Vise Info Thread

[KMScott]

Brown Valve and MFG Co. 7” Foot Operated Vise. Thanks PghJKB.

 

[justintendo]

Saw that on ebay..what a vise

 

[Firstram]

What a brilliant design!

 

[CRSINMICH]

Brainard Vises
​

Amos Brainard had two patents for vises; one in 1865 and one in 1875. In 1895, he gave an interview to Machinery magazine in which he stated that his vises were originally made by Union Vise Company of Boston. At about the same time Mr. Brainard had built a milling machine which he was interested in putting on the market. In 1871, encouraged by the sales of milling machines, he sold the vise business to the Backus Vise Company which soon afterwards merged with Millers Falls Company who continued to manufacture the Brainard vise.

Brainard, Union, Backus, and Millers Falls - that quite a pedigree.

​

 

[KMScott]

P.S.Stubs clamp on vise. 2-1/2” jaws that weights 3-1/2 lbs.

Quote from the owner.
This is a mid-late 1800s P.S. Stubs bench vise used by watchmakers, clockmakers, and jewelers. To see the intricacy in person is breathtaking. It weighs in at roughly 3½ lbs. and is in overall excellent condition. After a thorough cleanup and oiling, you can even see the coloration difference between the main body of the vise and the darker, hardened steel of the jaws and the top of the anvil.

 

[CRSINMICH]

1897 Swartchild & Co. catalog
​

 

[RTM]

P.S.Stubs clamp on vise. 2-1/2” jaws that weights 3-1/2

Here is a smaller Stubs in a catalog. Along with some friends

Benj. Allen & Co. : Catalogue No. 22 of Watch Materials, Tools and Jewelers' Supplies : Benjamin Allen & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

806 p., illus., 23.2 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Here are some Stubs catalogs, the 1819 shows a vise.

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

 

[CRSINMICH]

Home-Made Foot Vise
Letter-to-the Editor of Blacksmith and Wheelwright magazine.
​

In case any of you have time on your hands and would like to make a foot vise of your own, here is how two guys from Iowa did it in 1903. Good luck to you and be sure to post pictures of it when you finish.

 

[hamthis]

I am looking for some information on this Vise. I have not seen much online for these old Wilton vises.

I bought a Burgmaster drill press, and this vise came with it. It looks to be well-built.

 

[CRSINMICH]

hamthis: The vise you asked about is a Wilton Milling Machine vise without the optional Graduated Swivel Base. Here is a cut from Wilton's 1972 catalog.

Welcome to the Vise Information thread!

 

[12vx2]

Here is an interesting vise combo tool in Tucson CL.
https://tucson.craigslist.org/atq/d/tucson-antique-pomeroy-harness-vise-and/7811562702.html

 

[RTM]

Here is an interesting vise combo tool in Tucson CL.
https://tucson.craigslist.org/atq/d/tucson-antique-pomeroy-harness-vise-and/7811562702.html

You might want to go grab the bigger pix of the other two, instead of the postage stamps.

Here are some patents by Mr Pomeroy

Patents for Henry C. Pomeroy

 

[KMScott]

Pomeroy Vise and Riveter. Thanks 12v.

 

[Outlawmws]

Now that's an interesting combo tool! I'm thinking leather/harness work?

 

[CRSINMICH]

For those who have time on their hands and want to build their own vise:
Here's how Athol did it in 1923
8 easy steps (really only 7)​

Step 1: Mill the vise beams
Step 2: Thread the screws

Step 3: Mill the jaws
Step 4: Mill the sides of beams

Step 5: Broach a square hole for the beam
Step 6: Make screws for small vises

Step 7: Admire your work
Step 8: Mill the undersides of beams

That's it! Be sure to post your results here when you're finished.

 

[Pan Man]

Emmett Pattern Makers Vice. Been using this one for 49 years.

 

[master Zoda]

Columbian 603 stats are on the spreadsheet but no link to a post. This one has smooth jaws.

 

[KMScott]

Columbian 604-1/2 M. 4-1/2” jaws that opens to 7” and weights 57 lbs. I restored this one.

 

[KMScott]

Columbian 604 M2. 4” jaws that opens to 6” and weights 38 lbs. Another one I restored.

 

[Firstram]

Emmett Pattern Makers Vice. Been using this one for 49 years.

I have the same vise, I picked it up for $60 in 1998. I still need to make a new handle but, it's so incredibly handy!!!

 

[Pan Man]

It’s impossible to understand the versatility unless you’ve used one. Finest tool ever.

 

[CRSINMICH]

TRIDENT Combination Vise and Drilling Machine
Diamond Expansion Bolt Company
​

 

[four.cycle]

Prentiss Prentiss (since April 27)

 

[four.cycle]

Prentiss Prentiss Prentiss

 

[four.cycle]

Prentiss Prentiss Prentiss Prentiss

 

[KMScott]

Thanks four.cycle. Got some homework. Awesome stuff.

 

[four.cycle]

errrr.... I just sent another batch to another member a couple days ago... let me see if I can tie you into that "conversation" and you can d/l those as well. BK

okay... looks like you got "invited" to that "conversation" ... I just grabbed all those 1906 pages a few days ago.

 

[CRSINMICH]

CHIPPING and FILING
from The Starrett Book for Machinists' Apprentices 1917
(Oh, so that's what 'heavy chipping' vises were for)
​

 

[four.cycle]

a member in the other thread had a question regarding
Columbian Vise & Mfg. Co., Cleveland, OH (previously Columbian Hardware Co.)

 

[four.cycle]

Columbian Vise & Mfg. Co., Cleveland, OH (previously Columbian Hardware Co.)

 

[four.cycle]

Columbian Vise & Mfg. Co., Cleveland, OH (previously Columbian Hardware Co.)

Columbian at International Tool Catalog Library

 

[four.cycle]

more on that Columbian 402½ model thanks to @CRSINMICH

 

[CRSINMICH]

It's curious that two of the 402½'s are swivel jaws and two are fixed jaws.

 

[four.cycle]

Armstrong
Cheney
Parker
Prentiss
Shepard (Prentiss)
Star
Trenton
(* ignore the Goodell-Pratt, North Bros., and Slocomb *)

Help me out here:

NOT clear on brand names/manufacturers on:
"Star" (combination anvil/vise/drill)
"Phoenix" (anvil. was this made by Phoenix Iron Works, Phoenixville, PA?)
"American" (not a clue)
"Fisher" (not a clue)
"Trenton"
currently I have "Trenton" listed as:
Trenton / Trenton Vise & Tool Works, Trenton, NJ / vise, anvil / https://www.watersironworks.com/trenton-anvils/ /
.... but after skimming over a couple pages online, I am wondering if I'm even close.

 

[four.cycle]

Athol Simpson
Cheney
Prentiss
Prentiss Gipsy
Massey

"box vise" - not a clue
"Merrill" - not a clue
"Emperor" - not a clue
"Ohio King" - "Ohio King" brand appears to be a private label brand used by the Lockwood Luetkemeyer Henry Co., Cleveland, OH (ca. 1848-1970.)

I am assuming these catalog snips came from their 1891 catalog, but have not yet been able to confirm that conclusively.

 

[four.cycle]

Cheney
Prentiss

"Phoenix" - not a clue
"Star" - not a clue


I am assuming these catalog snips came from their 1891 catalog, but have not yet been able to confirm that conclusively.

 

[RoninB4]

-Nice assembly of catalogs, I have an earlier Prentiss #10 with swivel back jaw but without the name/location cast into the side.

 

[akasrick]

Athol Simpson
Cheney
Prentiss
Prentiss Gipsy
Massey

"box vise" - not a clue
"Merrill" - not a clue
"Emperor" - not a clue
"Ohio King" - "Ohio King" brand appears to be a private label brand used by the Lockwood Luetkemeyer Henry Co., Cleveland, OH (ca. 1848-1970.)

I am assuming these catalog snips came from their 1891 catalog, but have not yet been able to confirm that conclusively.

some of those vises look to be rebranded,
Emperor rebranded Champion (Bonney)
Ohio King rebranded Bonney
I seem to remember Merrill as an actual mfg.
Looks to be a star along with a split yoke on the box. Someone might know,

Blacksmith vises 101 companies that made them, catalogs and history show and tell all - hosted on GJ​

akasrick

 

[CRSINMICH]

four.cycle: 'Merrill' is Merrill Brothers vise. 'Box vise' is actually the central core of a blacksmith's vise which could be ordered separately if you wanted to build your own vise. 'Solid Box' is, I believe, a method of making the box in one piece. Trenton anvils were from Columbus Forge of Columbus, Ohio (not to be confused with Columbian from Cleveland, Ohio). Read their testimony to a 1912 House Committee asking for tariff relief. Interesting background information. It must have worked because they established their forge in Columbus soon after.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Just to keep things confusing, Trenton vises (including blacksmith vises) were made by Trenton Vise & Tool Works. However, Columbus Forge did make 'Indian Chief' blacksmith's vises.