Restoring my Granddads Samson 5218 vice

[Goodtimebyall]

I am trying to refurbish my granddad's 5218. He passed when I was only 6, so I am reasonable sure he bought it new WAY back in the day. I still use it for various purposes around my shop. But I decided to tear it down and clean it up and relubricate it, and paint it. I have had no issues getting it apart. There were no "oops, what have I done now?", events.
I have a couple of questions that I have not been able to run down on the interwebs.
1: Over the years the screw handle was bent. I would like to take it off and at least try to straighten it. But I can't find anything about how the knobs (?) are attached at the ends. Any ideas?
2: After I got the base plate separated from vise proper, found the what is shown in the photo attached, any one know what is going on? It looks like it was done on purpose to me.
Thanks for any help..
Good

 

[1982fxr]

I think you need like 5 posts before pics show up. Make an introduction thread or something to get there.

 

[ratcheted]

The handle ends are peened on, not easily removable, but that is not a large handle, so easily straightened in a big vise or a press. Not sure what the other issue you are having is. I have worked on a few Samson vises now, early 30s' Rock Island.

 

[Goodtimebyall]

I guess I missed the part about needing to have 5 post to be able to add photos. As I am sure the old hands here are aware the fixed part of the vise attaches to the base. When I got the two parts separated and cleaned up the "fixed" part there's what looks like a shallow pie cut 1/3 of the way around, opposite of the locking handle that keeps the vice from turning. The cut is straight towards the center, about 2 maybe 3 inches long at each point. And it's straight. The remaining 2/3 are simi-polish. And the cut out section is only 1/32, or 1/16 of an inch deep. I don't have Internet in my shop, so I will take a few measurements when I get back over there this evening. And I will update this later tonight. Then I will try to think of two something elses to post so I can upload photos.

 

[SkyPuncher]

I like Samson Vise's. I looked through the old catalogs on Internet Archive and Vintage Machinery starting at 1908 and did not find the use of no. 5218 until 1932. 1931 and earlier used different numbers and they changed again in 1935. Here are examples from 1932 and 1934, notice the price increase! Hope you can post pics soon.

"Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog 165K," Fall 1932, Pg. 930

"Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog 169F," Fall 1934, Pg. 859

 

[Goodtimebyall]

Thanks for the info, that tracks with what I know about granddad. Before that time, he and one of his brothers literally wore out two or three Indian Motorcycles crisscrossing the country, before settling down in the South Western corner of North Carolina. He was known as a fair to meddling blacksmith and all around handyman. I have a few of his tools as well as the vise.
My question about the underside of the fixed jaw, I went back and got out my protractor and checked, the damage covers an arc about 110°. About 1/64" deep. The damage is about 1.5" across the area effected. Shallower nearer the centerl. It looks to me as if something struck it, and it spalled away. It just seems strange that the sides that are 110° apart are straight from the outer edge towards the center, and they they ragged connect about 1.5" in from outer edge.
I'm guessing that the warranty has run out by now..

 

[Goodtimebyall]

Okay, back to the vise. I'm going to clean away all the old grease from the vice. Then mask off all the places I don't want paint on, repaint it to the same color. Thinking about painting the name and PN fire truck red. I know, not very original, but I like it, and that's what matters. So my question to the galary is what should I use for a primer, and top coat. I plan on a normal grey for the rest of the unit m with the fire truck red as described. What kind of grease should I use when I reassemble it
Thanks for any advice.
Good