Parker No. 88 questions

[OldMan_NM]

Hello all,

I am a newbie to GJ and want to thank all for the great information on this forum.

I got a Parker No. 88 vise from my father many years ago. It has led a rough life with both the top of the dynamic jaw and the bottom of the static jaw being broken long ago. I think it was damaged in a rail road steam engine maintenance shop and that is where my dad got it after the jaws were brazed. I have cleaned some of the static jaw but need to do more cleaning work on the rest of the vise. It has several layers of red paint. One side of the leadscrew front collar is broken. The jaws do come together nicely. When cleaned up and painted, will give it to my oldest son.

I have a couple of questions:

1) I do not have the vise azimuth wrench. The bolt appears to be about 25/32 inch. Is this the size originally furnished by Parker with the vise?

2) What was the original color of the No. 88 vise?

3) I removed and cleaned around the threaded hole casting in the static jaw. After reassembly, I noticed that front-to-back play is about 0.010 inch and rotational play is about 1 degree. The casting break repair appears to contribute to the play as you can see the casting crack near the dovetail inside the static jaw. Was the original assembly very tight with no play?

4) In the Static Jaw picture, what are the letters covered by the brazing in “_________IN 2.1906” and also “____NOV 22. 1910” ? Patented ? Manufactured ?

5) Does the vise date back to 1910 ?











Thanks

 

[Outlawmws]

That does look to be an original Parker swivel clamp bolt. the wench is (usually) retained by a split ring retainer if that one is anything like my two Parkers (974 & 974-1/2) are. Don;t know the size of the top of my head.

No clue on the color, probably a gray?

Looks like "JAN" for the brazed over pat month, so maybe "Pat. JAN..."?

Companies often show patent dates, sometimes for decades; so no you can't use the second pat. year of 1910 to date the vise. Location markings and original paint colors are usually used to date them. old catalogs can give you a cut off year also.

 

[autopts]

The Parker numbering system is long and involved. I have a C-Parker 4X and its got 5 1/2" jaws no ryhme or reason, second I believe came the double didget thru the early 1900's like yours. I have a #87 which is the next size smaller and has a late 1800's Pat. Date along with a 1906 Pat date. One problem is the Parker made so many different style vises. I can't help you on that one.