Prentiss Monarch No 231

[AMGARCIA40]

Can anyone help me with information and value of this Vice.
I just snapped this picture real quick but could get more.

Thanks

 

[thehorse13]

This vise was made by Prentiss around 1917. It's a fixed base wood worker's vise and it should weigh about 66 pounds. I can tell you that it's extremely well made and a desirable vise if there are no repairs, cracks, welds and/or missing parts.

All of that said, value will be drastically different based on your physical location. I can buy this vise pretty easily and cheaply in the mid Atlantic region. I will say that no matter where you live, you're not going to retire off flipping this tool. You'll be lucky to get 5 or 6 items at the grocery store.

Welcome.

 

[redragoon]

There is likely a crack in the back of the slide. Prentiss vises were known to do this over time.

 

[AMGARCIA40]

Thank you for the quick replies. I was able to get a few more pictures today and I don't see any cracks.

Edit: I just now noticed the crack along the bottom of the jaw. Does this have much value like this or should I just grind it out good and weld it and use it in my shop?

 

[thehorse13]

Cracks, welds and/or repairs destroy collector value. If you need a woodworker's vise in your shop, this one will be better than anything you can buy new even with the repair.

 

[AMGARCIA40]

Thank you. I plan to use it. Do these crack from use or is this some other type of stress fracture? It seems like it would take alot to crack one as it is super solid.

 

[thehorse13]

Prentiss made excellent vises, however, the metal is notorious for cracking. It's almost always found on the top of the slide but I've seen it elsewhere. Usually the cause is abuse. I have several 100+ year old Prentiss vises in use in my shop. They've never cracked on me so far. Then again, I'm not using the vise as an anvil like so many people love to do.