Vise Info Thread

[Beerhippie]

Its the "reverse polish" type of D jaw

Reverse Polish? It's HP.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Outlaw: I've had the swivel base version of that clamp on for years and I never did identify it. I'd sure be glad if someone on this thread knew for certain what it was.

​

 

[Patrickm82]

I just remembered that a guy at work has one of these mounted to his box. It has the rectangle anvil but I believe still the same maker. His has a sticker on there “Swordfish China”. Here are a few pictures of his. I will try and find the one I have at home and show the ****** casting.

 

[PghJKB]

I just remembered that a guy at work has one of these mounted to his box. It has the rectangle anvil but I believe still the same maker. His has a sticker on there “Swordfish China”. Here are a few pictures of his. I will try and find the one I have at home and show the ****** casting.

I see these on EvilPrey all the time. Most definitely Asian

JKB

 

[neophyte]

I just remembered that a guy at work has one of these mounted to his box. It has the rectangle anvil but I believe still the same maker. His has a sticker on there “Swordfish China”. Here are a few pictures of his. I will try and find the one I have at home and show the ****** casting.

Swordfish has been mentioned in the past as being, or having been, one if the larger Chinese Vise manufacturers, and one that made a decent product.
I’m not sure what the current status of the company is, and nowadays the “better” made Chinese vises may be sourced from other Chinese manufacturers.

 

[Outlawmws]

Well I'm disappointed if it is Asian. It has a lot of "well made" features. I mean, how many smaller clamp on vises have replaceable jaws?

 

[CRSINMICH]

Well I'm disappointed if it is Asian. It has a lot of "well made" features. I mean, how many smaller clamp on vises have replaceable jaws?

I thought the same thing about the ways. It doesn't seem likely that a cheaply made vise would have dovetailed ways.

Although the paint job undercuts that assertion somewhat.
​

 

[Outlawmws]

Although the paint job undercuts that assertion somewhat.

Mine is >95% intact, so hard to gauge casting quality, but the paint was laid on thick

 

[PeterPeter]

Seen up for sale an Emmerts Tiger, which appears to be a 38. Sad condition, but looks like most of it is there. To add insult to injury, It is listed as a Reed!

peter peter

 

[Outlawmws]

Interesting that the Emmert Tiger also uses a wrench like Parker for the swivel lockup. I never noticed that before.

 

[PeterPeter]

Interesting that the Emmert Tiger also uses a wrench like Parker for the swivel lockup. I never noticed that before.

I’m wondering if that wrench is original. The two nuts holding it on make it look like a shop-made addition.

 

[CRSINMICH]

PeterPeter: Yes, it's original. This cut is from Emmert's 1912 catalog. I thought it looked jury-rigged too.

​

 

[CRSINMICH]

Mortimer Lewis' vise patents show that he had swivel jaws from early on. The first two from 1883 and 1884 were for FRONT jaw swivelers and one of them used the commonly missing or stuck Tapered Pin. The swivel lock on the 1883 patent was on the side of the jaw not the rear. The 1905 patent was given to C Hanimann but assigned to Lewis and the swivel lock was located at the rear of the jaw.

​

 

[CRSINMICH]

In 1841 William Sim was granted a patent for a "manner of making the jaws of vises".
He concentrated on casting steel faces into the iron jaws but his patent represents a significant change in vise making. In effect he was making a modern bench vise which he called a "slide screw vise".


HIs jaw faces look like upside-down Parker jaw faces.​

 

[jreb10]

I thought the same thing about the ways. It doesn't seem likely that a cheaply made vise would have dovetailed ways.

Although the paint job undercuts that assertion somewhat.
​

I spotted this vise up for auction and remembered the discussion around your vise. Sorry to say this example is China. Not to say it is not well made with good features....

 

[CRSINMICH]

In 1887 Charles Bonney obtained a patent for a pipe vise and by 1891 Bonney was selling a vise based on that patent. In 1897 Parker was selling "...Combination Pipe Vises". In his patent description, Charles Bonney stated that the patent was for the combination of a fixed, sliding, and minor jaw.

Was Parker trying to skirt around the 1887 Bonney patent or was there a significant difference between the two?
You Decide.
​

My opinion is that Charles Bonney was too specific in his description of the minor jaw leaving the door open for Parker.

 

[KMScott]

Luther Pat Pending. No spec:s yet on this open screw vise. Owner built new jaws and meatball for it. Nice work.

 

[KMScott]

American Scale #70?? 6” swivel jaw that opens to 12”.

Can anyone come up with a catalog page to verify before I add it to the Spreadsheet. Owner says #70. Casting to rough.

 

[CRSINMICH]

KMS: This is close. American Red Seal = American Scale

​

 

[KMScott]

It looks to be a #79. Fred Knox has one that matches this one I posted. Thanks CRS and Fred For your help.

 

[CRSINMICH]

KMS: At the beginning of August you posted that you added Pipe Vises to the spreadsheet. I've been collecting them and apparently they're like bellybuttons - everyone has one. I just found this Athol 213 1/2. It stands apart from others because it has Athol's ratcheting handle and buttress threads.

​

 

[KMScott]

Yes CRS I have added Pipe Vises to the Spreadsheet. The one issue I find is many of these vises don’t have a model number. To be honest I’m not looking hard for pipe vises like I should. This Athol Pipe Vises is definitely going in the Spreadsheet. Please share more of your Pipe Vises especially ones with model numbers. I would be happy to add them. I want to thank you CRS for all you do in making my job easier.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Okay, KMS. You asked for it.

Coincidentally, I just found this 1932 Athol catalog cut and it has a few more models.​

Oddly, the 213 1/2 went down in price from the 1928 model. It may have been the start of the Great Depression or it could be that it no longer had a ratchet handle or buttress threads.

​

 

[CRSINMICH]

And here are two models of Armstrong Mfg. Hinged Pipe Vises.


​

 

[CRSINMICH]

...and four models of Barrett pipe vises.

​

 

[Beerhippie]

Cool! I don't have a vise that works with 0" pipe!

 

[CRSINMICH]

ATHOL UPDATE
ATHOL discontinued pipe vises in 1960

​

​