Rare vise

[TinkTinkForge]

Rarest vise in your collection?

 

[bobcatdan]

I know to most, a little Columbian 503 1/2 is far from rare, mine is Irreplaceable. I'd never find another one that was my grandfather's.

 

[Bcom]

Reed 4C vise
200LBS

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[Jarhead0408]

This one:

Wilton pre-war swivel jaw Model 60.

 

[torqueman2002]

I have a Parker 52 with a swivel dynamic jaw.

I have been checking eBay for over a year and have yet to see another.

 

[zoomieport]

Here's a couple...

Take care!
ZOOM

 

[G-ManBart]

I don't really have a collection, just a few I plan to keep...but even that might change.

Since we don't know production numbers on vises, it's really hard to tell which one is most rare, but I have/have had, three that are pretty uncommon. A Wilton 450SJ (1-75 date code) and a Parker 272...odd both are 4.5" swivel jaws. Still, I suspect the 8" American Scale I had briefly was produced in far smaller numbers.

 

[Packard V8]

Many of the vises above are of well-known manufacture and excellent design, only not common because of large size or age or high original cost.

However, just being uncommon does not necessarily equate to even good and certainly not to best. Posts here regularly come in with vises no one has ever seen before. I've passed on one-of-a-kind designs and/or obscure manufacturers because they weren't really user-friendly or quality manufacture. Even Craftsman has put out total loser designs in nearly every tool category. They didn't stay in the catalog very long, for good reason.

jack vines

 

[jakemac]

Some might argue that it's the Reed 102-1/2 that I just aquired, or my Reed 3C, or the Bonney Champion 129. But they'd all be wrong. My most rare and prized vises are my 2 Columbian 804 steel plate vises.

The first one was my grandfather's, and is still sitting on his workbench because I haven't the heart to remove it yet. He bought it used in 1958/9. My grandfather (in his late eighties when he told the story) told me that he bought it from "an Old Man". That story still makes me giggle when I think of it.

The second is one I finally found after a 30yr search about 7 months before he passed. At $40, I over-paid for it because it's the only one I've seen outside three others on this forum, and the only other one I've ever seen in person.

I was finally able to find a copy of a 1949 ad on eBay with this vise listed. Columbian only offered this style vise for a short time after the war, and only in a 4" size. It took this forum several years to determine who made it, and eventually what the model number it was. I still haven't determined the start or end dates for its run.

This isn't a heavy duty vise, but the first one served a 57yr second life and is still going. The second also has plenty of life left in it. Not bad for an economy vise.

 

[FMC1959]

Some might argue that it's the Reed 102-1/2 that I just aquired, or my Reed 3C, or the Bonney Champion 129. But they'd all be wrong. My most rare and prized vises are my 2 Columbian 804 steel plate vises.

The first one was my grandfather's, and is still sitting on his workbench because I haven't the heart to remove it yet. He bought it used in 1958/9. My grandfather (in his late eighties when he told the story) told me that he bought it from "an Old Man". That story still makes me giggle when I think of it.

The second is one I finally found after a 30yr search about a year before he passed. At $50, I over-paid for it because it's the only one I've seen outside three others on this forum, and the only other one I've ever seen in person.

I was finally able to find a copy of a 1949 ad on eBay with this vise listed. Columbian only offered this style vise for a short time after the war, and only in a 4" size. It took this forum several years to determine who made it, and eventually what the model number it was. I still haven't determined the start or end dates for its run.

This isn't a heavy duty vise, but the first one served a 57yr second life and is still going. The second also has plenty of life left in it. Not bad for an economy vise.

Jake, you having two of them makes you rare!

But, because you have 2, you definitely would be the best to say. I am thinking that if it is forged steel plates and welded together, it could be a wolf in sheep's clothing, something like a Milhoff...more solid than an expected from an "economy" vise.

 

[kwoswalt99]

Some might argue that it's the Reed 102-1/2 that I just aquired, or my Reed 3C, or the Bonney Champion 129. But they'd all be wrong. My most rare and prized vises are my 2 Columbian 804 steel plate vises.

The first one was my grandfather's, and is still sitting on his workbench because I haven't the heart to remove it yet. He bought it used in 1958/9. My grandfather (in his late eighties when he told the story) told me that he bought it from "an Old Man". That story still makes me giggle when I think of it.

The second is one I finally found after a 30yr search about a year before he passed. At $50, I over-paid for it because it's the only one I've seen outside three others on this forum, and the only other one I've ever seen in person.

I was finally able to find a copy of a 1949 ad on eBay with this vise listed. Columbian only offered this style vise for a short time after the war, and only in a 4" size. It took this forum several years to determine who made it, and eventually what the model number it was. I still haven't determined the start or end dates for its run.

This isn't a heavy duty vise, but the first one served a 57yr second life and is still going. The second also has plenty of life left in it. Not bad for an economy vise.

IIRC, Dawn had one that looked identical.

 

[davewo]

My Sambre et Meuse vise seems rather uncommon to me. I don't know much about it other than it is older, forged steel, and made in France by the Sambre et Meuse company.

View media item 49079

 

[jakemac]

Jake, you having two of them makes you rare!

But, because you have 2, you definitely would be the best to say. I am thinking that if it is forged steel plates and welded together, it could be a wolf in sheep's clothing, something like a Milhoff...more solid than an expected from an "economy" vise.

I've been told that I'm medium-rare, does that count ?
I attached a clip of the 1949 ad so you can read the description.
I've never seen the removable pipe jaws.

IIRC, Dawn had one that looked identical.

I'd like to see one of those to compare.


I edited my original post due to a faulty memory. I bought the second one 7 months before my grandfather passed, and paid $40 for it.

When I told my grandfather about buying it he said "why spend money when you could've taken mine ?"
I responded by reminding him that every time I asked, he always told me "You can have any tools you want, but DON'T TOUCH MY VISE"

 

[meatsis]

Here's one. I wouldn't say it's my rarest vise. But I only know of 2 others that have been found. One is really beat up, and the other is missing the swivel base. This one is mint. Athol 628. Just over 300 pounds.

 

[dutchgray]

This swivel Jaw parkinson
View media item 61580The only one in existence that I am aware of, though there probably is a few about somewhere.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Reed 404.5 replaceable jaws Swivel Static jaw

 

[Jarhead0408]

Lotsa' swivel jaws in here! I like! I like!

 

[G-ManBart]

This swivel Jaw parkinson
View media item 61580The only one in existence that I am aware of, though there probably is a few about somewhere.

That is crazy cool!

 

[DieselDent]

I guess this would qualify as somewhat rare at least in the few I have.

Reed 406R
View media item 9268

 

[Shiftless]

This thread deserves a revival...
Here is my Reed 406 swivel jaw, the earlier version of Diesel's

 

[Shiftless]

Here is my rare ACCO 21

Beefiest 3 inch jaw vise I have ever seen or heard of...weighs 65 pounds IIRC

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Fred C Moran rotator thing

Athol 618 300+lbs

Wilton 450sj

Cardinal Speed Vise 140

Cardinal Speed Vise 45M

Chas Parker 436

I guess really only the Fred C Moran is rare, the others are just uncommon (except the 45M. I think that might be rare)

 

[shanny19]

Rock Island 851, built in 1951. Factory paint was bright chartreuse, like 1970's fire engine chartreuse. Even brighter than Mohawk's Cardinal above.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

There are some great looking rare vises here. My entry is an American Scale No. 75H, 3-1/2", pivot jaw, machinist's vise. I don't know how rare, but I've never seen another one.

 

[Shiftless]

Here is a Hollands 43 1/2 Swivel Jaw in what seems to be original paint

 

[va.grouseman]

Here's some of my favorites.

 

[Shiftless]

va:
Thanks for posting part of your vast collection!

A nice Prentiss lion head (Monarch) is high on my most wanted list.

 

[TinkTinkForge]

Here's some of my favorites.

Killer!!! Love them bike vises!! One of those are on my want list!


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[TinkTinkForge]

Heres a few of mine.


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[1982fxr]

Bingham anchor line made by prentiss I guess. Don’t have a pic handy just this ad. Mine is like a 3”. Only one I’ve ever seen.

 

[Tarnished]

Have to be this Jacobson for me. Haven't seen many around like this one.

 

[TinkTinkForge]

That’s a beauty!!

 

[Mike.ASC]

Have to be this Jacobson for me. Haven't seen many around like this one.

Very cool I can think of several times where this would have worked great.
What kind of locking mechanism does this vise have to lock it onto the base?

 

[dr_clyde]

I don't have many "rare" tools, especially vises. My rarest is probably my baby bullet.

Found it in my Grandpa's barn.

 

[davethorik]

Heres a few of mine
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What size is that swivel jaw Reed?

 

[TinkTinkForge]

2” jaws. 402

 

[notlob]

I'm sure I have rarer models of vises, but this is probably my rarest vise given its near pristine condition, with box and instruction sheet. It's available for sale/trade - who likes PK?

 

[bbirder]

I'm sure I have rarer models of vises, but this is probably my rarest vise given its near pristine condition, with box and instruction sheet. It's available for sale/trade - who likes PK?

I found this one in my "pile". Not sure where I acquired it. Columbian pat pending on side. All welded plate, no castings.


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[bbirder]

I found this one in my "pile". Not sure where I acquired it. Columbian pat pending on side. All welded plate, no castings.


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Another pic


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[va.grouseman]

Bbirder, that is a model #804 Columbian.---Nice solid vises.