Show off your old exposed thread bench vises

[jawstight]

Here are a couple of mine. I didn't refinish the Stanley but I did add leather liners. I also have a Moxon that I built myself but haven't taken any pictures of it yet.

 

[Indexmill]

Don:
Thanks for saving those pics and posting the story on this thread.
To those who might ask “Why waste your time on such a crappy vise?”
How should I answer?

Cuz it's really not that crappy... It's a very nice vise; manage your expectations.

 

[CRSINMICH]

COLUMBIAN D-531/2 "PENNYPINCHER"
(Complete with white paint splatter)

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[Outlawmws]

2 I picked up a month ago:

Managed to ID the bench mount as a Simplex - Jury still out on the clamp on ID; Possibly Millers Falls, but a lot of makers made this style.



The tell on the Simplex was the swivel locking lever:

 

[d42jeep]

I ended up using this little Columbian vice on my workbench quite a bit, mostly for holding items I’m not willing to leave vise marks on. Looks like it’s time to tighten up one of the jaw screws.
As found at a garage sale.
Mounted on the workbench.

-Don

 

[CRSINMICH]

d42jeep: Here's a tip: Go to an auto parts store and buy a sheet of gasket material called 'Crubber'. It's made of cork and rubber. Line one of the jaw faces with it. The vise's grip will improve and there will be little to no marring. I tried using it on both faces and the grip seemed to be a bit 'squishy'. Contact cement will easily hold the Crubber to the jaw face.

 

[bdbecker]

Here's my Shop King... I was buying something else off the guy and noticed a few items sitting by his garage door. I asked if the vise was for sale and he said that it was, he just hadn't listed it yet. I then asked what he'd want for it, he said make me an offer. I only had like $20 or $30 bucks on me after paying him for the item I already bought, but he said good enough and helped me load it into the car.

Earlier in it's life it had been (poorly) painted silver. A bit of shame because when I stripped the paint, the factory red looked like it was in pretty good shape underneath. I went blue just to mix things up. Not nearly as nice as some of the ones that have been posted so far, but I'm happy with how it came out. Ignore the mess in the background, I could feel myself getting sick as I was reassembling the vise and didn't have the energy to clean up when I was done.

 

[CRSINMICH]

bdbecker: Your Shop King is pre-1960

 

[bdbecker]

bdbecker: Your Shop King is pre-1960

That's good to know! I've never really dug into the history of them too much, I just loved how it looked. It's perfect for my light-duty needs.

 

[Outlawmws]

I had no clue the shop king was made as late as 1973!

 

[CRSINMICH]

WILTON 25A
I got this one 5 or 6 years ago and have never used the angle feature but I have a project in the works that may need it.

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[kaymccampbell]

Here are mine.

 

[colmal]

I guess the Wil Burt, Versa, and Gyro vises are open screw....but not looked down on in any way for that design feature.

Noticed tonight that you can buy a brand new lookalike, maybe at least 2 company's copying them, are they that practical / sought after that it's worth it to produce new ones ?

 

[Outlawmws]

Noticed tonight that you can buy a brand new lookalike, maybe at least 2 company's copying them, are they that practical / sought after that it's worth it to produce new ones ?

Yes, gunsmiths and amateurs pretending to be a gunsmith love them. others that want the flexibility of a pattern makers vise on a smaller scale also.

 

[CRSINMICH]

colmal: The basic concept has been around a long time. Here's John Long's 1901 patent. They seem to be popular now. I actually have a couple Versa Vises with most of the accessories and have never used them. I suppose that for certain specific actions (see above) they could be extremely useful.

 

[Shiftless]

CRS:
Thanks for posting that catalog page. I used to have 3 of them. One I rehabbed and gave to my son in law for a Xmas present. Another one, in the rare factory orange color, I sold on eBay for way more money than I expected, and the last one remains in my collection downstairs. I am fortunate to have the rare accessory that lets you cut a hole in your bench and have a retractable mount that drops down to fit flush with the top of your workbench.

 

[colmal]

colmal: The basic concept has been around a long time. Here's John Long's 1901 patent. They seem to be popular now. I actually have a couple Versa Vises with most of the accessories and have never used them. I suppose that for certain specific actions (see above) they could be extremely useful.

Thankyou,
The ones I saw are Chinses copies, same green colour, just didn't want to post them in here.

 

[Outlawmws]

I am fortunate to have the rare accessory that lets you cut a hole in your bench and have a retractable mount that drops down to fit flush with the top of your workbench.

I'd love to find one of those! Also the bench clamp, but either would be fairly easy to make as well, the OD of the mount is 1-1/2" so some good tubing and away you go. I like how they used two screws for the bench clamp. That has to be way more secure.

 

[colmal]

Yes, gunsmiths and amateurs pretending to be a gunsmith love them. others that want the flexibility of a pattern makers vise on a smaller scale also.

Thankyou
The gunsmithing makes sense.

 

[Beerhippie]

I guess we're including DP vises, so:

As found:



The gal at the shop sale where I found this told me it was broken, but if I wanted it, take it. Free is always a good price!

Almost ready for paint:





Hidden under the grime were some problems to address.

Done:





I made some aluminum jaws for it:



and made it into a 3 1/2" vise. Next project is to find some 3/8" aluminum stock to make a base extension for clamping it to the DP table.

 

[bdbecker]

...amateurs pretending to be a gunsmith love them...

Lol! I literally have one of the knock-offs on my Amazon "Pew Stuff" wish list right now.

 

[CRSINMICH]

I've had this one for about 10 years. I have to admit I don't use it very often.

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[RTM]

Noticed tonight that you can buy a brand new lookalike, maybe at least 2 company's copying them, are they that practical / sought after that it's worth it to produce new ones ?

Friend who is a lutherie loves his for neck and head work on his handmade instruments.

Here is mine. Gotta look for the mount others are talking about.

 

[colmal]

Friend who is a lutherie loves his for neck and head work on his handmade instruments.

Here is mine. Gotta look for the mount others are talking about.

I Like that and it's attachments, haven't seen one here for sale but you never know. I do know I won't be happy buying a cheaper import, another one added to the list.

I bought one of the imported Dawns new, tidied up the finish (deburred and painted), got it working better with a few tweaks (basically just put it back together with some care) and then gave it away as a Christmas Present as it just looked inferior to my eyes compared to the older Oz built ones it was sitting next to.
Won't make that mistake again, was a $370 present, the BIL loved it at least, so all good.

 

[Patrickm82]

Here are a couple I picked up this weekend. A Lewis Tool Co. # 96 and a 2 1/2” craftsman clap on 5247 I believe. Can’t wait to clean up the Lewis. The meatball on this thing is huge compared to the rest of it.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple of former users that have been sitting around in my garage, having been replaced by better vises.
-Don

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I’m not sure if this counts because the threads are covered but I consider this Columbian D44 more of a homeowner grade vise. I landed it for $10 last week.

 

[Beerhippie]

I’m not sure if this counts because the threads are covered but I consider this Columbian D44 more of a homeowner grade vise. I landed it for $10 last week.

Looks familiar:



Mine got a bit better lookin':

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Looks familiar:



Mine got a bit better:

Damn! I have some work to do! Looks great!

 

[Beerhippie]

My D44 M3 sure looks the same as your D44. Just a date thing?

 

[Outlawmws]

Those are above "homeowner grade" because the screws are covered IMO. Not far above, but above. More of a garage vise for a gas station of the day.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I’m not sure if this counts because the threads are covered but I consider this Columbian D44 more of a homeowner grade vise. I landed it for $10 last week.

Looks familiar:



Mine got a bit better lookin':

I didn’t realize I painted mine exactly like yours lol. Besides a pretty noticeable jaw misalignment this is a pretty clean little vise. Didn’t take much to bring back to life.

 

[Beerhippie]

I didn’t realize I painted mine exactly like yours lol. Besides a pretty noticeable jaw misalignment this is a pretty clean little vise. Didn’t take much to bring back to life.

Nice!

They aren't the best-fitted vise I've used....

 

[CRSINMICH]

CHIEF L4
According Vintage Machinery these were made by Littlestown.

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[2001ZR2]

This a 3 1/2" Lakeside that was in a $50 pick from the basement of a very nice woman's mother's house. Got 2 sets of Craftsman wrenches, a near complete set of sockets, surplus 50 cal ammo can and the crown jewel the cutting mat!

Reading this thread I now know the GJ white paint removal technique is a pocket knife and patientence.

 

[2001ZR2]

This afternoon I'll have a American Scale 40T to add and might find my little Columbian.

 

[Outlawmws]

the GJ white paint removal technique is a pocket knife and patientence

That certainly has been mine for paint spatter. Drips might be a bit trickier...

I have a Shrade Old Timer I started using s a "scraper", for taking gunge off an old oak tool box. The edges are not sharp anymore, but have become burnished so I can often do the paint spatter "pop" with no damage to the original finish. vises. tool furniture, even wood cabinet speakers. So now i carry that, and a sharp knife now...

Sometimes a single edge razor blade, coming in very flat, can be effective, but typically for flat smooth surfaces.

 

[2001ZR2]

As promised the American Scale vise...fresh off FB Marketplace. Was combo buy with a Craftman 3/4 hp block grinder and cast iron stand.

 

[CRSINMICH]

2001ZR2: This 1956 ad shows "American DeLUXE Utility Vises". It's odd because the vise pictured has 35T on it but none of the vise numbers listed have the added 'T'. I have an American Scale #35 but it doesn't have the 'T'.

KMS: There is no listing for an American Scale #40T on the spreadsheet.

 

[2001ZR2]

There is the other side.

What is the spreadsheet you referenced??

Edit posted picture twice