Oswego 13-1/2 Bench Vise
- Thread starter kee7co
- Start date
Mintgrun
Well-known member
I have a Sawyer vise, made in Oswego, N.Y.
My buddy paid ten bucks for that one and gave it to me for $10, when I said, "Ooh, neat!" It was missing one jaw, so I made a replacement. If someone offered me $100 for it, I'd say no; but I don't know what the 'actual value' would be.
It is common for a first post on this forum to ask, "how old is this tool and what is it worth?" A typical response often includes "where are you located?" because value will vary geographically and heavy things are expensive to ship, so selling locally often makes the most sense.
I put "what is this vise worth" in the search window at the top of the page and clicked the "titles only" box and it pulled up some threads that may help answer your question.
www.garagejournal.com
Tom
My buddy paid ten bucks for that one and gave it to me for $10, when I said, "Ooh, neat!" It was missing one jaw, so I made a replacement. If someone offered me $100 for it, I'd say no; but I don't know what the 'actual value' would be.
It is common for a first post on this forum to ask, "how old is this tool and what is it worth?" A typical response often includes "where are you located?" because value will vary geographically and heavy things are expensive to ship, so selling locally often makes the most sense.
I put "what is this vise worth" in the search window at the top of the page and clicked the "titles only" box and it pulled up some threads that may help answer your question.
Search results for query: what is this vise worth
www.garagejournal.com
Tom
Shiftless
Well-known member
Just like mintgrun said, value is different to different people. As a general rule, when selling smaller vises that will fit into flat rate USPS boxes, eBay will generate the highest prices for a seller. If you don’t get a lot of joy just having and looking at those vises that you have restored, go ahead and sell them. I have nearly a hundred vises and like you, I know that my heirs don’t want a big vise collection.
Thanks Tom. I have several vises (Reed, Prentiss, Desmond, Morgan, Hollands, just to name a few) that I have rebuilt, or in the process of. I do enjoy refurbishing them. I just like to acquire and clean up old tools. Your threads will give me some good reading. Thanks again.I have a Sawyer vise, made in Oswego, N.Y.
My buddy paid ten bucks for that one and gave it to me for $10, when I said, "Ooh, neat!" It was missing one jaw, so I made a replacement. If someone offered me $100 for it, I'd say no; but I don't know what the 'actual value' would be.
It is common for a first post on this forum to ask, "how old is this tool and what is it worth?" A typical response often includes "where are you located?" because value will vary geographically and heavy things are expensive to ship, so selling locally often makes the most sense.
I put "what is this vise worth" in the search window at the top of the page and clicked the "titles only" box and it pulled up some threads that may help answer your question.
Search results for query: what is this vise worth
Tom
The crafty wrench is a nice touch.I have a Sawyer vise, made in Oswego, N.Y.
My buddy paid ten bucks for that one and gave it to me for $10, when I said, "Ooh, neat!" It was missing one jaw, so I made a replacement. If someone offered me $100 for it, I'd say no; but I don't know what the 'actual value' would be.
It is common for a first post on this forum to ask, "how old is this tool and what is it worth?" A typical response often includes "where are you located?" because value will vary geographically and heavy things are expensive to ship, so selling locally often makes the most sense.
I put "what is this vise worth" in the search window at the top of the page and clicked the "titles only" box and it pulled up some threads that may help answer your question.
Search results for query: what is this vise worth
Tom
Thanks for the response Shiftless. I am very familiar with eBay being a Top Rated Seller. I do enjoy looking at my finished work, but don't like thinking about them being in the hands of someone who has no clue when I'm gone. But then again, I guess when one is gone, ........ Not that I plan on leaving anytime soon, but pushing 70. Would like to see a picture of your collection. Thanks again.
KMScott
Well-known member
kee, could you add the spec:s of your Oswego. Jaw width, max opening and weight if you can. I want to add your vise to the spreadsheet you can find in my signature down below this note. Thanks.
Jaw width 3-1/2". 5-1/4" opening (at full nut engagement, could squeek out another inch plus if necessary). Weight 28 lbs 14 oz.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Thanks for your responses.
BTW, the easiest and most accurate way to measure max (safe) opening is to fully CLOSE the vise and measure the distance from the vise body to the back end of the slide.
Since you asked, here is a shot of about 3/4 of my collection. They are all up on shelves I built in my basement. The old stereo receiver powers the 4 speakers in the adjacent garage/workshop. The old machinist box used to belong to my FIL who was a career machinist. It sits there in a place of honor. It still has a lot of his old tools inside.
Another BTW… I’m 5 years older than you are.
BTW, the easiest and most accurate way to measure max (safe) opening is to fully CLOSE the vise and measure the distance from the vise body to the back end of the slide.
Since you asked, here is a shot of about 3/4 of my collection. They are all up on shelves I built in my basement. The old stereo receiver powers the 4 speakers in the adjacent garage/workshop. The old machinist box used to belong to my FIL who was a career machinist. It sits there in a place of honor. It still has a lot of his old tools inside.
Another BTW… I’m 5 years older than you are.
Last edited:
Mintgrun
Well-known member
@kee7co Have you seen the big vise thread on this site?
www.garagejournal.com
There are also vise repair threads. You can find them in the sticky at the top of the page.
The VISES of Garage Journal
We have seen everyone's toolboxes so let's see the vises! (no, not vices :)) I'm sure there are some really cool ones out there. Large or small, let's see them all! Here's my Charles Parker 107 and my Wilton 1780: The Wilton has an 8" jaw and weighs about 110 lbs. The CP has a 6" jaw and...
www.garagejournal.com
There are also vise repair threads. You can find them in the sticky at the top of the page.
@Shiftless there are a lot more vises on those shelves since I saw it last 
Outstanding!
Outstanding!JohnKal
Well-known member
Damn! Nice arrayThanks for your responses.
BTW, the easiest and most accurate way to measure max (safe) opening is to fully CLOSE the vise and measure the distance from the vise body to the back end of the slide.
Since you asked, here is a shot of about 3/4 of my collection. They are all up on shelves I built in my basement. The old stereo receiver powers the 4 speakers in the adjacent garage/workshop. The old machinist box used to belong to my FIL who was a career machinist. It sits there in a place of honor. It still has a lot of his old tools inside.
Another BTW… I’m 5 years older than you are.
