Vise Info Thread

[KMScott]

Came across a really cool E.C. Stearns & Co. of Syracuse, NY clamp on vise with 2” jas, 2” max opening, and weighs 2 3/4 lbs. It has a very cool design to it but only has a no. 2 on the side of the dynamic. A buddy of mine found a scan from 1924 but this should be a no. 16 according to the scan. Maybe the 2 just indicates jaw width? Not sure of the model number on this one.

I also tried digging to find a patent as it has a very light stamping of “PAT’D MAY 10 191?” but I couldn’t find any evidence of this patent for E.C. Stearns & Co. Any chance anyone else can shed some light on this one and figure out the last number in the year for the patent?

Thanks Dlavallee, added your vise to the spreadsheet. Now I can maybe tie in some of the clamp-on I-beam vises I see so often. Let's see what a few of the guys come up with. Your vise was built where my Mother and her family was born. I especially like how your nut is solid like a few English vises I have seen. Plenty of vises were built in that part of NY.

 

[KMScott]

Luther V-103. 3" jaws that opens to 2-1/2" and weights 6-1/2 lbs.

 

[KMScott]

Luther V-22. 2-1/4 jaws that opens to 2-3/4" and weights 9 lbs

 

[akasrick]

Maybe the 2 just indicates jaw width? Not sure of the model number on this one.

I can add to the speculation. Someone broke the vise on that stamp.

akasrick

The catalog says applied for.

 

[MattGavriloff]

Good day at the flea market, another new one for the sheet!

Athol 702 1/8

Jaws- 2 1/8"
Safely Opens- 2"
Weighs 6 lbs 8.0 oz

I think this is what I've seen called a "ratchet handle"? Maybe I'm missing something because it opens and closes nice and smooth but it doesn't seem to ratchet at all?

 

[KMScott]

Good day at the flea market, another new one for the sheet!

Athol 702 1/8

Jaws- 2 1/8"
MSO- 2"
Weighs 6 lbs 8.0 oz

I think this is what I've seen called a "ratchet handle"? Maybe I'm missing something because it opens and closes nice and smooth but it doesn't seem to ratchet at all?

Matt, been looking for this vise for some time. Yes it is a ratchet handle, you need to un screw the plug at the end of the meat ball and loosen up the ratcheting workings. It has a light spring that releases the handle when you back it up. I looked for pic:s of the ones I have but could not find them. They are somewhere in my thousands of pic:s. Once you free it up you will really like it. Thanks for posting. Kevin

 

[MattGavriloff]

Ahh, I assumed it had something to do with the set screw in the end. Thanks sir! I will have to see if I can carefully free it up without buggering the slot up. It's a neat little vise for sure! Not sure if it'll find a permanent home in my collection or if I'll send it on to someone with more of a thing for Athol's than me. It's always hard letting a tiny one go though...lol. Or maybe that's just me.

 

[FMC1959]

Ahh, I assumed it had something to do with the set screw in the end. Thanks sir! I will have to see if I can carefully free it up without buggering the slot up. It's a neat little vise for sure! Not sure if it'll find a permanent home in my collection or if I'll send it on to someone with more of a thing for Athol's than me. It's always hard letting a tiny one go though...lol. Or maybe that's just me.

Careful, little ones, especially something like that model which is probably sought after, could have some big value.

 

[MattGavriloff]

Oh yes, "kid gloves" so to speak...lol. I'm well aware of the parabolic scale of vise value, but I may not have realized this one would be so rare until Kevin said he has been on the lookout a while. If anyone could "find a vise" they were looking for he'd have to be near top of a list I think.

It's pretty nice overall, couple small drill marks in the top of the slide, and the replacment hold down clamp obviously. But considering how smashed they often are, I was shocked how clean it was considering the box of rusty junk I saved it from.

 

[Dlavallee22]

Oh yes, "kid gloves" so to speak...lol. I'm well aware of the parabolic scale of vise value, but I may not have realized this one would be so rare until Kevin said he has been on the lookout a while. If anyone could "find a vise" they were looking for he'd have to be near top of a list I think.

It's pretty nice overall, couple small drill marks in the top of the slide, and the replacment hold down clamp obviously. But considering how smashed they often are, I was shocked how clean it was considering the box of rusty junk I saved it from.

To use the ratchet handle, just pull out on the meatball which will disengage the handle from the main screw and then you can position it where you like and release it and it will snap back into position. I just took a few pics real quick of my 703 with 2 1/8” jaws and the ratchet handle. The meatball will only pull out about 1/16 - 1/8”. There are 8 different positions for it to snap into. Very cool little vises! Awesome find

 

[MattGavriloff]

Thank you! That makes ever more sense. I was trying to mentally understand how it could ratchet both open and closed. So it has three positions almost like an actual "ratchet". Open, close, and the middle is...locked both ways? or free spinning?

 

[Dlavallee22]

Thank you! That makes ever more sense. I was trying to mentally understand how it could ratchet both open and closed. So it has three positions almost like an actual "ratchet". Open, close, and the middle is...locked both ways? or free spinning?

It doesn’t do the traditional “ratchet” action like you would expect. It just allows you to pull out the meatball/handle from the main screw and then index the handle wherever you’d like to re-engage it and once it clicks back into place, it becomes a normal handle again

 

[MattGavriloff]

Again, thank you to all! I think now I finally understand...lol. You tighten and loosen the handle as normal, but when tightening, if it ends in an "awkward" position you pull out on the ball, free turn the handle out of the way/down, and then reingage, and tightens and loosens as normal again.

 

[MattGavriloff]

There we go.

 

[KMScott]

Hollands 37. 7" jaws that opens to 12-1/2" and weights 200lbs.

 

[KMScott]

Yost #2 Combo vise. 4-1/2" jaws that opens to 8" and weights 55lbs with no pipe jaws.

 

[ViceRoy2030]

Hey, not all of us have been doing this for decades. Some (myself) have a lot to learn and have been doing this less than a year.

A few weeks back I started to work on a Reed 204. Very nice vise in great shape, the only problem that I had was trying to break free the main nut. It wouldn't budge!!! WD-40, Simple Green, Kroy-Oil soaked for days wouldn't work. Large Screwdriver, a larger screwdriver, even a 2"x2"x1/8" pot metal with a center hole didn't work. After searching the forum, I finally ordered a couple of 3/4" drive drag link sockets in varied sizes and bam!!! the DLZ-1 did the trick. If I only would have started with one of these, I could have avoided the marring and flaring to the nut... live and learn. I now have DLZ-1, DLZ-2, LD-139 and LD-139

 

[Notsostraightcut]

the writing is No 122 and 3 1/2 inchif if someone could even point me in the right direction about who manufactured this vise it would be awesome.

 

[FMC1959]

the writing is No 122 and 3 1/2 inchif if someone could even point me in the right direction about who manufactured this vise it would be awesome.

Looks like a nice vise but personally, I do not know who could be the maker/brand. I would suggest you post in the main vise thread

The VISES of Garage Journal

As usual, once I get a particular type vise, a whole bunch of them start showing up.

www.garagejournal.com

It has over 2000 pages versus this one that has just over 50. This thread is more for specs and pics for the spreadsheet (and your vise could make a fine addition once you find out who makes it) and does not have the viewership of the main vise thread. I am pretty sure someone will have an idea of who makes it. If a day or 2 go by and no answer, bump your post to get more people to see it.

Good luck

 

[MattGavriloff]

Rock Island made. My guess, from the 71C on the base.

 

[Notsostraightcut]

You nailed. Now I have to skip work and look up more old vises on the internet

 

[old school 8541]

Wilton 1750 / 1760 question ? Does a wilton 1760 spindle fit a 1750. I know the threaded portion is longer, but is that the only difference? Will using a 1760 spindle on a 1750 allow the vice to open wider?

 

[Outlawmws]

Wilton 1750 / 1760 question ? Does a wilton 1760 spindle fit a 1750. I know the threaded portion is longer, but is that the only difference? Will using a 1760 spindle on a 1750 allow the vice to open wider?

Probably not as you want the slide to be fully engaged (to see max opening, close the vise and measure the slide stickout)

 

[KMScott]

Ridge/Simplex 51 SN. 5" jaws that opens to 9-1/2" and weights 88 lbs.

 

[ejot]

I was curious where the Parker factory was and found this page with some nice information. Expand the gray bars toward the bottom for full text.

A quick timeline- The property was purchased by Charles Parker in 1831 as his home, and he'd build a small shop and was manufacturing goods by 1832. First major expansion was the 1844 foundry building, followed by additions in 1880, 1910, and a further building in 1920, all still standing. Parker the company was out of this property by the 1950's, I presume corresponding with the purchase by Union.

Nice to see the buildings are in decent condition, have had some recent work done, and a couple have active tenants.
Address is 57 High St Meriden CT.

 

[KMScott]

Thanks for sharing ejot, it's good to see that the buildings are still there. One of my stops when I visit relatives close by. They built a lot of vises.

 

[MattGavriloff]

Oh to dig through the dusty corners of that place....a guy can dream...

 

[dehn0045]

I'm new here. I recently purchased a vise for hobby use and made use of the extensive Garage Journal library in helping me decide on the right vise. Since then I have found vises to be particularly interesting and have sort of gotten sucked into the vortex. Anyway, I was randomly searching FB marketplace and saw this one listed. Originally the seller only had the pic showing the "No. 146", so I went on the Easter egg hunt to figure out what it was. It looks like the Chas. Parker No. 146 circa 1912 to 1930ish? (not sure when they stopped making them, but read somewhere that the meatball spindle stopped around 1930). Turns out that after all that research I figured out the vise is halfway across the country. I decided to give the seller the info to try to help him sell it - currently listed for $200 on FB marketplace near Tampa, FL as "Parker's Vice" . I had trouble finding info about the No. 146 on the vast interwebs and noticed that it is absent from the spreadsheet, so I figured I'd post it up here. The seller noted the weight as 60 to 70 lbs, matching the catalog.

 

[KMScott]

Meadville Vise Company #775. Waiting on spec:s. Oops on the vise text.

 

[Outlawmws]

Odd that they cast the numbers upside down...

 

[steaks&anvils]

Odd that they cast the numbers upside down...

I suppose it depends on which side of mold you are leaning over when you set the forms up? or the ubiquitous Friday afternoon crew!

 

[akasrick]

Oops on the vise text.

Odd that they cast the numbers upside down...

Looks as if he had his ins and outs down pat and just had to work on his ups and downs.


akasrick

 

[KMScott]

Charles Parker 234. 4" jaws that opens to 5-1/2" and weights 89 lbs.

 

[KMScott]

Charles Parker 235. 5" jaws that opens to 6" and weights 112 lbs.

 

[royudc]

I believe I have a new listing for the spreadsheet.
It's a Rae 204 but the weight of this one is 59 lbs.
Probably an older version, I'm thinking 1940's maybe?
It looks (to me at least) very similar to a Reed.

Jaws: 4"
Opens to: 5 1/2"
Weight: 59#
Swivel: Yes

Ron

 

[MattGavriloff]

I agree, looks very similar, right down to the curved jaw serrations. RAE are a Canadian brand right? Can't remember if I read that correctly somewhere, but if they are, does anyone happen to know if they were made right across the lake from Erie Castings? Or is it not Canadian and just another company using that body like Reed, Yost, etc? Regardless, I think it's connected to the family somehow for sure.

Edit: Looked at the pictures again...did 4" Reeds ever come with dual swivel lockdowns?...The majority of my vises are solid base, and all but the 2C are for the Reeds.

 

[royudc]

Matt, yes RAE is/was a Canadian company based in Hamilton, so not that far from Erie PA.
Here's a link to a bit of company history

One of my vices is vises: RAE Revisited and the OTACO connection

progress-is-fine.blogspot.com

Maybe there was some collaboration during WW2?

I tore it down today to refurb it, one difference from the Reed I have is that the spindle is secured in the slide with a spring/washer/cotter pin set up, similar to the Record/Paramo/Woden design, as compared to my Reed 103 which has a collar/set screw design.
My Reed has a 12/21 build date so I have no idea when they started or stopped using this design.
I'll be on the lookout for a date stamp similar to the Reed when I get it cleaned up.

Cheers, Ron

 

[ejot]

Hollands 04 1/2L
4-1/2" offset jaw, 90lbs

 

[MattGavriloff]

Roy, That makes sense; Canadian/British finishing touches on "overseas" casting from Erie! All speculation of course...lol

Reeds never used such a system for retaining the screw, as far as I know. The style on your 103 is the same used all the way to the "R" series when they add the adjustable collar in the nose.

I am also curious whether you will find a date stamp on it.

 

[KMScott]

Hollands 04 1/2L
4-1/2" offset jaw, 90lbs

Boy that is a nice vise Ejot. Happy to add it to the Spreadsheet.