Vise Info Thread

[KMScott]

Could this be a Charles Parker Halls Patent Vise? Owner claims it is. 1-7/8 jaws.

 

[CRSINMICH]

KMS: It could be a Parker. These cuts are from a 1914 Hammacher Schlemmer catalog. I don't know why the #91 was on a different page. Parker apparently made Hall's Sudden Grip vises from at least 1891.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Could this be a Charles Parker Halls Patent Vise? Owner claims it is. 1-7/8 jaws.

It looks to be a "Hall's Patent vise" to me. I found a catalog scan that doesn't show Parker on the casting, simulating the vise in question.



That one would look very nice in my collection!

 

[Fierljeppen]

FJ, to me, the only English vise that has any sort of resemblance is Fortis. I know that Fortis did have a "Parallel" vise, but I think other English and US made vises had the Parallel moniker.

The two part construction of the static rear jaw and base was fond on some older vises.
Massey (Massy) in the USA used the design for some of their early rapid grip “quick” vises which they called their “Lightning” vises, however Massey manufactured but woodworking and metalworking vises using the “Lightning” design and name, and it seems the surviving Lightning vises are usually the woodworking models. (Unless the metalworking vises just didn’t sell well).
I mention the Massey vises, because the design was licensed from the Wilson Riley patented vise design from England, which was manufactured as the “Entwisle & Kenyon’s Instantaneous Grip Parallel Vice”.
The E&K vise design goes back to around 1881.
Both the Massey and Entwistle & Kenyon vises used the two part construction method, with the top section of the static jaw bolted to the lower section of the static jaw, but the bolt spacing front to back was further apart than on your vise.

Thanks for your input!

After more digging, I found a "Great Britain" patent vise with similar construction dating all the way back to 1844. I suspected that the vise style was much older than the 1927 catalog scan, but I wasn't expecting it to be that old.



I hope my recent fascination with Old English vices is a fad, as I can barely handle all of the unknowns with just the American vises.

 

[KMScott]

It looks to be a "Hall's Patent vise" to me. I found a catalog scan that doesn't show Parker on the casting, simulating the vise in question.


That one would look very nice in my collection!

Fierljeppen and CRS, thanks so much for these scans. Surely Hall had Parker cast this vise. But if not then I will be safe in starting a new vise maker named Hall Patent Vise with a Parker question mark. I will add it as a Parker #91 too.

The owner want’s $3,500 for it. Kevin

 

[CRSINMICH]

1873 Thomas Hall patent
assigned to Parker​

 

[Fierljeppen]

I couldn't find any evidence of another mfg. other than the Charles Parker Co. ever producing the Hall's Patent vises.

$3500 for that vise is a little too rich for my vise budget. Still glad to see that much interest for an old piece of American tool history.

 

[Fierljeppen]

@KMScott...I was vise surfing and ran across one of yours, that's currently listed. Taking nothing away from your normal top shelf vise work, that is one of the most stylish screw-spindles I've seen! Very artistic improvement to the original.



I only wish I was able to identify the maker.

 

[KMScott]

@KMScott...I was vise surfing and ran across one of yours, that's currently listed. Taking nothing away from your normal top shelf vise work, that is one of the most stylish screw-spindles I've seen! Very artistic improvement to the original.

I only wish I was able to identify the maker.

Thanks Fierljeppen. I restore 4 vises at a time and always sneak in one that needs a major repair to keep me humble. I liked it too.

 

[Shiftless]

Here is a super rare one I just finished last night. It came to me rusted up tight.
I just cleaned and oiled the cast parts with BLO.
About 100 years ago there was a school in Marin County CA called Tamalpais Vocational School. (I have been in touch with the Marin County Historical Museum.)
They had a full machine shop and even a foundry on the premises. They made and sold some items to help cover the overhead and give the guys experience in production. This is one of those items.

Tamalpais 400 with 4 inch wide jaws, a swivel base that works like the brake shoe mechanism on some Parker vises, a maximum safe opening of 6 inches and a total weight of 51 pounds.

 

[PierceA]

This newly acquired 'anvil vise' is one for the spreadsheet. There are two smaller versions in the spreadsheet, but not this larger one.
This one weighs 30#, jaws slightly under 4-1/2", opens to 6".
This series of Wards vises are in the spreadsheet as 'Wards Master Quality'.

 

[neophyte]

This newly acquired 'anvil vise' is one for the spreadsheet. There are two smaller versions in the spreadsheet, but not this larger one.
This one weighs 30#, jaws slightly under 4-1/2", opens to 6".
This series of Wards vises are in the spreadsheet as 'Wards Master Quality'.

This looks in really hood shape other than the rust.

 

[Fierljeppen]

This newly acquired 'anvil vise' is one for the spreadsheet. There are two smaller versions in the spreadsheet, but not this larger one.
This one weighs 30#, jaws slightly under 4-1/2", opens to 6".
This series of Wards vises are in the spreadsheet as 'Wards Master Quality'.

I believe your anvil-vise was manufactured by the Milwaukee Tool & Equipment Co. and is very similar to the vise posted by @wrenchguy about a year ago. You'll notice the casting numbers are the same on both vises.



@wrenchguy's vise was actually used in a WWII compressor truck, by bomb disposal units. It was stored in the Transverse Tool Box, as seen in the following illustrations.



While many of us rate the anvil-vise as substandard for the serious user, this vise was used on a very serious work truck along side all of the top-shelf American pneumatic toolmakers of the day, including: Ingersoll Rand, Thor, Prentice Reed and Skillsaw.



Much respect to the Milwaukee Tool & Equipment Co. anvil-vise!

 

[PierceA]

Thank you Fj. I was wondering who might have made the vise for Wards.
I see that the one wrenchguy posted is a bit beefier, has # V118A on the static, and no Hardy hole in the anvil surface. It also appears to have a 4-bolt mounting swivel base, mine is a 3-bolt.. All indications of military specified strengthening.

These Anvil vises certainly could take a lot of hard use. Certainly not as much as a true anvil, but they are very beefy, and not hollow like the 'Farmers Vise', which is a poor vise and a poor anvil.

PierceA

 

[CRSINMICH]

OVAL SLIDE PARKERS (and Wilson)
see posts 90958 and 90960 in the Vises Thread
​

Here's an 1884 catalog cut showing Wilson and Parker oval slide vises. Wilson is not in the Spreadsheet. Next is a 1890 catalog cut showing Parker oval slides and then a 1902 catalog showing Parkers. The 1890 catalog does not have model numbers and the 1902 catalog has different model numbers than other Parker oval slides. The last picture is an 1884 catalog showing an unidentified oval slide that looks like a Wilson.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Shepard #68 coach makers vise from Facebook marketplace. No further specs sadly.
Edit: From other web sites I see it listed as "The jaws are 4 5/8" wide and it opens 9"+"
I now see it shown in post 1236 of this thread, but it is not in the spreadsheet.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[CRSINMICH]

1909 Shepard Woodworkers' vises​

 

[CRSINMICH]

1862 Robert's Patent Parallel Vice - Brown, Lenox & Co
Early appearance of swivel jaw
​

 

[Fierljeppen]

@KMScott...I believe you were looking for this vise to complete the Charles Parker oval slide vise category in the spreadsheet. This one just sold on eBay.

Charles Parker no. 35 oval slide vise

jaw width.........4-3/4"
jaw opening....4-1/4"
weight..............35 lbs.
circa..................(1875-1914), based on earliest and latest catalog scans I could find.




Also, referred to as a "Farmer's vise", this style vise was produced by many various manufacturer's as a reliable, medium priced vise.

 

[KMScott]

Thanks Fierljeppen, I am surprised I missed it since my #34 is closing tomorrow night and I was watching all the 30 series Parker’s for sale.

 

[CRSINMICH]

CANADA FOUNDRIES & FORGINGS, Ltd
Model No.25​

Another RECORD clone. This 1918 ad seems quite old for this style. Notice that they were cast at the James Smart plant.

 

[Vise_Squad]

1969 ECLIPSE INSTRUMENT VICE - 1/2" jaws
​

I have one and they are very nicely made and lock up very securely. Quality piece. Obviously only for instrument or jeweller's work, but good for that.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Vise Squad: That would be cool. They look like they're high quality. I only wish I was still young enough to be able to see the small things held in that vise.

 

[neophyte]

I have one and they are very nicely made and lock up very securely. Quality piece. Obviously only for instrument or jeweller's work, but good for that.

Sadly, no longer manufactured.

 

[skmbabon]

CANADA FOUNDRIES & FORGINGS, Ltd
Model No.25​

Another RECORD clone. This 1918 ad seems quite old for this style. Notice that they were cast at the James Smart plant.

Hi CRS. Thanks for posting this. Do you know what publication it was in?

 

[KMScott]

Athol 6C Clamp-on. 1-9/16 jaw width.

 

[KMScott]

Athol 113-1/2X. 4-3/8 jaws that opens to 3-1/2" and weights 20-1/2 lbs.

 

[skmbabon]

Columbian 153
3" clamp-on.

Vise Advise Please...

Picked this little Columbian vise up from a friend today. Questions as follows: Is it a "real" Columbian or a knock-off? Does any one have one other then me and the Chinese? There is a "W" stamped in the front fore-jaw (did I just make up a new description, "fore-jaw"?) casting along with the...

www.garagejournal.com

Also rebadged as a Brinks & Cotton: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/the-vises-of-garage-journal.44782/post-9930290
Added to spreadsheet.
Edit: I just noticed that in the top left corner under "Columbian" it appears to say "By Wilton". See CRSINMICH's post below.
Edit: Came across the same vise in B&C garb.

 

[skmbabon]

Rae Machine Tool Works, Limited
Hamilton, ON
Oval slide vise​

First Rae branded oval slide vise I've seen. This one clearly modified, presumably to substitute for a missing shelf. No specs. Added to spreadsheet.
Edit: I forgot to credit @Dave600 for spotting this, buried in an ad for pipe vises.



It's been noted before that Rae had some kind of relationship with National Machinery & Supply Co, Ltd. also based in Hamilton. Interesting that in the trade indexes I've seen to date National is often listed under "Oval slide vises" but I have yet to see Rae listed in that category.



Here are comparable National branded vises. No ads for oval slide vises for either company have been found.

 

[CRSINMICH]

skmbabon: I think your COLUMBIAN clamp on ad says "BY WILTON". Over the years, Wilton did make (or market) a few types of clamp on vises like this one from a 1950 catalog.

 

[skmbabon]

skmbabon: I think your COLUMBIAN clamp on ad says "BY WILTON". Over the years, Wilton did make (or market) a few types of clamp on vises like this one from a 1950 catalog.

Thanks, that makes sense. Edited my post.

 

[skmbabon]

Decatur, Bull & Co.
Montreal, QC
Buckworth Standard 48
Buckworth No. 22​

I've been hunting for Buckworth information for some time, having heard that it was likely a Canadian make of anvils and post (blacksmith) vises. For example, this post by @FMC1959 and follow-ups: First ever post vise for me

Normally I wait to post about a presumably Canadian made vise until I'm at least 50% sure that it is. Maybe 30% sure this time but making an exception because of the number of "Who made Buckworth?" anvil and vise posts around the web so may as well put this out there.

Pics of the Standard 48 are in FMC1959's post. Here it is in an ad from Hardware and Metal, January 1910, page 11.



For those who are here after searching for a Buckworth anvil, the ad tells you how to recognize the genuine article.

I found the ad after spotting the Buckworth No. 22:



And the other side gave me the scent:



Sold before I saw it, unfortunately, so no specs to be had.

For the purposes of determining where the Buckworth items were made, two things in the ad above are noteworthy. All three articles shown are branded "Buckworth"; the farrier's knife is also marked "Decatur Bull & Co Montreal". And at the bottom of the ad the firm is described as "Selling Agents".

"Buckworth" is then most likely a house brand. For example, this ad for Buckworth chains (1910) praises the workmanship but doesn't say who manufactures them. Conversely, ads for Ryall Tool Company No. 21 and No. 60 drills (Feb, Mar 1910) explicitly identify the manufacturer. This was true for a number of other items advertised in the same issues.



Other ads, directory listings and so forth that I've found all indicate that Decatur, Bull represented other manufacturers, without making anything itself.

Company history. The firm appears to have existed in 1906, recorded in a real estate transaction. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/419687431/
It was dissolved about 1915.



There's conjecture around the web that the post vise may have been made by Peter Wright, based on its appearance.
Anyone think the bench vise looks like a particularly maker?

Both vises entered in the spreadsheet with Canada as the questionable origin.

 

[CRSINMICH]

skmbabon: The Buckworth bench vise has a Parker style collar and an Athol sized slide support, but the rear of the static is in a class by itself. I like it.

 

[skmbabon]

CRSINMICH: Yeah, that's some dramatic curve and quite the counter-point to the beefiness of the vise otherwise.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Athol 6C Clamp-on. 1-9/16 jaw width.

I'm pretty sure the vise in the photos has a casting issue with the model number and is actually an Athol no. 60 vise, advertised minimally from (1883-1920).



Almost 5000 entries in the spreadsheet, as of today, and "new to us" vises continue to show up. That just amazes me!

 

[KMScott]

I'm pretty sure the vise in the photos has a casting issue with the model number and is actually an Athol no. 60 vise, advertised minimally from (1883-1920).


Almost 5000 entries in the spreadsheet, as of today, and "new to us" vises continue to show up. That just amazes me!

Thanks Fierljeppen for catching my mistake, you are a great help to us vise enthusiast. This one was on E-bay when I found it.

Getting harder finding vises to add, 5,000 vises is a bunch. Pretty industrial back when.

And thanks to skmbabon for his work.

 

[skmbabon]

The James Smart Manufacturing Co.
Brockville, ON
Coach Makers' Vices
​

Another series from Smart's widely varied output.

Coach Makers' vices No. 8, No. 9, and No. 10 appear in Smart's 1885 catalog on page 149. Notice the spelling of "vices".

Unfortunately the 14 page excerpt of the 220+ page catalog is a poor scan. But love that these vices were "Painted and striped".​

The No. 8 and No. 10 show up on page 64 of the 1898 catalogue from Rice Lewis & Son Limited, Toronto. Rice Lewis was a distributor, and may have chosen not to carry (or include) the No. 9.

A price drop from 1885 (or maybe the difference between retail and wholesale) and spelling that conforms to what became the North American standard. Ah, progress!​

1905 C. Kloepfer, Guelph catalogue "B". That name on the vise will have to wait for a long post on the James Smart company history.​

​

The line was also distributed by Wilkinson-Kompass of Hamilton, which opened a Winnipeg branch in 1908, expanding to a new warehouse there in 1912. The two catalogue cuts below are undated but presumed to be no earlier than 1908 for the first one and no later than 1915 for the 2nd. The latter catalog includes a Buckworth Standard 48 post vise, which I suspect was not made after 1915 (see my above post on that vise).

Quite the price hike in what was probably less than 5 years. Er, progress?!​

And that's it - the trail goes cold before 1920.

---

No. 8

Lucky GJer @davethorik first brought this model to our attention March 2021. I was not the only one quite taken by its look.​

​

Jaw width: 4” (catalog)
Jaw opening: 8” (catalog)
Base: Fixed
Jaws: Fixed
Weight: 50 lbs. (catalog)
Photo: davethorik

---

No. 9

As @CRSINMICH observed, the No 8 looks like it may have a quick release. It's apparent on the No 9 too. But in five catalog listings the feature is never mentioned.​

Jaw width: 3-5/8” (catalog)
Jaw opening: 9” (catalog)
Base: Fixed
Jaws: Swivel
Weight: 50 lbs. (catalog)
Photo: unknown, found by davethorik

---

No. 10

Jaw width: 3-5/8” (catalog)
Jaw opening: 7-1/2” (catalog)
Base: Swivel
Jaws: Swivel
Weight: 56 lbs. (catalog)
Photo: Will it be you?

Edit 2023.12.09: Added C. Kloepfer; QR comment

 

[ranger08]

I'm looking for some information on the following "made in England" vice/vise.



Specifically, I'm looking for the manufacturer and circa for this vise. I found an English catalog scan from 1927, which had it labeled as a parallel vice, but no mfg. information. It's origin looks much older to me?

i have a couple of these of varying ages, most were made by parkinson say 1880 to 1910, early models had no markings and square head bolts, and very early ones had five holes for fixing to bench. there were many copies at the time however then parkinson started casting their name in around 1900?
inside on top of the bottom casting infront of the cast nut should be either "0" or "1" stamped in, if so generally a parky model

 

[KMScott]

Prentiss 516/526. 5" jaws that opens to 7" and weights 78 lbs.

 

[KMScott]

Prentiss 90 under the bench swivel release. 3-1/4" jaws that opens to 4" and weights 27 lbs without the lower swivel plates and release handle.