Vice # 2 or should I say No. 2C

[Joefriday]

Hello folks..

(Dang! I know I used the wrong "Vise" in the title. If you knew what I did for a living and how many time per week I type the word "vice" you would understand.)

Anyway..New guy here again. I picked up my first vintage vise ( Rock Island 542) a week ago and while searching for information I found you guys.

So now that you have me hooked I picked up my second vise yesterday. I think I paid the recommended ( I read it somewhere on here) .50 per pound, assuming the vise weighs around 80lbs.

Overall nice condition I think. The handle is big and the locking lugs for the rotating base are really cool.

Any idea on the age of this?

Best,
Rob

 

[Cope]

Vise looks great. Nice find.

 

[bluebolt]

50 cents a pound for a vise like that rates as a "You ****!" Nice score!

As far as age that one is confusing, it has the later removable jaw inserts from around the 1960's I believe but I see Patent Pending on it which was in 1938

 

[G-ManBart]

50 cents a pound for a vise like that rates as a "You ****!" Nice score!

As far as age that one is confusing, it has the later removable jaw inserts from around the 1960's I believe but I see Patent Pending on it which was in 1938

I've done a little research on this lately, and it's left me pretty confused.

I have a 2C with the early meatball spindle and cast-in jaws, as well as a newer one like this with the flattened spindle and replaceable jaws, and they both say Pat Pend. That got me wondering, so I started looking at as many 2C pictures as I could find, and I think every one of them said Pat Pending.

That got me thinking, so I did the same sort of search on the 1C, 3C and 4C. The 1Cs and 3Cs also seem to all have Pat Pend. The 4Cs all seem to have a patent number.

Either they made a whole bunch of 1C, 2C and 3Cs and just used them up over time, or they weren't selling enough to bother changing the mold because we know they made them well after 1938.

I have no idea why I can't find a picture of a 4C with Pat Pend on it, but maybe they came out after 1938?

 

[G-ManBart]

So now that you have me hooked I picked up my second vise yesterday. I think I paid the recommended ( I read it somewhere on here) .50 per pound, assuming the vise weighs around 80lbs.

Overall nice condition I think. The handle is big and the locking lugs for the rotating base are really cool.

That's the nicest 2C I've seen in quite some time...it's really in exceptionally good condition. Nice score!

Heck, the old .50 or $1/lb rules are pretty much long gone. I honestly think you could sell that vise for $250 pretty easily.

 

[notlob]

Nice score on an awesome vise! (vice squad, vice president, vice admiral, viceroy?)

 

[Joefriday]

Thanks very much for the compliments and information gents. And I'll take a "you ****" any day for this reason.

I paid a little over 2x more for this than I paid for my RI last week ($15/$40). My plan is to keep my collecting of these at $50 or less so this new area of obsession doesn't spin out of control on me but we all know how that goes.


Best,
Rob

Here's the other:

 

[tombell572]

Know what you do for a living? Those of us old enough know instantly, badge 714.

Tom B.

 

[Joefriday]

Know what you do for a living? Those of us old enough know instantly, badge 714.

Tom B.

You got me sir.. "Just the facts". Ha..

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: great piece of Trivia knowing JF's badge # from Dragnet. or was that Tom Hank's # from the movie?

JF: well you might be disappointed if you think you are going to find those kind of deals on those kind of quality vises very often cause in your first effort you grabbed two of maybe the nicest user vises i think that were made in the US prior to WWII.

except for the missing pipe jaws on the Rock Island those look to be in great shape.

welcome to the forum and WELL DONE is my version of YS cause my dad would have slapped me into tomorrowland if i said YS to him.

cheers

 

[Joefriday]

Much thanks for the "welcome" and lack of "you ****".. Ha.

Believe me, I know this was beginners luck but I do plan on being patient and waiting for the right items at the right prices. Craiglist and Offerup are loaded with these things around me and it wouldn't even be fun to buy these at everyday retail. To me the hunt for the right price is half the fun.

I did figure out quickly that I should be looking for smaller vises. These big suckers aren't pleasant to lug around.

Best,
Rob

 

[Cope]

My son-in-law picked up a Reed 105R a few months ago at an estate sale. It was marked $40 but everything was 40% off. It didn't look this good, but it didn't take long for him to clean it up and paint it.

 

[Joefriday]

Sweet! Thanks for sharing the picture..

 

[JZiggy]

Awesome find! The Reed C series is a fantastic, "top-shelf" vise (not literally) for us vise guys. That size is a very good heavy duty yet all around useful size.

Not too shabby for your first vise

 

[Joefriday]

Mucht thanks JZ..

Best,
Rob

 

[thehorse13]

You stole that Reed. It's one of the best I've ever seen and I've seen plenty. I will give you 75 cents a pound for it.

 

[bluebolt]

You stole that Reed. It's one of the best I've ever seen and I've seen plenty. I will give you 75 cents a pound for it.

Cheapskate! I will give him $1.50 a pound!

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: you are all not needing a vise so i'll give him $2 a pound cause i NEED another REED 2C cause my other one is lonely.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: i like this Auction stuff so how about $2.50 per pound even though i'm bidding myself up now?

and if Joe wants to get his money back from the big vise he doesn't have a spot for i'll have him add that to the pallet and pay him what he paid for it.

 

[Joefriday]

Thank you for the nice offers guys..and if you were local..and if you had not made collecting vises my new "vice" by posting pictures of all of yours..then you would have a deal..

Best,
Rob

 

[drivesitfar]

JF: i guess the auction is over then so i'll withdraw my offer. ok? I'd move to make the deal to avoid shipping, but i'm afraid my wife wouldn't move to Virginia with me so my #1 vice would have an opening not easily replaced cause she does a darn good job.

so as long as you are only buy KEEPERS for pennies on the dollar what are your next victims? REED 4c for $100, Baby bullet for $50, 8 inch blacksmith vise for $150 or maybe a 200 pound anvil for $100?

best of luck with your searches and you really don't have to mention what you paid for them whether you are going to keep them or sell them.

again WELL DONE!!

 

[Spear]

Love my Reed