Vise Info Thread

bliorg · Dec 27, 2025

[Sorry - posted in the wrong place]

KMScott · Dec 29, 2025

Atlas/Rock Island 146. 3-5/8 jaws that weights 40 lbs. The swivel releases from under the bench.

Vise_Squad · Jan 2, 2026

CRSINMICH said:
KMS: I found several 1905 journal items about Reed combination vises in which number 41 was clearly visible on the vise - like the one on the left below. I included the item from March, 1905 because it has a bit more information even though no number is visible. No specs in either one.

This 1907 catalog cut of Reed Combination vises has the same drawing but the numbers run from 31 to 34. I haven't found anything about Reed #41's after that. There likely was a number change. If you have the jaw width of that #41 you posted, it might match one of these.

The earliest versions of this vise had individual hardened steel teeth, stacked in steel(?) cases to make up the pipe jaws.

Vise_Squad · Jan 2, 2026

An odd one seen on FB:

Outlawmws · Jan 2, 2026

Vise_Squad said:
An odd one seen on FB:

I like how the jaws can be moved to "go long" as well as be used as a spreader.

KMScott · Jan 16, 2026

Craftsman 5183. 5” jaws that opens to 7-1/2” and weights 77 lbs. this one I restored and added replaceable jaws. Original jaw inserts were cast in place.

royce · Jan 16, 2026

KMScott said:
Craftsman 5183. 5” jaws that opens to 7-1/2” and weights 77 lbs. this one I restored and added replaceable jaws. Original jaw inserts were cast in place.

The perfect all around vise, well done Kevin
PS
The black on blue paint is sharp

KMScott · Jan 20, 2026

Miniature Wilton Tradesman 1765. No spec’s. Salesman’s copy.

KMScott · Jan 26, 2026

Prentiss/Lewis #12. 4-1/2” Swivel Jaw that opens to 7” and weights 78 lbs.

four.cycle · Jan 26, 2026

KMScott said:
weights 78 lbs.

That Argentine-made 6-inch "Palmgren" I flipped last year only came in at 67 pounds!

Fred Knox · Jan 26, 2026

Any thoughts on the manufacturer of this one? Periodically, I have tried to track down the manufacturer of this clamp-on vise but have been decidedly unsuccessful. It has the backward opening jaws, like a lot of Eastern European manufacturers (Gressel, Leinen, Schlegal, etc.) do. Its only identifying mark is "Germany" on the side of one jaw (see photo). It has 2" jaws, opens 1 1/4" and weighs about 2 lbs. Any ideas? Thanks.

RTM · Jan 26, 2026

Some catalogs here, may offer clues. Too small to read on the phone.

Meister & Schlingensiepen : Edition 1928 : Meister & Schlingensiepen : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

182 p., illus., 23.2 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

VBW Werkzeuge : Liste Nr. 31 : Vereinigte Beckersche Werkzeugfabriken : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

150 p., illus., 21.6 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

ARICO Katalog : 1928 : ARICO : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

232 p., illus., 28.5 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Werkzeug-Katalog : Tool Catalogue : Lohmann & Co. : Lohmann & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

230 p., illus., 20.1 cm, tool catalog

archive.org

twagler · Jan 26, 2026

Fred Knox said:
Any thoughts on the manufacturer of this one? Periodically, I have tried to track down the manufacturer of this clamp-on vise but have been decidedly unsuccessful. It has the backward opening jaws, like a lot of Eastern European manufacturers (Gressel, Leinen, Schlegal, etc.) do. Its only identifying mark is "Germany" on the side of one jaw (see photo). It has 2" jaws, opens 1 1/4" and weighs about 2 lbs. Any ideas? Thanks.

Looks very similar to a one that I purchased a while back. See post above (#4129). From my research, I think it was a W. Hahn-Bremer KG (WHB) vise. Here's one of the pics:

Fred Knox · Jan 27, 2026

Thanks @RTM and @twagler. I’ll check through those catalogs and report back. The WHB vise looks like a close cousin, so I’ll start with its earlier or later year models and see if I can find even a closer match. Many Thanks.

KMScott · Feb 23, 2026

Hoar Rotary Vise. Model 42 and 46
#42 has 2” jaws and weights 12lbs.
#46 has 4” jaws and weights 65 lbs.

Note from the owner.

2" FANCY HOARS OFF-SHOT VISE

2" jaw Fancy Hoars jewelers vise based on the 1866
John Sherman Hoar offset patent design.
That "off-shot" jaw gives you more working room - simple idea, brilliant execution.
Over 150 years later and it still looks ahead of its time.

PeterPeter · Mar 21, 2026

Ch. Parker no.EE. Vulcan Series. 5” jaws, under bench mounted swivel, 86#.

KMScott · Mar 21, 2026

Got it. Thanks Peter.

SonomaCountyDad · Mar 28, 2026

KMScott said:
Gesswein SWIV-BALL SB-1 Toolmaker Vise. No spec:s. Made in USA.
I never had this vise when I was building Plastic Injection molds but sure used their polishing stones.

This is my vise, I never see them for sale and plan to put it up on eBay.

KMScott · Mar 28, 2026

SonomaCountyDad said:
This is my vise, I never see them for sale and plan to put it up on eBay.

Could you post the spec:s of your Gesswein vise like jaw width, weight and max opening by measuring the steel rod length while closed. That is a quick way of figuring max opening. Thanks Kevin.

PeterPeter · Apr 4, 2026

Williamson Vise Co. Swivel body, swivel jaw, and base. 3 3/4” jaws open 4 3/4“, 17“ long, 80#. No model number visible. Note the atypical static solid base, instead of the three toe. There is also no name embossed on the side of the base casting. Similar to a previously posted unmarked double swivel posted back in 2021 with 2 3/4” jaws (last pic)

Outlawmws · Apr 4, 2026

Like that Williamson a lot!

CRSINMICH · Apr 5, 2026

WILLIAMSON VISE INFO

Notice that the drawing on the lower left of the catalog has "PATENT APL'D FOR" on the side of the vise.
The article about YOST purchasing the WILLIAMSON plant was from 1910.

PeterPeter: Model No. R has 3 3/4" jaws.

PeterPeter · Apr 5, 2026

CRSINMICH said:
WILLIAMSON VISE INFO

Notice that the drawing on the lower left of the catalog has "PATENT APL'D FOR" on the side of the vise.
The article about YOST purchasing the WILLIAMSON plant was from 1910.

PeterPeter: Model No. R has 3 3/4" jaws.

Thank you. First time I have seen this! I imagine the discrepancy in weight (68# vs. 80#) is due to the massive base. I wonder what the story is with that? You would think that if Williamson changed it, it would have carried over to Yost.

KMScott · Apr 5, 2026

Good stuff guys, all added to the Spreadsheet.

CRSINMICH · Apr 11, 2026

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

Catalogue H (ca. 1920) of Fulton Machine & Vise Co. listed several discontinued models.
(The strips that denoted discontinued models obscured some specs which were retrieved from previous catalogues)

CRSINMICH · Apr 14, 2026

There has been a discussion of Boker vises on the main vise thread. A section of a 1928 catalogue of ARICO tools was used. The catalogue was from Bucharest, Romania but the listings seem to be in German. Here are the complete listings for Schraubstocken (vises).

four.cycle · Apr 14, 2026

^ Looks like "Arico" was a wholesaler/distributor, not a manufacturer. Everything from soup to nuts in that catalog.

Outlawmws · Apr 14, 2026

four.cycle said:
^ Looks like "Arico" was a wholesaler/distributor, not a manufacturer. Everything from soup to nuts in that catalog.

Could be both like PEXTO and several other companies were?

four.cycle · Apr 14, 2026

Well... Peck Stow and Wilcox actually had stuff made with their name on it. I just flipped through that entire catalog and I'm seeing all kinds of outsourced items. Whether or not "Arico" actually made anything remains a question. I don't see any branding on any of the stuff - just the usual generic descriptions (e.g., "kombizangen", etc.)
I may well have missed something - I didn't spend a lot of time flipping through it.

micahd1997 · Apr 15, 2026

Do any fellow members here have any Prentiss Vise Company catalogs?

four.cycle · Apr 15, 2026

Prentiss at International Tool Catalog Library

AND:

Go to upper right. Click "Search"
see where it says "Everywhere"?
click that and select "THIS THREAD"
into the "Search" window enter "PRENTISS"
into the "by member" window enter "FOUR.CYCLE".
click "search"

KMScott · Apr 17, 2026

Charles Parker #91 Quick Action Jewelers Vise. Hall design. 2” jaws that opens to 2” and weights 2-1/2 lbs.

PeterPeter · Apr 17, 2026

Seen in the wild, 4 3/4”, stationary machinist vise by Chas. Parker, series 3X. There is currently dead photobucket links on the vise that is listed.

peter, peter

CRSINMICH · Apr 18, 2026

micahd1997 · Apr 20, 2026

I think most users and enthusiasts of Prentiss vises reasonably associate the company with the revolutionary feature that put them on the map - Mason Prentiss’ swivel jaw. However, like any company with hopes for long-term endurance MUST do…they diversified.

In 1886, Prentiss trademarked the words “Bull Dog” for use in the bench vise industry, and by 1891 they were advertising these solid-jaw, “Bull Dog” vises for purchase. While the earliest offerings were all stationary, Prentiss did eventually introduce a thru-bench, swivel base option in 1895 - 7 vises numbers 90 (3 ¼” jaws, 28 lbs) to 96 (6” jaws, 155lbs). As such, the swivel base, “Bull Dog” № 90 was the smallest that Prentiss ever made in this category. In 1902, Prentiss also added a massive, 7” jaw № 97 to this lineup, weighing 235 lbs. By 1911, the more popular, bench-top swivel base design had replaced the thru-bench option, and Prentiss redesigned the line accordingly.

All that to say - this № 90 is a clean representation of the smallest, thru-bench swivel base “Bull Dog” vise that Prentiss ever made. Given the support of multiple sources, it is between 115-135 years old.

KMScott · Apr 20, 2026

Athol #78. 2-1/2" jaws that opens to 2-3/4" and weights 9-1/2 lbs. Missing the swivel base.

CRSINMICH · Apr 30, 2026

Member dannyr posted a 45 mm Model 835 Henri Picard & Frere vice on the main vise thread - post number 95974.
This page is from their 1910 dental supply catalogue

Machoires = jaws. 45mm = 1.77 inches 60mm = 2.36 inches incassables = unbreakable

Henri Picard and Brother did have dealings in the United States. In the early 1900's they owned a mica mine in New Hampshire.

paulsomlo · Apr 30, 2026

Fierljeppen said:
Fray Mershon no. 3M "all-angle" vise, photos and specs from eBay.

jaw width........3-1/2"
jaw opening...5"
weight.............22 lbs.

Another "John R. Long" patent vise from one of the most prolific vise designers ever.

Yours, for only $10,000 - and i thought the tulip craze ended 600 years ago.

KMScott · May 1, 2026

Western Machinist vise with extra heavy swivel base with supporting column.

6” to 9” vises on a swivel stand. Anybody got one?

Fred Knox · May 11, 2026

I think this may be a new one for the list:

Smart Brockville Blacksmith No.4 Anvil Vise (Brockville, Ontario, Canada)

My jaw width measured as 2 3/4", although some report it as 3" jaw width. Vise opens 4".
18 lbs. and about 13 1/2" in total length with jaws shut.
I could not find it in the 1885 catalogue, but that catalogue does have a similar "combined anvil and vice"

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