Vise Info Thread

[KMScott]

Couple un known vises. No spec:s just vise candy.

 

[KMScott]

Dolex 58-180. 7" jaws that opens to 9-1/2" and weights 68 lbs. Made in France.

 

[Outlawmws]

Couple un known vises

I like that cantilevered one!

 

[j p smith]

Is there a way to date a Prentiss 355 vise? has 5" wide jaws. Thanks for any help

 

[Outlawmws]

Is there a way to date a Prentiss 355 vise?

Start with Dinner and a movie; flowers might be a bit much on the first date.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Is there a way to date a Prentiss 355 vise? has 5" wide jaws. Thanks for any help

Always...do you have a few good photos from each side of the vise?

 

[ranger08]

a couple of Record 75's, if anyone tries to remove the anvil note it removes to the right side only
photos are probably a better representation than whats currently on the vise list

 

[j p smith]

Always...do you have a few good photos from each side of the vise?

Always...do you have a few good photos from each side of the vise?

 

[Fierljeppen]

Very nice photos, let's get started.

First off, you have a Prentiss "Blake" model combination vise. While the Prentiss Vise Co. offered several different model combination vises, the "Blake" was always their very best model. It was first offered in 1900 in two distinct castings, depending on the size.



Although the 5" jaw model wasn't an original size, it was soon offered in 1904. Around 1920, Prentiss made a significant casting change to the "Blake" and combined all of the sizes into one swivel model.



This casting style remained the same until 1948, when the Prentiss Vise Co. merged and became a separate vise division with the Charles Parker Co. of Meriden, CT. Your vise bears this casting style of the "Blake". You'll notice they list the new and old model numbers in the catalog.



These were tough times for American vise companies and only a handful would survive. The Prentiss combination vises continued to be listed in the "Hardware Age" directories thru 1965, however, starting in 1966, they were never listed again.

Without a date-stamp, it's only possible to date your vise within a given era, in this case it would be (1948-1965). Those were some interesting days, to say the least. You have a beautiful vise and I hope you're able to enjoy using it, while realizing it's historical value.

Vise on!

 

[KMScott]

Craftsman 5190. 3-1/2” jaws that opens to 5” and weights 38 lbs.

I restored this one and was very impressed with the quality and the slick way the vise builder did a few things. Like the split nut design on the nut. I liked how they threaded the collar so you can set the backlash as tight as you want. also liked how they lock the spindle nut in place with a 1/2 x 1/2 block and set screw. They also added a flat spring tempered shim to the handle located in a special molded pocket to give the handle tension like Parker does. Awesome vise. Made by Rock Island? Who knows. Jaws are the same spec:s.

 

[Firstram]

Classy!

 

[Outlawmws]

Beautiful job Dr. Scott!

 

[royce]

Craftsman 5190. 3-1/2” jaws that opens to 5” and weights 38 lbs.

I restored this one and was very impressed with the quality and the slick way the vise builder did a few things. Like the split nut design on the nut. I liked how they threaded the collar so you can set the backlash as tight as you want. also liked how they lock the spindle nut in place with a 1/2 x 1/2 block and set screw. They also added a flat spring tempered shim to the handle located in a special molded pocket to give the handle tension like Parker does. Awesome vise. Made by Rock Island? Who knows. Jaws are the same spec:s.

Nice work Kevin,
I fooled with one a while back and like you, took note of the unique features that were engineered so well.
Nice to see the spring that tensions the handle, I was wondering how the pocket was made.
Guessing the meatball was cast around a dimpled spindle with a pocket for the spring?
Well done Sir

Royce

 

[j p smith]

FlerlJeppen, thanks very much for the info.

 

[master Zoda]

Lewis and Lure Jeweler's vise. I'll get the spec:s soon.

From the owner:
I’m the new proud owner of a super rare piece, The Lewis and Lure Jewelers vise, Patented on July 25 1893, 130 years ago!!
HUGE thanks to my boy XXXXXXX for working with me on this piece of history in the vise world, only example known so far! The vise was printed on the cover of The dictionary of American hand tools, it is the most interesting vise I have ever seen very special design even in the swivel base, utilizing thumb screws for the swivel locks and a pull mechanism to adjust the angle of the vise,

That is a gem very nice find congratulations.

 

[skmbabon]

Winans' New Idea Vise
Barnett Foundry & Machine Company, Irvington, NJ

Another vise, announced in an industry publication, that wasn't in the spreadsheet or anywhere on the site that I could find.

 

[skmbabon]

Smith & Hemenway, Irvington, NJ

And another (which bizarrely was based in the same town as Barnett above - haven't found a connection).
Posted this in a GJ thread about the maker and no-one there so far has said they have seen a vise by S&H, though @Private Lugnutz has seen some directory listings.
All there is to go on then is the info in this brief write-up in the Jan 5, 1901 "Canadian Hardware and Metal", which I repost here (with spreadsheet link) to make it easier for people to find. Anyone seen a S&H vise?

 

[skmbabon]

Couple un known vises. No spec:s just vise candy.

Those are both different. Interesting handle attachment on the clamp-on - and a serious clamping arrangement!

 

[Fierljeppen]

Smith & Hemenway, Irvington, NJ

And another (which bizarrely was based in the same town as Barnett above - haven't found a connection).
Posted this in a GJ thread about the maker and no-one there so far has said they have seen a vise by S&H, though @Private Lugnutz has seen some directory listings.
All there is to go on then is the info in this brief write-up in the Jan 5, 1901 "Canadian Hardware and Metal", which I repost here (with spreadsheet link) to make it easier for people to find. Anyone seen a S&H vise?

In 1898, Smith & Hemenway purchased a controlling interest in the Utica Forge & Tool Co., which produced hand vises as one of their products.



Early in 1900, J. L. Ware put on the market his famous patented "Ware Steel Yoke Vise". A version of this vise was offered by "Smith & Hemenway / Utica Forge & Tool Co." as seen in the news article below.



While the patent shows a round bar, the version produced by the "Utica Forge & Tool Co." was only offered with a square bar.



In 1903, patent no. US-722,677 by Krippen and Kellemen was assigned to the "Utica Forge & Tool Co." as well.



It's unclear to me whether there were any other vises offered by them, however, if a copy of their "Green Book of Hardware Specialties" from that time period could be found, I'm sure it would answer any outstanding questions.

Side note...the address of the "Utica Forge & Tool Co." at that time was 800 Whitesboro St. , Utica , NY, just two blocks from the earliest American vise patent holder, Linus Dean. The patent is no. 127, from Feb 16, 1837.



I feel very grateful and privileged to have this vise in my possession.

 

[skmbabon]

"Yankee" vises
990, 991, 992, 993, 994
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
3992, 3993
4992, 4993
North Bros. Manufacturing Co., Philadelphia, PA > Stanley Tools

One size (990) with no base options.
Four sizes with different base options.
1000 series - detachable swivel bases.
3000 series - detachable tilt base.
4000 series - detachable tilt & swivel base (1000+3000=4000)





Specs changed a bit in 1918 from the main entry in a supplier's catalog to the release of a supplement. They were unchanged until at least 1929. The 3000 and 4000 series were introduced after Stanley bought North Bros. in 1946, showing up as early as 1949; that Catalog 34 also shows the 2992 and 2993 "vise clamps" which are an extended base. The 990 is also in Catalog 34 but seems to be discontinued shortly after.
According to Wikipedia Stanley phased out the North Bros name in the 1950s, but continued to use the "Yankee" brand until selling it to Schroeder of Germany in the early 2000s.
"Yankee" vise owners should be able to narrow the manufacturing date down to one of these periods.



Edit: Stanley versions of these models do not have separate entries in the spreadsheet, instead an entry for "Stanley "Yankee"" is linked to the North Bros section.

 

[skmbabon]

In 1898, Smith & Hemenway purchased a controlling interest in the Utica Forge & Tool Co., which produced hand vises as one of their products...

Thanks for making that connection, @Fierljeppen. Sheds some light on what vises S&H would have produced, and enhances the Utica portion of the story of the Ware's Patent Steel Yoke vise, which is one of my favorites from the James Smart Mfg. Co.

... two blocks from the earliest American vise patent holder, Linus Dean. The patent is no. 127, from Feb 16, 1837.




I feel very grateful and privileged to have this vise in my possession.

I've seen it before, and am still fascinated by the choice of adjustment mechanism!

 

[KMScott]

Pirate H. 2 7/8” jaws open to 3 1/2”

 

[skmbabon]

Pirate H. 2 7/8” jaws open to 3 1/2”

Ahoy matey! Wasn't expecting to see a Pirate in these waters

Or a Body Builder on the beach. Har!


Or Macarco, Mead, or Nolan. Anyone know if those are McMaster-Carr house brands, or should I add them to the spreadsheet?

 

[Willy Wilson]

Williamson Universal Double Swivel

 

[KMScott]

Ahoy matey! Wasn't expecting to see a Pirate in these waters

Or a Body Builder on the beach. Har!


Or Macarco, Mead, or Nolan. Anyone know if those are McMaster-Carr house brands, or should I add them to the spreadsheet?

I’d suggest yes on some since they have model numbers. Won’t know if they do till we see one in the wild. So many vises and versions back in the day.

 

[gearhead1960]

No variants on the "Oswego / Sawyer Tool" machinists vises that I'm aware of. All of those particular vises, stationary or swivel base, had the casting "A" (dynamic-jaw) and "B" (static-jaw), as suspected by @KMScott .






Here's the Oswego Tool Co. catalog scans with the model nos. for the machinist vises. I believe they used the same model numbers throughout the life-cycle of those vises.



The "Oswego Tool Co." has always been one of my favorite reads, since collecting vise data. The rich history of that region dates back much farther than I'm used running across in my vise searches. I'll leave you with what I consider to be the most significant historical feature for the "Town of Oswego", the Oswego River / Canal leading to Lake Ontario and all of her borders.

@Fierljeppen @KMScott @Mr. Wonderful I think there might be some duplication going on with this particular vise/brand. I believe the original patterns/designs were Oswego, but were taken over by Sawyer Tool Company. I have the same vise originally posted here and reposted here in cleaned up condition. My vise is listed as a Sawyer Tool Company 24 1/2 on the spreadsheet, but you are now listing the same vise as an Oswego. Not trying to complicate matters, but..... The vise recently posted is clearly marked Sawyer.....

 

[Fierljeppen]

@Fierljeppen @KMScott @Mr. Wonderful I think there might be some duplication going on with this particular vise/brand. I believe the original patterns/designs were Oswego, but were taken over by Sawyer Tool Company. I have the same vise originally posted here and reposted here in cleaned up condition. My vise is listed as a Sawyer Tool Company 24 1/2 on the spreadsheet, but you are now listing the same vise as an Oswego. Not trying to complicate matters, but..... The vise recently posted is clearly marked Sawyer.....

The initial question from @Mr. Wonderful was about the casted "B" after the model number and whether it was a variant vise.



I was trying to say that the "B" was on all of the "Oswego / Sawyer Tool" vises and was not part of the actual model number. According to all of my catalog scans and photos, the "Oswego / Sawyer Tool" never had a variant in the vise model numbers.

There were at least -4- changes that I know of with the original Oswego Tool Co. machinist vises.

1. The original "Oswego Tool Co." vise.



2. The seldom seen "I.N.T. Corp" vise.



3. "The Sawyer Tool Co." vise with the patent swivel base wrench.



4. "The Sawyer Tool Co." vise without the patent swivel base wrench.



My "hillbilly" grammar is still a work in progress...thanks for chiming in!

 

[KMScott]

@Fierljeppen @KMScott @Mr. Wonderful I think there might be some duplication going on with this particular vise/brand. I believe the original patterns/designs were Oswego, but were taken over by Sawyer Tool Company. I have the same vise originally posted here and reposted here in cleaned up condition. My vise is listed as a Sawyer Tool Company 24 1/2 on the spreadsheet, but you are now listing the same vise as an Oswego. Not trying to complicate matters, but..... The vise recently posted is clearly marked Sawyer.....

Gearhead. The spreadsheet is mainly for reference. Say a person buys said Sawyer/Oswego and wanting to look up his new vise then the spec:s should match either Sawyer or Oswego. I’ll look it over tonight and make sure the spec:s are the same. Do you know the date when Sawyer took over? I haven’t read Fierjeppan’s post where he might mention the date’s of the swap. Kevin

 

[gearhead1960]

Gearhead. The spreadsheet is mainly for reference. Say a person buys said Sawyer/Oswego and wanting to look up his new vise then the spec:s should match either Sawyer or Oswego. I’ll look it over tonight and make sure the spec:s are the same. Do you know the date when Sawyer took over? I haven’t read Fierjeppan’s post where he might mention the date’s of the swap. Kevin

Kevin,

Sorry, can't help you there. Just remember reading the history....probably from @Fierljeppen . Looks like I have the 3rd iteration. Thanks for the clarification for the purpose of the spreadsheet!

 

[skmbabon]

National Machinery & Supply Co., Ltd.
Hamilton, ON
Oval Slide Vise Line
602-1/2, 603, 603-1/2, 604, 604-1/2, 605
​

The first record of this line, so far, is in 1915. Six sizes from 2-1/2" to 5" jaw width. The second cut shows "No. 6" on the vise, however this catalog page previously posted by @Fierljeppen shows the models numbers are in the form "60X".

 

[CRSINMICH]

MILLERS FALLS OVAL SLIDE VISES
From their 1878 catalogue​

Oval Slide Clamp-on Vise
Oval Slide Coach Vise
Oval Slide Parallel vise ("The best cheap Vise in use.")

 

[skmbabon]

Prentiss Vise Co.
Watertown, NY
Rex Combination Vises
701, 702, 703​

Additional specs and a 701 pic.



Photo credit: B. Minsinger

 

[skmbabon]

Lewis Tool Co. No. 36

 

[skmbabon]

Pittsburgh Automatic Vise and Tool Co.
Double Swivel Bench Vise; Double Swivel Pipe Vise; Single Swivel Bench Vise with Pipe Attachment

Found this article from January 1907, checked GJ to see what was known, and
If the DS bench vise is rare and selling for thousands, what are the other iterations worth?!
@royce and @Vise wanted a look at the internals after one of these was posted, so here you go.

 

[KMScott]

Lambco MK1. 10" jaws that weights 400 lbs. (edited)

 

[KMScott]

Woden 186 E/8 Waiting on spec:s.

 

[skmbabon]

Humphrey Heavy Duty Vise

 

[royce]

Pittsburgh Automatic Vise and Tool Co.
Double Swivel Bench Vise; Double Swivel Pipe Vise; Single Swivel Bench Vise with Pipe Attachment

Found this article from January 1907, checked GJ to see what was known, and
If the DS bench vise is rare and selling for thousands, what are the other iterations worth?!
@royce and @Vise wanted a look at the internals after one of these was posted, so here you go.

Thank you sir

 

[royce]

Lambco MK1. 10" jaws that possibly weights 222 lbs.

Kevin I believe I read it was 222 kilograms, almost 490 lbs.
Looks like a finely crafted masher!

Royce

 

[12vx2]

Lambco MK1. 10" jaws that possibly weights 222 lbs.

WOW!!!