Vise Info Thread

[bastel]

Interesting vise, how do you bolt it to a work bench? Neat jaw design. Added to Spreadsheet.

The screw that is loose on the first picture is a cosmetic cover screw which allows one to access the real screws that bolt the bottom plate to the workbench. The handle actually goes to the left side. Setting the proper "tightness" happens with a big center bolt only reachable from the bottom that needs to be pinned in place. Shims are required since there are only 180° settings for the bolt.
I used to have a 2" before and I still have a 2.5" or so that is a monday model with some "issues". I also rescued a ~4" recently which is different as the guides for the dynamic jaws are round, which was probably not easy to machine. You probably saw that on my instagram.

Here is a catalog picture (dutch probably, but captions on the text are german) from somewhere, note the revised, normal swivel lock mechanism.

 

[ranger08]

Interesting vise, how do you bolt it to a work bench? Neat jaw design. Added to Spreadsheet.

the main bolt screws up into the vise almost tight and is then pinned allowing the lever to cam close/open the swivel motion
the base plate has three countersink holes for bolting into the bench, last photo shows a cap screw that allows access to drive screws into bench
very effective and leaves a tidy finish

 

[ranger08]

The screw that is loose on the first picture is a cosmetic cover screw which allows one to access the real screws that bolt the bottom plate to the workbench. The handle actually goes to the left side. Setting the proper "tightness" happens with a big center bolt only reachable from the bottom that needs to be pinned in place. Shims are required since there are only 180° settings for the bolt.
I used to have a 2" before and I still have a 2.5" or so that is a monday model with some "issues". I also rescued a ~4" recently which is different as the guides for the dynamic jaws are round, which was probably not easy to machine. You probably saw that on my instagram.

Here is a catalog picture (dutch probably, but captions on the text are german) from somewhere, note the revised, normal swivel lock mechanism.

thanks very much for the info

 

[KMScott]

Hey guys I just noticed a "new" spreadsheet on vises! Looks like a lot of hours were put into it.

 

[RTM]

Hey guys I just noticed a "new" spreadsheet on vises! Looks like a lot of hours were put into it.

That’s gonna be a pain, flipping to a new screen every ten lines, especially for something like Parker with so many entries. (19 screens)

Now the fun question, does it have any vises your sheet doesn’t?

Those choice buttons at the bottom were what I was trying to get yours towards, with standard naming to allow sorting and searching.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hey guys I just noticed a "new" spreadsheet on vises! Looks like a lot of hours were put into it.

Sorry, not a fan. Even with setting the row count to 100 (upper left) its harder to navigate as RTM mentioned. and no references to pics doe not help with ID of vices, especially if not marked (but still identified)

While the G sheets version Scott is heading up has some limitations, you have some options there to navigate (like ctrl F find), and scrolling an area. It covers rear swivel jaws but not front. and no place for special notes about unique features/vises. barely 3K entries. I think Scott's is near double that? Many other details not present. I'm seeing "Brands" like Ace Hardware -Who actually manufactured them? Details matter

Its "Web page designed" and that places many limitations you can get past with a real spreadsheet.

I agree a lot of time was put into it and at a glance looks good. I don't mean to be too harsh or critical, but I''m a Spreadsheet guy and very particular.

 

[KMScott]

That’s gonna be a pain, flipping to a new screen every ten lines, especially for something like Parker with so many entries. (19 screens)

Now the fun question, does it have any vises your sheet doesn’t?

Those choice buttons at the bottom were what I was trying to get yours towards, with standard naming to allow sorting and searching.

i don’t believe it would work. If I was to sort since being a admin then everybody would be seeing the same doc as me. Having everybody as a admin would be a bad idea. Maybe you can download it and alter it as you like. Not an expert on Google Doc’s, just know how to edit. Over 6 years of work so far.

 

[RTM]

i don’t believe it would work. If I was to sort since being a admin then everybody would be seeing the same doc as me. Having everybody as a admin would be a bad idea. Maybe you can download it and alter it as you like. Not an expert on Google Doc’s, just know how to edit. Over 6 years of work so far.

That's exactly what I was doing. There is a way to allow google docs to do it, but it ain't pretty, nor easy for the uninitiated. Quick 10 second tutorial below. The correct answer for more people is a few minutes of training

You can actually sort using Filter Views, and then only you would see it. It would not change the base document.

 

[KMScott]

Craftsman 51871. 5-1/2" jaws.

 

[KMScott]

Rock Island 625. 3-1/2" jaws that opens to 3-1/2"

 

[KMScott]

Ridge Tool Co./Simplex 43SN. 4-1/2" jaws that opens to 6" and weights 43 lbs.

 

[KMScott]

Babco 603. 3" jaws that weights 4lbs.

 

[KMScott]

Little Giant 5494. No specs and this one is missing jaws.

 

[454ragtop]

Ridge Tool Co./Simplex 43SN. 4" jaws that opens to 6" and weights 43 lbs.

Kevin, I wonder if that vise jaws are actually 4-3/4" wide? Seems the Simplex vise part no's I've seen translate the 2 digit number as jaw width in inches and quarters of an inch, 41 being 4-1/4" jaws, and 43 being 4-3/4" jaws, etc.

 

[KMScott]

Kevin, I wonder if that vise jaws are actually 4-3/4" wide? Seems the Simplex vise part no's I've seen translate the 2 digit number as jaw width in inches and quarters of an inch, 41 being 4-1/4" jaws, and 43 being 4-3/4" jaws, etc.

I did some research this morning and found that Ridge tool purchased the Simplex line mentioned by Davethorlk. Here is his listing. The model number 43SN by Ridge has 4-1/2" wide jaws. I need a break but will look more into this later. Thanks for finding this mistake on the Desmond/Simplex vise line.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Broaching Heavy Bench Vise Bodies
From October 1913 issue of MACHINERY magazine​

 

[CRSINMICH]

Yost Utility Vises
From 1924 ad announcing "Two New Sizes"​

This fills in some gaps in the Spreadsheet:

No. 343 3" jaws Opens to 3 1/2 " 14 lbs.
No. 343 1/2 3 1/2 " jaws Opens to 4" 18 lbs.
No. 344 4" jaws Opens to 5 1/4 " 29 lbs.

 

[KMScott]

Athol #41. 4-1/2" jaws that opens to 10-1/2" and weights 49 lbs.

From the owner.

Behold the rarely seen Athol #41.
This is a Simpson Line Athol, Quick Acting Coachmakers Bench Vise.
Catalog pages are from 1911.

 

[KMScott]

Any clue what company built this one. Owner did not supply spec:s.

 

[RTM]

Any clue what company built this one. Owner did not supply spec:s.

Guessing: School of Agriculture and Mining? Spacing of letters looks funny. Thinking school shop project.

 

[Outlawmws]

Markings for "SON" (of Sampson)

 

[ElBrooklyn]

Hi all. Was just looking at the spreadsheet and noticed that this section of Parker vises may have been incorrectly attributed. In the 1902 Manning Maxwell Moore catalog, those model numbers are actually linked to the Oval Slide/Farmer’s vise shown above, Fig. 3793 while the Parker vise (Fig. 3795) is linked to the set of models from 30-36.

Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out who made that 3793 vise. I have one that looks just like it, a 3 1/2-incher that weighs 26 pounds, and is presumably a No. 73. But the manufacturer isn’t listed in the catalog and mine isn’t marked anywhere. Anybody know that one? It‘s distinguished from Miller’s Falls, Athol, Parker, Stearns and a few others by the following:

1. Mounting plate screws into the face of the bench
2. Requires either a beveled notch in bench or a sharply beveled shim to mount
3. Screw nose is cylindrical with a flat face, not rounded or cone-shaped
4. The collar around the nose is topped by a sloped, cornice-like piece, without a screw
5. Screw handle has rounded balls on each end
6. No top “wings” for mounting
7. The screw is guided through the body by a piece that looks almost the same as the one used by Chas Parker

Any info/insight would be appreciated.

 

[KMScott]

Guessing: School of Agriculture and Mining? Spacing of letters looks funny. Thinking school shop project.

I was thinking school shop also.

EIBrooklyn
I went by the catalog page showing a Parker 30 series vise as it's example, note the front collar. Maybe before the 30 series Parker used the 70 series model numbers by mistake who knows. If one shows up without the 30 series model number then this catalog page would be accurate.

I'll update the Farmers vise's on the spreadsheet. Sad that no markings are on these vise's since we really don't know their real maker's name. Makes it hard for a person to find their vise on the spreadsheet. Most don't go thru what you have done to chase your vise down.

I add vises to the spreadsheet by what owners say and catalog pages. That is how this spreadsheet is built.

Kevin

Hi all. Was just looking at the spreadsheet and noticed that this section of Parker vises may have been incorrectly attributed. In the 1902 Manning Maxwell Moore catalog, those model numbers are actually linked to the Oval Slide/Farmer’s vise shown above, Fig. 3793 while the Parker vise (Fig. 3795) is linked to the set of models from 30-36.

Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out who made that 3793 vise. I have one that looks just like it, a 3 1/2-incher that weighs 26 pounds, and is presumably a No. 73. But the manufacturer isn’t listed in the catalog and mine isn’t marked anywhere. Anybody know that one? It‘s distinguished from Miller’s Falls, Athol, Parker, Stearns and a few others by the following:

1. Mounting plate screws into the face of the bench
2. Requires either a beveled notch in bench or a sharply beveled shim to mount
3. Screw nose is cylindrical with a flat face, not rounded or cone-shaped
4. The collar around the nose is topped by a sloped, cornice-like piece, without a screw
5. Screw handle has rounded balls on each end
6. No top “wings” for mounting
7. The screw is guided through the body by a piece that looks almost the same as the one used by Chas Parker

Any info/insight would be appreciated.

 

[CRSINMICH]

An oval slide vise for 98 cents???
​

In 1915, American Artisan magazine had a feature where they would critique print ads with the intention of helping companies improve their sales. They were generally pleased with this ad for DAVIS HUNT COLLISTER Co. but didn't like that the vise was shown in a vertical position. I agree.

 

[KMScott]

Columbian # 38. 6" jaws that weights 70 lbs.

 

[KMScott]

Columbian 506. 6" jaws that opens to 10" and weights 82 lbs.

 

[KMScott]

Columbian 403 Swivel jaw. 3" jaws that opens to 4" and weights 26lbs.

 

[CRSINMICH]

1850 Improved Portable and Bench Parallel Vice
of John Kershaw, Manchester
​

The vice was noted as having a covered screw and Mr. Kershaw is credited with using replaceable jaw faces to alleviate the "expense of getting them (cast jaws) repaired..."

At 174 years ago, this is really Old School.

 

[KMScott]

Woden 186 B/0 2-1/2" jaws that opens to 3-1/2" and weights 8.2 lbs

 

[KMScott]

Morgan 40A. 4" jaws that opens to 6" and weights 57 lbs.

 

[KMScott]

Desmond Stephens/Simplex 33P. 3-3/4" jaws that opens to 5-1/2" and weights 30 lbs.

 

[KMScott]

American Scale 52C. 3-1/2" jaws.

 

[FourthQuarter]

I'm having trouble breaking the nut free on my (September 1916) Reed #105. Been administering a dose of Liquid Wrench daily for about a week. Hearty smack with a block of wood with medium sized hammer and no go.

Is there anything funny or unusual about how the nut fits into the static that would cause it to hang up? It won't even wiggle.

Time for some heat?

Thanks

 

[KMScott]

York 150L. 6" jaws that opens to 5".

 

[RTM]

I'm having trouble breaking the nut free on my (September 1916) #105. Been administering a dose of Liquid Wrench daily for about a week. Hearty smack with a block of wood with medium sized hammer and no go.

Is there anything funny or unusual about how the nut fits into the static that would cause it to hang up? It won't even wiggle.

Time for some heat?

Thanks

Maybe take this over to the vise repair thread. Adding your makers name may help. Might already be answered there too.

This thread is dedicated to sizing specs, not repairs.

VISE REPAIR 101 all vise repairs, lubricants, sources for parts and the tricks to fix

I'm starting this thread to help me because i'm going to restore quite a few vises and I've only paid to have that done or done some basic repairs so far in my 60 years. as with all tools different manufacturers all do things a bit different and some makers even do different things on their own...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[FourthQuarter]

Maybe take this over to the vise repair thread. Adding your makers name may help. Might already be answered there too.

This thread is dedicated to sizing specs, not repairs.

VISE REPAIR 101 all vise repairs, lubricants, sources for parts and the tricks to fix

I'm starting this thread to help me because i'm going to restore quite a few vises and I've only paid to have that done or done some basic repairs so far in my 60 years. as with all tools different manufacturers all do things a bit different and some makers even do different things on their own...

www.garagejournal.com

Oops, sorry, thanks, will do.

 

[CRSINMICH]

1918 New Zealand trade school vises
Technical College at Christchurch
(evening classes)​

These vises are not likely to be seen around here but you never know. The only specs given are that the vise in Fig. 1 has 4 inch jaws and the vise in Fig. 2 has 3 inch jaws.

This is from a July 1918 issue of Machinery magazine. The article is an interesting read. Some of the comments have faint echoes today.

 

[KMScott]

Littlestown 143-1/2. Assume 3-1/2” jaws.

 

[KMScott]

Erie Tool Works #203. 3” jaws that opens to 4”.

 

[KMScott]

Schultz #4. 4” jaws that weights 28 lbs. Made in Brazil.