Please help identify an old vise.

[Avispex]

I can't see any markings in the pictures I have. I purchased this sight unseen, which might have been a mistake, but I knew if I waited I would not get another chance and this was the first chance I have had at a seriously large vise in 6 years of looking. I am already a bit saddened to see that the rear bottom corner of the slide has been broken off, which is a feature of many older vises.

What I know so far is that the vase has jaws that are 7" wide, the seller can not see any markings or identifying castings, the vise is approximately 12" tall off the bench, and 31" from front to back. I don't know how exact any of those measurements are, but 31" seems closer to an 8" vise than a 7" vise, although total length is a rarely reported dimension in old, large vise discussions, so I really can't be sure.

If anybody has any ideas I would sure love to hear them.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[KMScott]

Andy
It looks like it could be a Prentiss #57 if you are correct about the jaw width. It can be repaired. Nice vise.

 

[Avispex]

Thanks for posting that. I was going to say that I thought it had a Prentiss look, but I hadn't found any matches.

I have no idea if Prentiss vises are any better or worse than Reeds or Parkers, but I think in this size class you take what you can when you can and if something else comes along then you are extra lucky.

Andy

 

[Avispex]

Well, I picked it up today. There are definitely some markings on the vise. Possibly casting numbers on both sides of the movable jaw and a large set of cast symbols on the left side of the stationary jaw. It may be rust damage, but I think it is years of built up layers of incredibly thick paint that have made whatever it says completely illegible. I will try to spend a little time tomorrow hitting it with a wire brush to reveal the true identity, however, I feel like the Prentiss #57 is an excellent guess.

 

[thehorse13]

Prentiss made vises for several other companies, some of which were not branded. Many times they marked the bottom side of the dynamic jaw with, "PV Co." in raised lettering. Have a look there and I bet you'll find this cast into the jaw.

 

[Avispex]

I got out a power drill with a small iron cup and took it to the side that looked like it had the most writing on it.

Here is a shot for scale-

Before pic, still thinking Prentiss, maybe....

After pic, nope, Athol...

I spent just a second on the other side to see the model number-

So, I am now thinking this is an Athol 617 instead of a Prentiss 57. I doubt I'll find another one any time soon, so for now I am going to keep cleaning this baby up and get it ready for a new home with far fewer coats of paint.

I would love to hear suggestions about repairing the broken off rear corner of the slide.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[ZRX61]

do you have the missing piece?

 

[Avispex]

I don't have the missing piece. ( Of anything. )

 

[thehorse13]

You cannot repair that easily, if at all. Most of us would have passed on a vise with a chunk of the slide missing.

That said, I have seen guys perform miracles with some tool restorations. You may want to post your question on the vise repair 101 thread.

 

[454ragtop]

You cannot repair that easily, if at all. Most of us would have passed on a vise with a chunk of the slide missing.

That said, I have seen guys perform miracles with some tool restorations. You may want to post your question on the vise repair 101 thread.

Not sure most would pass on that, it's a 7", don't think I've ever even seen one. If it was a more common 6" or under, sure, pass. I think the way to repair it would be to either get some cast iron bar, or maybe find another broken vise for a donor piece of a slide, and weld/braze it on. I think I've seen similar breaks repaired with steel as well, might be a little trickier. Pretty sure there's a similar repair buried in the vise mega thread, remember seeing it. I'm wondering if the vise was dropped at one time, seems pretty difficult to break any other way. I think once repaired it would be fine, can't be much stress there usually, not to mention how often would it be open that far. For most uses, it would probably be fine even with the chunk missing.
Good luck, Jim

 

[KMScott]

So, I am now thinking this is an Athol 617 instead of a Prentiss 57. I doubt I'll find another one any time soon, so for now I am going to keep cleaning this baby up and get it ready for a new home with far fewer coats of paint.

I would love to hear suggestions about repairing the broken off rear corner of the slide.

Thanks,

Andy

Andy, here is how I would repair a break like that. I would choose to braze in a new piece of cast iron. Having the right equipment is essential, I get calls all the time where the person just bought a Chas Parker with no jaws and figures they are a dime a dozen. You can purchase cast iron at McMaster Carr. I added a view of the page.

I would set up the dynamic jaw support either in a vise or on a sine plate then established a flat surface and create the cut angle. You could just cut a slot and reproduce it in the cast iron but I prefer the reversed drafted cutters. I would leave about .005 clearance for the brass. If you can make the side replacement piece about .02 proud then you can cut the side to match the square slider. Then braze it.

Your question is not a easy one to answer with out better pictures of your vise and not knowing your abilities. I created a quick drawing with notes. Welding would be last option since it would be brittle.