Hello Payson;

I used a wire brush in an angle grinder, admittedly harsh treatment for an old tool, but stuff like this its the ticket. Then it got a rustoleum paint job, better looking now than paint spattered and rusty.

Bret

Flute Maker,

My brother has one identical to it and yes it does pivot. His was at least as rusty as yours. He added a little heat and kept hitting the jaw down low with a brass bar. Used lots of penetrating oil too. That's a tapered pin that holds the jaw parallel. He discovered that it had been hit so many times that it was driven into the base which also made it not turn. We drilled it out and things went alot easier.

Ray

Yup, been there a couple times. Last was about 3 years ago ... I don't recall being concerned about their food prep! Maybe I wasn't looking close enough. Bill

I picked up one of those a few months ago for $20, ugly as hell.
After lots of penetrating oil, I still had to use a block of wood and a heavy persuader to push against one side of the jaw, to get it out of its circular tongue & groove. A nice bit of machining by Reed, but oh-boy what a place for corrosion to hide and breed.

Anybody know what the locking pin hole configuration is supposed to be?
On mine the pin is missing and the hole is beat up, but what I think I will do is clamp the jaws together and let them align to each other, then use a MT3 reamer to clean up the holes, and use an old socket or drill shank as a pin.

FerrousAntiques:

There are several standards for tapered pins shown in Machinery's Handbook (MH). Best results are acchieved by using a MH with a date similar to the date of the antique tool or machine in question. I'm fairly sure some of the old taper pin standards shown in the older editions are obsolete.

If I ever get a hold of one of these swivelling-jaw vises, I'm going to put either anti-sieze compound or maybe heavy waxy grease in the circular dovetail and definitely anti-sieze in the taper pin hole.

As I'm writing this, I'm having a brainstorm of a tapered pin with a, say, #10 or 1/4" hole down the middle. The hole is a clearance hole except for a 1/2" length at the top (or bottom) where it's threaded. The pin acts as its own "puller". Threading the top is preferred so a flush screw can be left in there to keep the swarf out. Threading the bottom would eliminate the need for a jackscrew threaded its whole length. I'd have to make two and try them.

John Ruth

Here are some pics of my rear jaw and the taper pin to hold the jaw parallel.

John, you forgot about the small powder charge!
Now I see how it swivels. Without a picture of it, it's hard to imagine what its' track would look like.
This will be a tough challenge. I think soaking it for a few days is a good way to start. I tried to knock out the pin from underneath but the angle is too steep.
This iron belonged to my late neighbor. A man who spent his life as a cable splicer for Boston Edison. This vise may have been one of those bolt to the truck bumper units?
Bret, i used a wire cup brush too, but cant get the same finish. How heavy a bristle is it?
Payson

My grandfather-in-laws (now my) Parker & a Wilton I found in the woods hunting. Both were in rough shape, the Wilton really rough. But electrolysis and 24hr shift work, did wonders.

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Bret, now that is a sharp color of paint for a vice. Could you share what brand and color it is and where can we buy some?
Thanks, Mike

Hi everyone, I'm new here since purchasing a South Bend lathe. I am now in the market for a vise. I am looking at a Wilton, but I want to be sure it is not a copy. 'Wilton' is cast in the side of the vise, along with 'Made in the USA' Can I assume that it is an original and not a knock-off?
I will try and post a picture, but I don't know if I will be successful. Thanks for any thoughts or recommendation.



Powder

Looks like the real deal to me. Haven't heard of anyone getting into the vise knockoff business.

Here are a few photos of the Rock Island model 596 vise I inherited from my Father-in-Law's estate. He and I spent a lot of quality time with it over the course of 30 years, and I would like to restore it. However, I need at least one new jaw insert for it:







While its obviously a Rock Island model 596, as you can see from the decal in the left side, my Father-in-Law bought it from an Atlas distributor.

BTW, the jaws are 5.5" long, and are grooved for a tenon 7/8" wide by 1/4' Deep. Here's hoping someone has a jaw or two they will sell me !

Thanks,
,.. Gregg

It would hardly move when I got it. Little elbow grease and paint . Came with the BP when I bought it. I don't know who made it so if some one recognizes it then let me know. There is a name stamped on the top but I think it was from the last shop it was in. Can't wait to use it, need to get the BP that it came with together first.

I removed the pin by knocking it out from the inside. Soaked it with Liquid Wrench, hit it, hit it some more. Left it for a while and hit it again and it popped out. Got some paint on it tonight.
Amazing design. Never seen one before.
Payson


http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/v...ng/Reed%20324/

I had to add a couple more pictures. They a both custom vises made by a friend of mine. They are mine now, he retired from lucent years ago and I got 40 years worth of his machine tools in a trade. They made some crazy stuff, really small stuff. The first vise is a small screw vise and the second is what could be considered a standard tool makers vise, except he made it rather than purchase it. Enjoy.

I think its a brown and sharpe. I have one I think is just like it. Will try and get you a picture.

Gregg:

I think your vise looks great, with its original red paint. I would not do anything to it other than get a replacement jaw (or a pair).

If you don't have a milling machine, perhaps you can post on the "Commerce" section of this site, under the "Manufacturing Resource" section. I have had people do a couple of small jobs for me in that section, with good results.

Thank you Jon, and that vise holds a lot of great memories, too. I happen also to have the 1939 catalog that Dad mail ordered it from, along with his correspondence with the Atlas distributor, the sales invoice, and even bill of lading for delivery via rail to his home (delivery cost 50 cents!)

I have a fairly massive 6" European vise that I've used for the past 40 years, but that Rock Island would win any contest hands down ... all I need to do is get a replacement jaw (or two).

I tried contacting the fellow who was making jaws on this forum, but no reply as yet. As you suggest, I will try posting a broader request.

Thanks!
... Gregg

I just saw this in a local auction listing. Looks cheap and imported, but it's kind of clever - never saw one like this myself.

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A friend of mine that I work with spotted this vise on a job site we were at. He is a member her and suggested I show off some photos of it. It is russian which you can obviously see from the tags. I appologize for not writing down the numbers that were engraved on the tag. I got busy after I took the pictures and forgot to get them before I left. Poor quality camera phone pictures to so another appology there.