Vise Info Thread

[KMScott]

Cool find. Unfortunately I have not ever learned the meaning of the suffix.
That vise pictured was local to me but not one I purchased. Was noting it here since it hadn’t yet been added to our spreadsheet of vise model info.

Look again, I added it several years ago. I do need max opening if you could help there.

 

[Willy Wilson]

William Dixon Inc.
from a 1926 Dixon Catalog
​

Most of these vises will look familiar. They were probably vises from other manufacturers with the DIXON name put on them. It's likely that the vises themselves did not have the name on them but the catalog was printed that way.

Dixon had an odd numbering system. Anyway, here are the model numbers and specs for 21 DIXON vises. Take note that the Universal Swivel Vise had 2" jaws. That would be a cool one. Cute too.

The real deal.

 

[CRSINMICH]

EXCELSIOR QUICK ACTION VISE
by EXCELSIOR TOOL & MACHINE WORKS of St. Louis
NOT Excelsior Machine Works of Los Angeles
​

The 1893 Walker patent was assigned to Excelsior Tool & Machine Works.
The catalog cut is from Excelsior Tool & Machine Works' 1900 catalog.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I recently took a grinder off of a stand, so I decided to make use of the stand. I mounted my little Reed no. 103 on it. I have several vises in the shop, but this one I can move around easily for small jobs.

 

[KMScott]

Bonney #830. 3” jaws that opens to 3-1/2” and weights 18lbs. (Thanks CRS for the spec:s) Check out those horns.

 

[KMScott]

Kvice. Description from the seller.

New Kvice brand 8" fabricated bench vice American Made In Nevada Mo. opens up to 14" 6" throat depth Balanced removable handle so you can use a breaker bar for more clamping pressure or an impact for faster travel 1" fine acme thread Replaceable jaws AR400 anvil plate,

 

[KMScott]

Starrett 615. No Spec:s.

 

[CRSINMICH]

KMS: Here are the specs for Bonney No.830 and No.840 from their 1925 catalog. No horns in sight though.

LATE ADDITION: Here's a cut from a 1958 hardware catalog showing Athol 613 - 618 vises. The base has a lip at the front but everything else looks similar to the STARRETT 615.

 

[CRSINMICH]

UNEXPECTED VISE CURIOSITY

HOUDINI VS. PITTSBURG VISE
​

I have not found any reference to the outcome but it seems likely that if he had failed to escape, it would have been a big story.

​

 

[RTM]

UNEXPECTED VISE CURIOSITY

HOUDINI VS. PITTSBURG VISE
​

I have not found any reference to the outcome but it seems likely that if he had failed to escape, it would have been a big story.

​

You could go here and look for is in box 6.2 (items 4 & 8 when searching for vise)

Maybe they will pull it out and read it / scan it for you

Harry Houdini: An Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Center

Also a link here (with incorrect address to the next

The VISES of Garage Journal

Nice getrid. Any idea on why the pipe jaws are always missing? Are they not hardened, and usually break?

www.garagejournal.com

And here

The VISES of Garage Journal

Fruit before leaves, must be a hybrid. Wire don't rattle good like chains.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Willy Wilson]

45 ibs.

 

[bl00]

Edit: seller updated the ad and now has it as a 6".

Columbian Cat No. 208 1/2. Listed as 8" and 300 lbs by seller.

 

[skmbabon]

Oswego Ontario No 65 Combination Vise

The Ontario line (63-1/2, 64, 65) replaced the earlier "Smith Pattern" No. 1, 2, and 3. In turn, after Oswego's bankruptcy, the models continued as the Sawyer 63-1/2, 64, and 65. From what I could see the specs remained the same.
There's a good discussion about Oswego Tool, the predecessor Atlas, Velox, Fulton and Lowville Vise companies, and the successor International Nu-Type and Sawyer Companies starting here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/the-vises-of-garage-journal.44782/post-8288005

 

[Woods_Wanderer]

Columbian Cat No. 208 1/2. Listed as 8" and 300 lbs by seller.

I was about to post this photo. Is this the only 8" combination pipe vise known?

Here is another contribution as well. ACCO 168 or possibly 16B. Seller stated it had 4 1/2" jaws, sold it out from under me before I could get my hands on it for more specs and photos.

 

[bl00]

I was about to post this photo. Is this the only 8" combination pipe vise known?

I didn't know anyone ever made them. The spreadsheet doesn't show any either.

 

[Dave600]

Columbian Cat No. 208 1/2. Listed as 8" and 300 lbs by seller.

I have never seen a catalog page for a 208 or 208-1/2 Combo from Columbian. They only went to 206. The 206 was 160 lbs. Not sure I see "1/2" marking on the side. Sure that is not a 206 ?

 

[bl00]

Yeah it is a 6". The guy just updated his ad.

 

[skmbabon]

Mfg: likely Rae​

Place: Hamilton or Orillia​

"Master" Vise Models​

​

I've run out of leads researching this brand so time to post what I have and hope members can provide additional clues.
My first sighting of this brand was a single poor picture of a mechanics style vise in a 2021 auction in Kelowna, BC. Notable only because it has the curved buttress at the front of the static jaw which is a design unique to Rae and Clark Machine.


Repainted and repaired Master vise - no model number or specs.

---

December 2023 a similar vise was auctioned in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The model number was visible. I bid, won, and eventually got my hands on it. Same jaw width as a Rae 30, but smaller opening and markedly lighter.

D-30​

Master D-30 right and left sides, and a Rae 30 for comparison.

Jaw width: 3" (measurement. Same as Rae 30)
Jaw opening: 2-1/4" (measurement. Rae 30 spec is 2-3/4")
Weight: 6.6 lb (measurement. Rae 30 spec is 9 lb)

---

Also in December 2023 a "Master" utility vise showed up on Kijiji in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Model WD-4. No specs, but looks very like a Rae W-4, which has a distinctive profile curve on the dynamic jaw.

WD-4​

Master WD-4 right and left sides, and a Rae W-4 for comparison. No specs available.

---

Made by Rae, but for what company?
I'm fairly confident these vises were made by Rae. The curved buttress doesn't seem to have been used by anyone else except Clark Machine, which was a smaller producer and doesn't seem to have done any OEM work, unlike Rae. The Master WD-4 and Rae W-4 look very similar, and the model numbers almost match.

The lighter weight and cheaper construction (compare the handles and nose pieces, for example) would fit with "Master" being a house brand for another company. I posted a close-up of the logo after seeing the WD-4 but no-one had any leads. Montgomery Ward used the Master brand but never operated in Canada; the locations of the three vises I've seen so far (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and BC) suggest a Western Canadian business.

Any westerners recall the brand?

If you have a Master vise I would greatly appreciate pics and specs. Thanks!

 

[CRSINMICH]

AYARS RAPID VISE
Ayars Machine Company of Salem, NJ​

1893 Charles Ayars patent drawing.
1898 Article in The Iron Age magazine.
The Rapid Vise came in two sizes, 5" and 5 1/2 " at 60 and 90 lbs.

Ayers Machine Company later developed many machines for industrialized commercial canning shown by this 1921 article in Canning Age magazine.

 

[KMScott]

Meadville #43. 4-3/4" jaws That opens to 7” and weights 71 lbs.

From the owner.
Over 100 years old. This Meadville Vice Co (notice the C in Vice) has steel slides and a unique main nut held in with a 1/4” pin. Meadville was sold to Yost in the early 1900’s.

 

[john.k]

Is a length of acme thread from a gate valve usable as a replacement screw in a vice? ......dimensions are right ,but does a vice screw need to be hardened ?.........Vice is OK except for a rusted screw ................which makes me think the original was hard steel.

 

[Outlawmws]

De-rust the screw... an E-tank or Evaporeust is your friend.

 

[john.k]

Original screw is past using ,as in rusted away beyond the thread in parts ...........the vice is virtually unused ,was from the local oil refinery,and left out in the open ,as is normal practice with pipe fitters ..........the air is laden with acids and salt spray from the cooling towers.

 

[Outlawmws]

If the gate valve screw is steel and not brass I'd say go for it. But a Gate valve that size, -unless bought as scrap, is likely more $$ than to have one made

 

[john.k]

Already have the screw ...gate valves being plentiful at the refinery.

 

[bronc076]

I was on a work trip to a hydropower plant and I saw this cute little Wilton on the soldering bench in the electronics maintenance shop!

 

[bronc076]

Standard size Sharpie for scale.

 

[skmbabon]

Majestic Tool Mfg. Co.
Chicago
Majestic 34, Majestic 4A.
Added to spreadsheet.
1953 catalog entry.

 

[skmbabon]

Record Leader No. 14
Pics for spreadsheet.

 

[skmbabon]

Harcliff Company
Rushville, IN
No 1, No 2 clamp-on vises

I came across these pics, didn't recognize the name, searched GJ. Mark Stansbury posted a link to info about this company on Vintage Machinery, about 3 years ago. Solid looking little clamp-on vises.
I think this is the No 1 but no specs were available.

 

[skmbabon]

Val d'or 3 inch clamp-on.
France
(Many Canadians will know Val d'or as the name of a a gold-mining town in Quebec).

Only info I found on the company is here on GJ. Merci, maxipouce.

 

[Movin/on]

I've got a 61CP Desmond 6" vise that I'd like to remove the handle from the screw. I'd like to restore the vise. I see where the one end has been affixed and have sprayed it for a few days with PB Blaster. It won't turn so was it pressed on?
How do I remove it? I've got a A/C torch, vise grips, pipe wrenches, chop saw and welders if I need to cut it and grind etc.. But that's the last option.
Richard >>> Movin/on

 

[Outlawmws]

Most of these handle balls were slipped on and the rod peened in place. Not in every case, but most.

Most of us leave them on and "polish in place"; even for straightening bends.

 

[Movin/on]

OK I'll leave it there and work around it.
Thanks

 

[skmbabon]

Record Engineer's Heavy Duty Vice No. 110
Pic for spreadsheet.

 

[CRSINMICH]

COLUMBIAN 804 All Steel Vise
"How the First All-Steel Welded Vise is Made"

This exact press release from H.F. Seymour appeared in the January, 1948 issues of
MACHINERY, THE WELDING JOURNAL, MACHINE DESIGN, THE IRON AGE, and who knows what other journals.​

 

[Frenchy23]

Hit up an estate sale in north Jersey because of this 3 axis vise I wanted, ended up filling my truck with other stuff. Also grabbed this starrett no 1026 milling vise for 60 bucks, It's locked up right now, but should work out great when I clean it up. Paid a 100 for the 3 axis vise, been looking for one for my mill for awhile now

 

[KMScott]

Athol 107 swivel jaw. 3-1/2” jaws that opens to 4” and weights 32 lbs. Thanks Dave600 For the spec:s.

 

[Dave600]

Athol 107 swivel jaw. No spec:s.

Catalog, 1911 of the Athol 107, fixed base, swivel jaw, Simpson vise family.
Dave,

 

[skmbabon]

That's a nice series of swivel vise jaws