Unmarked Vise ID

[NotStock]

Hey everyone,

There is a big boy vise for sale in my area and every time one comes up I can’t help myself and have to have it. Problem is this one is unmarked. If it was branded I’d make an offer, but without IDing it, I can’t really decide if it’s worth making an offer on or driving the distance to look at.

Swivel 8” over 200lbs, so its got the right measurements. Looks like miles of jaw opening room too. This is the only pic. Any help IDing it is really appreciated!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NotStock]

I've been scrolling the vise picture thread and I haven't seen anything with the lead screw open on the side like this. She's old, but maybe import? Unmarked has me worried, although it would be unusual for a vise this size to be import. I also don't like that the fixed jaw seems chewed up and possibly not making contact. The vise looks fully closed in the pic, but seems to have a gap at the jaws.

 

[RTM]

There are Barret, Parker and Holland’s Lewis (Prentiss) vises listed in the spreadsheet with a semi exposed screw. Searching for those, following the links to pictures may find a picture for you.

 

[RTM]

Couple here that show up in post 345 and 346 with a side open slide, might be more promising. Others at 398 and maybe 4728. May sheet just crashed closed

Vise Info Thread

Wow that Rocky is a real beast!

www.garagejournal.com

 

[NotStock]

Just found the spreadsheet you're looking at. Thanks!! Man, Its close to an early semi-exposed prentiss, but the meatball is square instead of round. Maybe a repair? thats all that makes sense to me right now. The swivel lock hole looks correct for a prentiss, but it doesnt have the lock mechanism and it doesn't have the hole I'd expect for the cam screw. This thing is a mystery.

 

[thehorse13]

The handle is wrong for a Prentiss. It has a Simplex look to it but I've never seen one with an exposed slide before. Are there markings on the main nut or under the base? Maybe under the slide?

 

[NotStock]

Yeah, the handle is definitely wrong for a Prentiss. I am going to go look at it. If I bring it home, I'll strip it and look for anything helpful. I'm sure its marked, just need to find it.

 

[NotStock]

Picked it up. Now I’m back on the prentiss theory. The cam/pin arrangement is missing, but it was definitely the way the swivel lock worked. Seems pretty much the same as the way prentiss did it. The strange twin beam arrangement is also a prentiss thing.

Interested to hear opinions.

Unfortunately at some point the fixed jaw came off. The caveman who owned used a torch to remove the ledge the jaw sat on. Fixable, but annoying.

My 180lb Reed 406 for scale

 

[thehorse13]

Prentiss had a fixed cam housing that sat high on the base with a spring loaded plunger. Your base does not appear modified to me and wouldn't have this sort of setup. If anything, the picture lends to the not Prentiss theory. Additionally, there are casting design elements on your base that are not consistent with Prentiss.

 

[NotStock]

Seems to have a ton in common with the Lewis marked vises. I'm sure these bars are steel as noted. Someone managed to slightly bend one, so its not likely cast iron. The rounded chunk under the jaws is there, the split beam as well. Its also go a lot in common with the swivel base cam/plunger arrangement. Unfortunately it just has elements of both, not a direct match.

 

[Packard V8]

Learn something here every day. In more than sixty years of vises, I've never encountered that one.

jack vines

 

[NotStock]

Yeah, this is a mystery vise for sure. Its bigger than anything I can find listed for Lewis, but the details are so similar that it has to be made by them or at least at the same foundry.

 

[thehorse13]

While the odds are not exactly good, it is possible that someone changed out the spindle/handle assembly during the life of this vise. I have to admit, this one has me stumped pretty good. I've never run into something like this before. Typically you can trace a vise back to the manufacturer pretty easily. I hate to admit it but I'm enjoying the mystery thus far.

I forgot to mention in my last post, yes, the base does have the same kind of plunger recesses as Prentiss vises, which contradicts everything else about the rest of the vise.

 

[NotStock]

Picking away at this vise as I get held up on other projects. Old broken jaw screws are out, cut out two huge cracks on the lower twin beam. Waiting on 55 nickel rods to fill it back up. Also waiting on a face mill and inserts to clean up the destroyed static jaw ledge. Its coming along slowly. Interestingly the beams are not mild steel like I'd assumed (based on pictures above). I puddled a little chunk with the tig and tried to file it. File wouldn't even touch it. Hard as hell, so that's why I'm stopped and am currently waiting on nickel rods. I'll post some pics when I get back to work on it.