with a rusty C. Parker No.2X (missing collar), but shop owner asking $175. I'll see if it's still there when I get back in town, haggle a bit.
Will check back in a few days.

 

[Outlawmws]

Seems high to me, even if complete.

The 2X showed in a 1901 ad, but not in a 1902 ad I have . (means nothing it's one page and seems partial...)

Seem to be similar to the 1, 2, 3, series from earlier, but they appear to have widened the jaws slightly?

 

[ganymede]

Wow. Fantastic specimen there flangehead !
The turning marks on the screw are interesting too.
I wonder what kind of bit they used.

 

[wrenchguy]

thanks 4 the read. twertsy ain't posted much lately.

 

[davethorik]

Wow. Fantastic specimen there flangehead !
The turning marks on the screw are interesting too.
I wonder what kind of bit they used.

The screw was turned to thread od, leaving a rough finish, and then the threads were cut.

 

[php2b]

Here is one I've recently found. Does anybody knows about this specific handle shape? Doesn't look like standard Chas Parker handle. Any ideas?

 

[kbeitz]

A neat story about Parker vise's
My brother has been in the textile business forever.
I would tag along when he would go to factory sellouts.
One day we went to Scranton Lace in Scranton Pa. Employed 5000 people.
They was closing the doors forever. Selling everything.
To cut the story short I bought 100 Parker vises.
I ask why they only had Parker vise's. They said one of the Parker
family members worked there and give them a good deal on vise's
After a few years I googled the history between Parker and Scranton Lace.
This is what I found.

 

[MayerMR]

I've got this ole gal:





Not sure of her date of birth, but I'd have to guess, 1860-1870s.

 

[johnwiz1]

I know that this isn't the oldest vice. But I'm looking for some info on my Parker No 259 vice.

 

[Outlawmws]

You are more likely to get a response in the main Vises thread.

 

[Fierljeppen]

I know that this isn't the oldest vice. But I'm looking for some info on my Parker No 259 vice.

Circa (1906-1920's). Not the oldest, but a significantly improved machinist vise for the Charles Parker Co.

Here's the oldest Charles Parker vise that I own. It's a no.1 in beautiful condition for a pre-1867 vise. There are several other GJ members with this model, as well.

This is one of my favorite vises.

​

 

[tjcooke9]

just coming across this post.. I have an old 2x Charles Parker in garage of the house I bought a year ago. just now started to see if I can find out how old it is. one thing to point out to the original poster... states didn't go to the two letter abbreviation until 1963. the model I have says 'Meriden, Conn.' ... not 'CT'. And I live in CT, and grew up in the 70's and I can remember still using 'Conn' and not 'CT'. I can't say for certain, but if it has CT on it, I'd say its not that old... just my two cents.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[tjcooke9]

well... you can disregard my last post... found plenty of older models with 'CT' on them instead on 'Conn'.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[bubinga2]

I've got this ole gal:

Not sure of her date of birth, but I'd have to guess, 1860-1870s.

I haven't seen many vises with a pivot front jaw. Could you share a couple more photos? Is it a no. 52 or 32? Also what holds the front jaw stationary?

 

[bubinga2]

Circa (1906-1920's). Not the oldest, but a significantly improved machinist vise for the Charles Parker Co.

Here's the oldest Charles Parker vise that I own. It's a no.1 in beautiful condition for a pre-1867 vise. There are several other GJ members with this model, as well.

This is one of my favorite vises.

​

Hi Fierljeppen
Very nice Parker! I don't see many Parker's without raised lettering. Is there raised lettering on the one side? Could you check the top of the front jaw for stamped lettering? Perhaps a little oil and 0000 steel wool will bring it out. That's an oldie.

 

[Fierljeppen]

bubinga2...The vise is completely unmarked, just like the -5- others I've seen just like it. I've seen some with brass balls on the spindle handle and at least -1- with Parker stamped on the jaws.

The jaw width is 3-5/8" just like a Parker no.1 should be. It's the oldest Parker style vise that I know of, but I'm hoping your thread will bring us some more styles from this era.

 

[bubinga2]

Mine has brass balls and stamped on the front jaw. The jaws are 2" wide and there are no raised letters. Here are a couple pics.