Parker vise pice check
- Thread starter fowlwishes
- Start date
bobcatdan
Well-known member
I'd swing $200 if I really wanted it. That's what I paid for my unrestored, but perfectly usable 289 1/2.
OP
fowlwishes
Well-known member
The only repair I know of is a sad one. The Parker hoop that hold the screw into the dynamic jaw was broken. It has been replaced with a machines steel part. I don't see anything else wrong with it. Just can't get too excited about a $500 price tag!
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
It looks like a good restoration. If it was an aerosol overhaul, I'd be concerned. Look it over very carefully. Go as far as removing the dynamic jaw to look inside and underneath the components. If the seller can guarantee that there are no cracks or weld repairs, that's a plus.
The pros:
It's a large Parker. Top shelf brand.
Looks like it was restored right.
The cons:
Solid base. Personally, I prefer a swivel base.
IMO: 200$ would be a reasonable price. It takes a lot of work to restore one correctly. You couldn't touch a new vise, same quality, for that price. However, check CL prices for a similar vise in your location + locations around you to see if there are competing prices. I'm assume that the seller priced it high in order to consider lower offers.
The pros:
It's a large Parker. Top shelf brand.
Looks like it was restored right.
The cons:
Solid base. Personally, I prefer a swivel base.
IMO: 200$ would be a reasonable price. It takes a lot of work to restore one correctly. You couldn't touch a new vise, same quality, for that price. However, check CL prices for a similar vise in your location + locations around you to see if there are competing prices. I'm assume that the seller priced it high in order to consider lower offers.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
I didn't catch your last post.
IMO: 500$ is obscene. Too bad about machining the collar, but it still is what it is.
IMO: 500$ is obscene. Too bad about machining the collar, but it still is what it is.
Packard V8
Well-known member
The fabricated steel collar, if done properly, will be stronger and work better than the original cast iron. It just won't say "Parker".
And no, I wouldn't pay $500 for painted vise. That vise unpainted, but complete and working, maybe $250 absolute tops.
It's sad but true, we here at GJ have been the driving force behind both vise restoration and the sky-high prices.
jack vines
And no, I wouldn't pay $500 for painted vise. That vise unpainted, but complete and working, maybe $250 absolute tops.
It's sad but true, we here at GJ have been the driving force behind both vise restoration and the sky-high prices.
jack vines
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Wishes: you are asking members that probably own a dozen vises so doubt that any of them would pay $500 for a vise that isn't extremely rare.
i'd be a little worried about the vise nut not being original if i was going to pay good money for that vise, but i sold mine for almost that much with the stand it's on in the picture because the Parker 956 does weigh about 130 pounds on it's own.
here's the one i owned and sold that was far from spiffed up.
nice vise and if you need one that isn't a bad vise to own and not that common to find in good shape. of course if you can negotiate a better price all the better.
i'd be a little worried about the vise nut not being original if i was going to pay good money for that vise, but i sold mine for almost that much with the stand it's on in the picture because the Parker 956 does weigh about 130 pounds on it's own.
here's the one i owned and sold that was far from spiffed up.
nice vise and if you need one that isn't a bad vise to own and not that common to find in good shape. of course if you can negotiate a better price all the better.
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Nice vise but not $500 nice. At $150 I wouldn't think twice about pulling the trigger. For $200 , I'd want a swivel base. Anything above that it better be pretty much in Original condition, with no major repairs or cheap replacement parts. $500??? That's insane for a buyer to pay that amount but not for the seller if he can get it.
-Valentine
-Valentine
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OP
fowlwishes
Well-known member
The main problem is the vise availability is just not in this area. I know that $500 is insane but the pice of vises in my area has gone insane.
I agree - can also expand this to a few other items as well (craftsman block grinders and drill presses). I personally don't get the vise restoration angle, other than being a fairly simple restoration project for novices. I prefer my vises (and most tools for that matter) with a well earned patina.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Wishes:
The thing that I've learned over the years is to be very patient when buying vises (in this case). I know that it's hard to find good vintage iron these days, but not impossible. They are other avenues, like flea markets, yard sales, and auctions.
If I can help with putting it in perspective, you can get a new, drop forged, swivel base, 6" Ridgid F-Series combo vise for 434$/ free shipping (see picture). They are manufactured in Germany. I'd buy one now, if I didn't have a dozen or so vises in my shop.
Kinda ***** for me, because I also restore & sell vintage iron.
Edit: The Ridgid vise is on Amazon.
The thing that I've learned over the years is to be very patient when buying vises (in this case). I know that it's hard to find good vintage iron these days, but not impossible. They are other avenues, like flea markets, yard sales, and auctions.
If I can help with putting it in perspective, you can get a new, drop forged, swivel base, 6" Ridgid F-Series combo vise for 434$/ free shipping (see picture). They are manufactured in Germany. I'd buy one now, if I didn't have a dozen or so vises in my shop.
Kinda ***** for me, because I also restore & sell vintage iron.
Edit: The Ridgid vise is on Amazon.
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Way overpriced, especially for a local sale. If you were going to spend that much or even a fraction of that, get a tradesman combo. That is going to sit for a long time or the seller is going to come down to realistic market prices. If you can't find something locally, get online, even ebay and you will find something much more useful for that price. Ask yourself "do I really NEED a fixed base, fixed jaw 6" vise?"
People like Drivesitfar are trying to protect their bottom line by giving hints to it is valued at that.
Like anvils, lots of people that have little use for and knowledge of vises have gotten into collecting and reselling them.
People like Drivesitfar are trying to protect their bottom line by giving hints to it is valued at that.
Like anvils, lots of people that have little use for and knowledge of vises have gotten into collecting and reselling them.
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drivesitfar
Well-known member
ZK: not trying to protect anything. I rarely sell a vise to anybody other than GJ members. i did sell that parker to a client that offered me $500 and i let him have it for $425. you think what you want but that's the truth.
i wouldn't pay $500 for that Parker because i have maybe 10 vises that are bigger, but it does have value and i'd pay $500 for an old 130 pound vise before i'd buy a new one.
i wouldn't pay $500 for that Parker because i have maybe 10 vises that are bigger, but it does have value and i'd pay $500 for an old 130 pound vise before i'd buy a new one.
1950mercury
Well-known member
I have a vice that looks just like that but it is a Model 2300 that has the Parker loop on it that I am parting out if it will work for that vise
OP
fowlwishes
Well-known member
jakemac
Well-known member
That Craftsman (Columbian) is only a $40-$60 vise (depending on location/condition). $500 is still too much. Now, if he wanted to throw in a 6" to 8" blacksmith's post vise as well, you might be in the ballpark.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Unrestored, I've picked those for 30$ & less.
OP
fowlwishes
Well-known member
You guys have much better pickings for vises than my area!!!!!!
Doesn't matter. You could buy one on ebay and have it shipped to your house for half that.
At $500 he will never sell it. Give him your number and tell him to call you when he's tired of looking at it.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
SRM: unless you really need a big vise you might wait and find another one, but big old 6 inch vises don't grow on trees. depending on the vise nut issue on the Parker it's worth in the neighborhood of $150 to $350. the Craftsman is probably worth $75 so he's getting closer. if you were closer i'd let you take a look at a couple of my farm fresh ones but shipping costs wouldn't make the deal as sweet.
good luck and you can PM me if you have any questions on a vise if you need any.
good luck and you can PM me if you have any questions on a vise if you need any.
If you're ok with the 4-4.5" range, those are easy to find around here. I have a few i'll be selling but like Drives said, shipping is somewhat prohibitive. I was pricing out shipping a 4" 51 lber and it was like $35. It was only going 2 states over though.