Prentiss Pattern Maker Vise ???

[cclfn]

Guys, I am working on a vise deal and I am not sure about the collect-ability of these wood/pattern maker vises. I don't have anymore info right now other than it is supposed to be in excellent condition. I am guessing it may be a #99 but haven't got the better photos yet. I don't have a Prentiss yet but wondering if I should wait for a machinist model. Any help with a value compared to a machinist model (assuming all is good and its a 99) would be very helpful.
Thanks,
Wes

 

[Catalyze]

Greetings!
That type of vise usually has a very long slide on it, so check or make sure it is not cracked or mushroomed on the edges. With the jaw towers so tall, it possibly won't take an "all out" pressure on an object without cracking. Machinist vises (not combos) have lower towers so you don't have the leverage so high up on the jaw. For someone like me, I have no worries about a metal worker/wood/pattern type of vise. If you are a 4x4 driveshaft rebuilder, then you might reconsider.

The prices on those Prentiss vises are all over the place. Some folks think that because you don't see many of them that they must be worth $500. I wouldn't pay any more for one than I would for a machinist vise of the same size. The final price is between you and your wallet. I have gotten Prentiss Bulldog vises for under $35 at industrial auctions....and I have paid several times that for Bulldogs off of Ebay. Good luck and keep us posted!
Craig

 

[Outlawmws]

What Cat said. I'd buy one of those just to have it but it is NOT a terribly strong vise.

 

[Carla]

I have one of those vises myself, in the 'Reed' make, pretty much the same thing as that Prentiss. It is an excellent woodworking tool, but is relatively 'delicate' compared to a standard 'machinists' vise. They are not intended for the same class of heavy service as is a 'machinists' vise.

They are relatively rare, in good condition, and quite desirable, so if you can get a reasonably good deal on it, you could rather advantageously trade it for a best quality machinists' pattern vise. If you are likely to be doing some woodworking, you've 'gotten lucky'..... : )

cheers

Carla

 

[cclfn]

Great info !
Thank you very much

 

[neophyte]

That vise looks very similar to what Yost Vises has listed as a "Sheet Metal Vise". A sheet metal vise would be for holding thin sheet metal for bending cutting soldiering, riveting etc. Most Patternmaker vises I've seen are far more adjustable. They usually have swivelling jaws and are adjustable in multiple angles. The Yost 503 41/2" Sheet Metal vise, with swivel base sells for $698 on Yost's website, and seems to have a street price of as low as $530 according to google.

 

[Outlawmws]

Parker made one in that same style, and called it a "Wood Workers" vise according to an ad from 1945.

I've been in a LOT of sheet metal shops, an had a half dozen close friends that were/are life long in the sheet metal trades and Unions, and I've NEVER seen one of those in any sheet metal shop.

I know Yost called them a Sheet metal vise, but

Also, ask yourself this: why would a vise for sheet metal need to open over 6"?

 

[gatewaysysop]

Guys, I am working on a vise deal and I am not sure about the collect-ability of these wood/pattern maker vises. I don't have anymore info right now other than it is supposed to be in excellent condition. I am guessing it may be a #99 but haven't got the better photos yet. I don't have a Prentiss yet but wondering if I should wait for a machinist model. Any help with a value compared to a machinist model (assuming all is good and its a 99) would be very helpful.
Thanks,
Wes

I have a Morgan vise with this type of jaw, one of my favorites because it is heavy for its size (longer slide accounting for that) and somewhat rarer than the average Morgan. Every vise guy should at least own one of them, just for the sheer coolness factor.

On a more serious note, in good condition, they seem to fetch a fair price, perhaps reflective of their scarcity (which, my guess, is partly due to the fact that people ruin them far more easily than a machinist version). Worth as much as a machinist vise in the same size? Probably not to everyone, but definitely to some folks. I'd have no problem paying on par with machinist vise prices for one of these.

To each his own, as always, but if the price was fair, I'd pick it up just to have one.

 

[neophyte]

Parker made one in that same style, and called it a "Wood Workers" vise according to an ad from 1945.

I've been in a LOT of sheet metal shops, an had a half dozen close friends that were/are life long in the sheet metal trades and Unions, and I've NEVER seen one of those in any sheet metal shop.

I know Yost called them a Sheet metal vise, but

Also, ask yourself this: why would a vise for sheet metal need to open over 6"?

I can't say what the original reason was for the jaws to open 6", I can only guess. The jaw shape is very similar though to the shape of the jaws on bending tongs made for sheet metal work and roofing. Do a Google search for Fairmont Tongs or clinching or seaming plier( Stubai, Freund, and peddinghaus are three major manufacturers). The skinny jaws would allow a person to do tight bends in metal that was to thick for hand tongs as well as hold metal together for riveting or soldiering. The larger jaw capacity was probably there to make the vise somewhat multipurpose. Allowing the metalworker to hold chunks of wood for making custom forms. or holding sheet metal in place around a form for lightweight hammering. In the latter operation it would to a certain extent acted as a pattern-makers vise. The "sheet-metal" name probably stuck around long after they stopper being used by sheet metal workers similar to the way "tappet" wrench is still in use even though a lot of people no longer use them for adjusting tappets.

 

[cclfn]

OK - The rest of the story.

I thought I had it at $150 but then he said when he realized the hole that would be left in the bench he wouldn't do it. The bench is cool with cast iron legs but at $800 not so much. He says he already has a buyer for the bench and I told him that I would provide an nice old machinist vice to fill the hole but he still wouldn't remove the vise. All was not wasted as I did pick up a Samson for $20 but it is missing the grooved bottom plate for the swivel to work I'll post a pic of it tomorrow.)
The joys of CL!

 

[Catalyze]

CL is like a blind date....you just never know how it is going to turn out!
Thanks for keeping us up to date and don't give up.
Craig