Post Your Rare/Uncommon Vises

[Maui]

Wow!!! Maui, you've managed to find an ultra rare W. E. Snediker patent no. 686,484 XL Rapid vise. I believe it may be the first one show-cased on the internet. It was manufactured by about -3- different companies, with the last one being the G.M. Yost Mfg. CO. until around 1909.

You've got a model no. 50, as seen in the 1903 catalog scan below.



It has a very unique rapid transit device, described and illustrated in the magazine scans below.



GJ member Mark Stansbury already has some historical information about the inventor in the link below.
http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=11522

Here's the patent link.
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&idkey=NONE&SectionNum=3&HomeUrl=&docid=0686484

Please take some time and upload some detailed photos in good lighting so we can have some quality photo's for record. Also, please reach out to KMScott, so that he can add this information to the "Vise Spreadsheet".

I knew that was a really special vise! I could smell it all the way from Chicago.

Vise on!

This is my very unusual Snediker XL Model 50 rapid adjusting vise, and as far as I know is the only one known to exist. What rare or unusual vises do you own? Post them up!

 

[Shiftless]

Great idea for a new thread. Let’s see the unusual ones.

Here is my first contribution. There are several different makes of these combination anvil/vises but this one is a Prentiss. (#622)

 

[Shiftless]

Here is my Henry #1
Made in Canada, probably in the 1940’s
They made lots of vises to support the Allied forces during WWII

 

[SweetD]

I've posted this one before, but I've never seen another on here - Illinois Iron and Bolt Co #4 1/2 The main nut was cracked when I bought it, had a machinist make me a new one out of cast iron using the old as a pattern, came out perfect. Distance from handle to end of dynamic jaw in this picture is almost 22". Awesome farm vise:

 

[kenc184]

Not as rare as your quick adjust Maui, but here's my Dodge "slide set" quick adjust vise. Pretty unusual in this condition, often times they are brazed/welded.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Here's a 2-for-1,

The absolute King of the 2" jaw bench vise, Charles Parker no. 200-2 vs. Wilton "Schiller Park" no. 20S baby vise. Although not super rare vises, definitely not common and extremely hard to find in this condition.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Vise Info Thread

I don't find this 7" jawed, swivel-jawed, stationary base Yost listed as a model # on the spreadsheet. I'll get more info on it (jaw opening, etc). Thanks, is there a model number? Appreciate the help. Kevin Sent from my iPad using Garage Journal

www.garagejournal.com

this is my Prentiss 75 rapid transit vise. I think there was only one other photo anywhere. This one had a catastrophic failure. I am still planning on trying to repair it.

 

[Tools4Me]

Here's a bench vise I picked up at a garage sale several years ago. It caught my eye because of its' rather unique look and the fact that it's made in Sweden. When I first got it, I did some searching online to try and figure out the maker or learn more about it but I came up pretty empty. Maybe there's more info available now.

 

[Maui]

Vise Info Thread

I don't find this 7" jawed, swivel-jawed, stationary base Yost listed as a model # on the spreadsheet. I'll get more info on it (jaw opening, etc). Thanks, is there a model number? Appreciate the help. Kevin Sent from my iPad using Garage Journal

www.garagejournal.com

this is my Prentiss 75 rapid transit vise. I think there was only one other photo anywhere. This one had a catastrophic failure. I am still planning on trying to repair it.

Ouch! They must have used a monster hammer to break that vise like that Mr. Wonderful. I hope you can find a way to repair it.

 

[Maui]

Tools4me, that Swedish vise looks like a slimmed down version of the Wilton bullet/York design.

 

[joel_400]

I've posted it elsewhere in the forum but this seems to be a good place as well since I've found this vise is extremely rare and valuable. It's a Parker Hall's patent #98 carriage maker's vise. Picked it up close to a month ago at the local flea market. Super cool piece in decent shape for as old as it is. Also included is a pic of four of these Hall's patent vises together at a local tool show. Mine is the one on the far left. The other three belong to another member of the Ohio tool collectors association.
Joel

 

[joel_400]

Another neat little vise I have had for years in this small jewelers/hobby vise. I was told it's a Stephens patent. Cute little guy and haven't seen alot of them. Not sure it's really rare but still cool!
Joel

 

[Maui]

Here is my Craftsman 5198 vise. It has 5" wide jaws and weighs over 100 lbs. I just reassembled it yesterday after the paint cured. There have only been about a dozen or so of these particular vises discovered so far, and there is a discussion thread dedicated to updating the numbers on this vise as well as the 5197.

 

[Firestarter123]

I’m not sure about rare but it’s pretty uncommon.

My Dad retired and moved off of the farm last year so I snagged this Starrett 926 that he bought in the 70’s and had shipped to Nebraska from New York. It even has a new set of spare jaws.

It’s really, really heavy at 205lbs.

 

[Jr5]

Here's a 2-for-1,

The absolute King of the 2" jaw bench vise, Charles Parker no. 200-2 vs. Wilton "Schiller Park" no. 200S baby vise. Although not super rare vises, definitely not common and extremely hard to find in this condition.

I have your Schiller parks twin

 

[Jr5]

 

[kwoody51]

This is my Yost with a pivoting jaw. I’ve not ever seen one. Don’t know if that means it’s rare but it’s unique.

Non rare athol in the background.

 

[Maui]

This is a Stephans Patent quick adjust coachmakers vise that I have. It is the only one of its kind that I have ever seen anywhere. I have seen a few of the Stephans Patent vises over the years, but never another coachmakers vise by that company. Does anybody here own this same vise?

 

[joel_400]

I've seen one recently on Facebook marketplace. The handle was broken off, but other than that it seemed to be in decent shape. I want to say in was in mid Pennsylvania if I'm not mistaken. Kinda wish I would have chased after it, but it just wasn't in the cards at that time. It was pretty reasonably priced too if I remember correctly.
Joel

 

[Fierljeppen]

This is a Stephans Patent quick adjust coachmakers vise that I have. It is the only one of its kind that I have ever seen anywhere. I have seen a few of the Stephans Patent vises over the years, but never another coachmakers vise by that company. Does anybody here own this same vise?

The Stephens' Coach / Wood Workers vise came in -2- models; no. 32 and no. 34. The following 1888 catalog scan is the only one I've seen with both models, all of the other catalog scans only listed the no. 34 vise.

What model is your vise?



With that said, I've only seen -2- of these vises ever and both of them were the 3-1/2" jaw no. 32 vise, putting your vise in the "super rare" category.



@Maui...That's a fabulous find! Your vise certainly deserves to be in the "Vise Spreadsheet".

 

[GaryM909]

I got this one from my neighbour about 10 years ago. After searching a bit for the rest of the parts I gave up and the vice sits on a shelf in the garage.

 

[Maui]

I hunt in upstate NY, where about upstate?

The Stephens' Coach / Wood Workers vise came in -2- models; no. 32 and no. 34. The following 1888 catalog scan is the only one I've seen with both models, all of the other catalog scans only listed the no. 34 vise.

What model is your vise?



With that said, I've only seen -2- of these vises ever and both of them were the 3-1/2" jaw no. 32 vise, putting your vise in the "super rare" category.



@Maui...That's a fabulous find! Your vise certainly deserves to be in the "Vise Spreadsheet".

My vise has 4 1/2” wide jaws, so it’s a number 34.

 

[Loga_3]

Here's a bench vise I picked up at a garage sale several years ago. It caught my eye because of its' rather unique look and the fact that it's made in Sweden. When I first got it, I did some searching online to try and figure out the maker or learn more about it but I came up pretty empty. Maybe there's more info available now.

Your vise is a Pewe vise. Patented 1960.

 

[pelletman]

This is one I have that is unmarked and unidentified (so far) but is nice and crispy. Possibly a trade school project

 

[gatewaysysop]

Hmm. Let me contribute towards the smaller side of things. For those more inclined to the big game, here's my threads for those: Athol 628, Parker 978, Craftsman 5199.

I've added a Pica deep hole marker for scale,


Prentiss Bulldog 207



Athol no. 87


Athol 612 1/2


Parker No. 19

Last but not least:



A couple of P&H vises, larger one is stamped with an 1885 patent. The smaller one I believe says "applied for", so presumably older of the two.

 

[F-22]

Wow that seems insanely tiny to manufacture.

My system Koch German made vise (just under 8" width).




And the only one in the world - one-off vise made for my grandfather in a local machine factory by apprentices. Cut and milled out of solid billet steel pieces:

 

[ricleh]

A very small G. Boley vise. Next to some Wilton baby bullet vises for size comparison.

 

[banditbigdog]

G. Boley
2.375” wide

 

[skmbabon]

I got this one from my neighbour about 10 years ago. After searching a bit for the rest of the parts I gave up and the vice sits on a shelf in the garage.

@GaryM909, that looks very much like the Hanson 5 in 1 vise made by Stowell Mfg, and others. Hanson vise

It's the second one I've seen made by Thompson Manufacturing Company, Grand Bay, New Brunswick. The company is listed in the 1916 Canadian Trade Index under "Anvils & Vises" and in 1920 under "Vises and Drilling Machines, Combined." Thompson also made a horseshoers' vise, mentioned in the June 1905 "The Canada Lumberman" and in the above 1920 directory.

Hanson vises are not rare, unless complete. Thompson vises are much less common.

 

[s3zau]

My “big” 60mm leinen vise

 

[Beerhippie]

My Reed 404 1/2--now converted to a 104 1/2 as the swivel base is missing.



But, you say, Reed vises aren't rare!

Ones made in 1911 are:

 

[Beerhippie]

Just a crazy question: Did one manufacturer make the meatball lead screw heads and handles for a lot of vise makers?

A quick review of the photos above show not similar, but identical meatballs and handles on vises from Starret, Yost, Athol and Reed.

Or, was it just considered "fashionable"?

 

[Maui]

My Reed 404 1/2--now converted to a 104 1/2 as the swivel base is missing.



But, you say, Reed vises aren't rare!

Ones made in 1911 are:

I own that same Reed vise Beerhippie. It's built like a tank! Mine is painted black and has the swivel base. I haven't checked that date stamp on it yet to see what year it was manufactured. I'll need to do that after I get home.

 

[Maui]

I just picked up this Perfection 26 vise from an 85 year old blacksmith who said it belonged to either his father or his grandfather. He told me he has never seen another, and in the 10+ years I have been collecting vises neither have I. Does anyone know what company may have built it? There are no markings on the vise other than what appears in the photo.

 

[KMScott]

Maui. When you get a chance give me some spec:s so I can add it with the 30,31 and 33 models

Static and Dynamic looks Prentiss but the meatball looks different then the Prentiss. Nice vise.

 

[Maui]

Hi Kevin, I'll do that for you when I have the opportunity. I agree with your views about the similarity to Prentiss vises, as well as the differences. I don't know of another one of these Perfection 26 vises anywhere. The meatball is reminiscent of a Prentiss vise, but not quite the same. I wouldn't be surprised if this vise is over 100 years old.

 

[Beerhippie]

Here's one that seems to be truly unique--as in one-of-a-kind, seeing as I can't find another example anywhere:



As found.



Mounts via a T-bolt slot (no evidence this ever had a swivel base).



This is the strange part. The "nut" mounts in a tube or column attached to the handle and the dynamic jaw, and the screw:



is pinned to the static jaw/body of the vise. This makes for a very nicely covered screw, as is evident from the lack of wear on said screw, compared to the outside of the vise. The slide runs on two rails below the "column" in the keyhole opening.



All the parts before cleaning.



After cleaning, I found the column runs on a bronze thrust bearing in the dynamic jaw--nice touch!



~4 1/2" opening,



3" jaws.







Jaws are cast-in.

@deezil found a patent that led me to the patent for this vise:

[URL]https://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=65097&id=12903[/img]

It's been "rode hard and put up wet" for about a hundred and fifty years.

Joseph H. Lewis Patent of 1867.

Is this a unicorn, or was my search-fu too weak?

 

[Maui]

Welcome Beerhippie! That one I have not come across in over 10 years of hunting these vises in the wild. You have found a very rare vise indeed. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Beerhippie]

Welcome Beerhippie! That one I have not come across in over 10 years of hunting these vises in the wild. You have found a very rare vise indeed. Thanks for sharing!

It's headed for the Bay of Evil. I need a vise I can use. My Coleman collection has already used all shelf space available, plus a lot of hanging space.

It's at least documented for posteriority.

 

[Maui]

If you could please, contact KMScott here about your vise so he can include it in the spreadsheet for posterity.