VISE ID ?

[Ken W.]

Does anyone know who made this vise ? It looks similar to a small Yost I have.

[kwoswalt99]

Parker.

[Ken W.]

Is it worth $ 50.00 ??

[kwoswalt99]

Not to me.

[john k]

Is it worth 50?   Well it is old, probably approaching 100 years old.   How solid is it,  how chewed up are the jaws?  Wear on the screw?   What does it weigh,  looks pretty hefty, compare it to something new for $50,  I think this antique would come out ahead, unless badly worn.  And, what kind of work do you do, what is your primary use for it?  I'd probably go $25 or 30 myself. 

[Uncle Buck]

It all depends on the jaw serrations and overall condition. For example I have a very fine old Columbian vise with jaw serrations that are totally worn out. I have replaced the vise with a newer vise with better serrations until such time as I replace the jaws on my old Columbian with new jaws (no small cost, north of a C note) I would go $50 in decent shape, maybe more depending on what I saw!

[kwoswalt99]

It all depends on the jaw serrations and overall condition. For example I have a very fine old Columbian vise with jaw serrations that are totally worn out. I have replaced the vise with a newer vise with better serrations until such time as I replace the jaws on my old Columbian with new jaws (no small cost, north of a C note) I would go $50 in decent shape, maybe more depending on what I saw!

You have a machine shop right, just reserrate the jaws. Not difficult at all with a mill.

[Uncle Buck]

It all depends on the jaw serrations and overall condition. For example I have a very fine old Columbian vise with jaw serrations that are totally worn out. I have replaced the vise with a newer vise with better serrations until such time as I replace the jaws on my old Columbian with new jaws (no small cost, north of a C note) I would go $50 in decent shape, maybe more depending on what I saw!

You have a machine shop right, just reserrate the jaws. Not difficult at all with a mill.

Not true, the jaws must be removed to re machine, which on the older Columbian vises is NOT a couple of minutes and two screws per jaw task!

I would rather just buy new jaws myself. Regardless though, buying, or making, replacing the jaws on an old Columbian vise is not as simple as removing two screws and swapping out the jaws. On the old Columbian vises, the jaws are shaped like a T. The jaws are held in place by pins that must be either drilled or driven out of the body of the vise before the jaws can be removed.

To compound the problem, Wilton, who now owns the Columbian brand no longer makes the T shaped jaws for the older vises. The remaining supply of replacement T jaws for Columbian vises is gone. The last of them were sold by Harry Epstein Co. in KCMO. Last I knew there was a guy making new replacement T jaws at a cost of something over $100 a set. If I do decide to remove the old jaws like as not I will have to figure out a way of replacements, but it won't be fast, nor easy, which is why I opted to replace the vise and just set it aside until I decide to tackle that job.   

[Yadda]

It all depends on the jaw serrations and overall condition. For example I have a very fine old Columbian vise with jaw serrations that are totally worn out. I have replaced the vise with a newer vise with better serrations until such time as I replace the jaws on my old Columbian with new jaws (no small cost, north of a C note) I would go $50 in decent shape, maybe more depending on what I saw!

You have a machine shop right, just reserrate the jaws. Not difficult at all with a mill.

Not true, the jaws must be removed to re machine, which on the older Columbian vises is NOT a couple of minutes and two screws per jaw task!

I would rather just buy new jaws myself. Regardless though, buying, or making, replacing the jaws on an old Columbian vise is not as simple as removing two screws and swapping out the jaws. On the old Columbian vises, the jaws are shaped like a T. The jaws are held in place by pins that must be either drilled or driven out of the body of the vise before the jaws can be removed.

To compound the problem, Wilton, who now owns the Columbian brand no longer makes the T shaped jaws for the older vises. The remaining supply of replacement T jaws for Columbian vises is gone. The last of them were sold by Harry Epstein Co. in KCMO. Last I knew there was a guy making new replacement T jaws at a cost of something over $100 a set. If I do decide to remove the old jaws like as not I will have to figure out a way of replacements, but it won't be fast, nor easy, which is why I opted to replace the vise and just set it aside until I decide to tackle that job.

Great info!  Thank you for sharing!

[Ken W.]

I would buy this for a restore.  It's 150 miles from me , but I do have to head that in a couple of weeks and could swing down there to pick it up if it was still for sale.

[fatfillup]

Condition doesn't look great but pictures can be deceiving.  It is unique.  If it works well and is not to badly worn, yes it is worth $50 but not a steal

[Uncle Buck]

I would buy this for a restore.  It's 150 miles from me , but I do have to head that in a couple of weeks and could swing down there to pick it up if it was still for sale.

It is unique enough that assuming it was not an import (I do not think it is) I would pay $50 to take a chance at restoring that one.

[slip knot]

if it was near by. not broken anywhere. I would take a chance on it for $50 myself.

[kwoswalt99]

It all depends on the jaw serrations and overall condition. For example I have a very fine old Columbian vise with jaw serrations that are totally worn out. I have replaced the vise with a newer vise with better serrations until such time as I replace the jaws on my old Columbian with new jaws (no small cost, north of a C note) I would go $50 in decent shape, maybe more depending on what I saw!

You have a machine shop right, just reserrate the jaws. Not difficult at all with a mill.

Not true, the jaws must be removed to re machine, which on the older Columbian vises is NOT a couple of minutes and two screws per jaw task!

I would rather just buy new jaws myself. Regardless though, buying, or making, replacing the jaws on an old Columbian vise is not as simple as removing two screws and swapping out the jaws. On the old Columbian vises, the jaws are shaped like a T. The jaws are held in place by pins that must be either drilled or driven out of the body of the vise before the jaws can be removed.

To compound the problem, Wilton, who now owns the Columbian brand no longer makes the T shaped jaws for the older vises. The remaining supply of replacement T jaws for Columbian vises is gone. The last of them were sold by Harry Epstein Co. in KCMO. Last I knew there was a guy making new replacement T jaws at a cost of something over $100 a set. If I do decide to remove the old jaws like as not I will have to figure out a way of replacements, but it won't be fast, nor easy, which is why I opted to replace the vise and just set it aside until I decide to tackle that job.

Ive taken them off before as well as Parker pinned on jaws and never had a problem.

[john k]

One thing on this vise that immediately stood out for me was the ball end of the screw.   Seems that design went away to the cylinder like end, with the slide handle,  about the beginning of WWII.  The shape of the slide jaw, with that big ball end looks like a cousin to the large blacksmith post vises.