Vise Info Thread

[KMScott]

H.S.B. & co. 163-1/2. 3-1/2" jaws that opens to 7-1/4 and weights 34-1/4 lb.

Here is what the owner mentions.

"Picked up an unusual Parker made vise (to me at least). H.S.B. & Co Rev-O-Noc 163 1/2. Was in good shape at an awesome price . . So Revonoc is conover spelled backwards and these were manufactured in 1906 when this Charles Conover started purchasing at Hibbert, Spencer and Bartlett Company from Chas Parker. The vises were for a hardware company in the northeast apparently from what I’ve read.
Regardless of value I enjoyed the history of the branding and manufacturing aspect and will enjoy it in the garage."

 

[KMScott]

Vo-Tech made vise. 4" jaws that opens to 5". The clamp-on is a kit vise'. No Spec:s on this one.

 

[ejot]

Charles Parker 279-1/2. Specs from catalog page, 7" jaws open to 10.5", 220lb.
Unfortunately this one's had a rough life and all three of those specs have been permanently compromised. It's not supposed to look like an offset vise!

Based on the catalog page I submit for consideration that 229 thru 279-1/2 get the "Superior" series label.

 

[ejot]

Charles Parker 376. Specs from catalog page, 4" jaws open to 7.5", 35lbs.
Fixed base swivel jaw woodworker's vise.

 

[ejot]

And rounding out my Parker files are a couple with incomplete info.

Charles Parker 95. 5" jaws. This doesn't fit logically into any model number sequence that I can find (then again, for Parker, that isn't saying much). I would be interested to find a catalog reference but haven't yet. Looks like a somewhat later model.
edit: @MattGavriloff almost certainly nailed it 955 with what looks to be a casting error.

Charles Parker 386A. 'A' suffix is Union-era? 6" jaws verified.

 

[MattGavriloff]

I'll be the first to suggest it's a 955 (5" Jaw, open 8", weight ~85ish?) with the second 5 never cast, or broken off, etc. The spindle would be correct, later like you said. No bench notch, later again. The "straight" reinforcing 45* the back of the body instead of the fancier one with "dips", later. (if that makes sense)

It definitely would NOT be the first Parker I've seen with a missing, wrong, or upside down number or letter. If it were actually "95", I think there would be mord space between that and "No."

Though I completely agree there's little sense to many Parker series numbers, so there's always that to take into account.

 

[akasrick]

And rounding out my Parker files are a couple with incomplete info.

Charles Parker 95. 5" jaws. This doesn't fit logically into any model number sequence that I can find (then again, for Parker, that isn't saying much). I would be interested to find a catalog reference but haven't yet. Looks like a somewhat later model.
edit: @MattGavriloff almost certainly nailed it 955 with what looks to be a casting error.

Charles Parker 386A. 'A' suffix is Union-era? 6" jaws verified.

This adv. is a little difficult to read.
I don't why this is on my desktop.
It looks as if they had a lot of numbers in 1908 to contend with.

akasrick

 

[MattGavriloff]

~1912, they ALMOST made a number 95...lol. It wouldn't suprise me if they did at some point, and I'm sure these are quite rare!

 

[Productbob]

Hi Kevin, here's a piece of literature on Howard Iron Vises from an 1877 catalog.
thanks bob

 

[KMScott]

Hi Kevin, here's a piece of literature on Howard Iron Vises from an 1877 catalog.
thanks bob

Thanks Bob. I wish Howard used model numbers. Makes it hard to catalog. Really like the swivel lockdown under the bench. I added the post to the Vise Brochures. Thanks Bob.

Thanks ejot for your Parker post's. You help me a bunch and i sure appreciate it.

 

[Fierljeppen]

H.S.B. & co. 163-1/2. 3-1/2" jaws that opens to 7-1/4 and weights 34-1/4 lb.

Here is what the owner mentions.

"Picked up an unusual Parker made vise (to me at least). H.S.B. & Co Rev-O-Noc 163 1/2. Was in good shape at an awesome price . . So Revonoc is conover spelled backwards and these were manufactured in 1906 when this Charles Conover started purchasing at Hibbert, Spencer and Bartlett Company from Chas Parker. The vises were for a hardware company in the northeast apparently from what I’ve read.
Regardless of value I enjoyed the history of the branding and manufacturing aspect and will enjoy it in the garage."

Very nice private labeled Parker Eclipse no. 103 vise, I believe.



The company, Hibbert, Spencer and Bartlett were a hardware giant local to me. They have an extremely interesting history, at a time when Chicago was one of the largest manufacturing cities in the world. The main building was some really prime real estate on the Main Stem of the Chicago River, just east of the Wrigley Building. The H.S. & B. Co. eventually sold the rights for "True Value" hardware, which succeeded them for many years.



Those were the good ole days.

 

[KMScott]

Fulton #70. 4" jaws that opens to 5-3/4". I'll add more pics when the owner finishes it.

 

[KMScott]

J.O. Barrett #60 accidently posted again. Sorry guy. Not a good paint job if I might say.

 

[Fierljeppen]

J.O. Barrett #50 possibly. 5" jaws that opens to 8" and weights 105lb. Not a good paint job if I might say.

Deja Vu...Isn't that DaveThorik's vise posted on the previous page?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/vise-info-thread.355753/page-56#post-9274942

That green needs to go. That's an awesome vise, but it may have the worst paint job in the history of mankind.

 

[steaks&anvils]

J.O. Barrett #50 possibly. 5" jaws that opens to 8" and weights 105lb. Not a good paint job if I might say.

Great paint job! They didn't miss a spot!

 

[davethorik]

Deja Vu...Isn't that DaveThorik's vise posted on the previous page?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/vise-info-thread.355753/page-56#post-9274942

That green needs to go. That's an awesome vise, but it may have the worst paint job in the history of mankind.

Literally just posted last page with correct specs...lol

 

[KMScott]

Literally just posted last page with correct specs...lol

Oops. It’s a ***** getting old. Sorry about that Dave.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Oops. It’s a ***** getting old. Sorry about that Dave.

KMScott, it's not your fault. It's the green paint. I was thinking about that green vise while going to a job today and let's just say, I lost concentration and missed a few turnoffs. It does something to your brain.

It will be interesting to see what the Barrett looks like without the ugliest green paint I've ever seen in my life. It's despicable.

Look at this photo at your own peril.

 

[davethorik]

Oops. It’s a ***** getting old. Sorry about that Dave.

No problem, I appreciate all the work you do collecting pix and adding vises to the spreadsheet!

Fierljeppen- you owe me a half box of Kleenex wiping all the blood from my eyes. Lol that yellow does not do the green any favors!

 

[davethorik]

Another interesting find today:

Peoria Steel & Tool Co.
Peoria, Illinois
4" jaws, opens 5", weight 65 lbs.

The patent dates on the dynamic jaw correspond to patents 713,121 and 732,761 by J.R. Long, who also invented the Versa-Vise, Pinch Bug, Pittsburgh automatic rotating vise, and others.

I could only find one other example, that was posted here missing the swivel base. This vise has an auto-locking swivel base feature, similar or perhaps identical to Rock Island and Jacobson auto-locking vises.

This vise works well and is in decent shape except the jaws, they are all kinds of jacked up. It was used daily on a welding table, and the seller bought it 40 years ago already in this condition.

 

[KMScott]

Miniature Post vise. Adding to the Custom Fab Vises.

Quote from a vise enthusiast who I respect.

"I’ve seen that vise before. It was made by a gun smith working to get a journeyman card and a project was used to pass this and earn said card. Switzerland I believe. My great grandpa was also a gunsmith and he to completed a project to earn his card also. I could be mistake on the exact details but I have seen that vise. It’s a gem."

 

[MattGavriloff]

Good God, don't sneeze around that thing...might never find it!

 

[Productbob]

Thanks Bob. I wish Howard used model numbers. Makes it hard to catalog. Really like the swivel lockdown under the bench. I added the post to the Vise Brochures. Thanks Bob.

Thanks ejot for your Parker post's. You help me a bunch and i sure appreciate it.

Picked up a Howard No. 5 a couple of weeks ago and am cleaning it up. I'll send a couple of pics and specs when it's a little more presentable.

 

[KMScott]

L.P. Model # S-4. 4" jaws that opens to 5" and weights 60-1/2 lbs.

 

[Fierljeppen]

L.P. Model # S-4. 4" jaws that opens to 5" and weights 60-1/2 lbs.

That's an amazing find, I've never seen one before. I had no idea that The Lionel Corporation, famous manufacturer of electric model railroad trains, were briefly in the bench vise business.



Is there a back story on that vise?

 

[KMScott]

The owner picked up this vise and found the catalog pages. pretty interesting vise. Here are a few comments mentioned about this vise.

“It does have the Parker swivel lockdown “brake shoes “

“ Now don’t have an proof but based on the base swivel base and front retaining clip I would conclude that Parker made it for Lionel and hence the LP for Lionel Parker “

 

[MattGavriloff]

That is awesome! It does have Parker lines for sure. Odd that it has what appear to be "normal" replacable jaws instead of Parkers wrap over/pins though. All of their rebrands I've ever seen, just like the HSB&CO a few posts back, have Parker style jaws. I wonder why they would have gone through the trouble to make them differently? I've never seen a Parker with that style at all. (Maybe some of the later Parker/Union Tool made ones?) Even if so, the meatball and handle are the older style well before that. Very interesting indeed!!

 

[Pb12]

Hi Guys - I recently bought a couple of vises from a recent widow. Her husband owned the vises for 20 or 30 years, but was not the original owner. The one I am asking about this morning is this Rock Island 573. Looks to have been made in November 1945. My question though, what do the numbers "6 20" which are stamped to each of the vices jaws as well as the underside of the slide (the date: 11 45) is stamped on the top of the slide). Also, kind of a cool discovery as I have cleaned the years of dirt and grime off. There is a name stamped into the top of both jaws: "Vern Parier". its pretty poorly done, so I am quite sure it is not the name of the guy who made it, but one of its previous owners. a quick Google search didn't bring anything up unfortunately. Anyway, would love to know what the "6 20" stampings mean.

Michael

 

[MattGavriloff]

Nice old R.I. Vise, and well cleaned!

As I understand it, yes the numbers on the slide top are manufacture date. The other numbers are generally agreed to be assembly numbers, to keep the parts together while it was built. I have a couple Craftsman/Rock Island vises and one has 417, and the other 68 (I think) in the same places as your 620 stamps. Neither corresponds to the build dates on their slides.

Also, I agree the name is a prior owner, not the builder. Mostly because I've NEVER seen another with a name there. Nice little detail you have there! Too bad you didn't happen to find something interesting about the name. Still adds to the story though!!

P.S. - I'm the strange type that would forever refer to the vise as "Vern"...lol

 

[KMScott]

Charles Parker #384. 4" jaws that opens to 5" and weights 52lbs.

 

[Pb12]

Nice old R.I. Vise, and well cleaned!

As I understand it, yes the numbers on the slide top are manufacture date. The other numbers are generally agreed to be assembly numbers, to keep the parts together while it was built. I have a couple Craftsman/Rock Island vises and one has 417, and the other 68 (I think) in the same places as your 620 stamps. Neither corresponds to the build dates on their slides.

Also, I agree the name is a prior owner, not the builder. Mostly because I've NEVER seen another with a name there. Nice little detail you have there! Too bad you didn't happen to find something interesting about the name. Still adds to the story though!!

P.S. - I'm the strange type that would forever refer to the vise as "Vern"...lol

Matt — thanks for the helpful reply!! This is why I am an advocate for restoring these old vises as apposed to leaving them as is. Much of this information was completely hidden by the grime you f 70+ years of hard work. “Vern” will be completely cleaned up. Lots of casting “schmoo” that actually is detrimental to the vice working smoothly is getting removed and then Ill repaint it. Its going to be pretty cool when completed. This is my second attempt at this. First one was this 3.5” Wilton Cadet I did a few weeks ago.

 

[KMScott]

Fierjeppen, like your avatar and had to share my working vise on a Royce Stand.

 

[Fierljeppen]

That vise / stand combination is nothing less than stunning. Exquisite style with all of the functionality included and the finish is perfect for me. That may be the nicest combo I've ever seen.

You and Royce have done some amazing projects together, but you really knocked this one out of the park!

 

[royce]

Fierjeppen, like your avatar and had to share my working vise on a Royce Stand.

It sure looks good on you!

 

[454ragtop]

Boller No. 1, 2-1/2" jaws, opens to 5" , weighs 13-1/2 lbs. throat depth 4". I really like the traditional style "meatball" on this iteration of the Versa Vise.

 

[Dave600]

Been a vise lurker since 2019. Somehow got into refurbishing old tools, learning about company history and have migrated to vises. Live in Ontario, Canada. Started reading the Vises of Garage Journal from the beginning. Approaching the end of 2015. Completely read the Vise Info Thread and have used the Vise Spreadsheet several times analyzing vises I have bought. Here are some Canadian catalog pages for RAE vises as a start. Originally called RAE Tool and Engineering from Hamilton, Ontario and later changed to RAE Vise Corp. Vises were made in Hamilton (McCoy Foundry Co Ltd). Ultimately RAE vises were made in Orillia, Ontario (OTACO). I have refurbished several versions of them as well but here are the catalog/brochures I have collected.

 

[Dave600]

RAE 40S - 4 inch wide jaws. Opens 4 inchs. 22 lbs. Double swivel locks. Notice the double curves supporting the nose under the moving jaw at the front (typical indicator of a RAE vise).
Dave,

 

[Dave600]

RAE 104. 4 inch wide jaws. 17 inches long, 8.5 inches high, stationary, opens 7.5 inches. From top of slide to top of jaws is 3.5 inches. 45 lbs. Completely torn down, cleans to bare metal and repainted, oil, grease. Over 2 yrs ago now.

Dave

 

[Dave600]

RAE 40. No swivel. 4 inch wide jaws, opens 5-1/4 inch, 12 inches long, 5-5/8 inches tall, 20 lbs.

Dave,

 

[KMScott]

Thanks Dave600 for your posts on your RAE vises. Recorded in the spreadsheet.