Another Vise, the Charles Parker Co. #955

[cutter]

Here is the other interesting & heavy old vise I have been meaning to photograph and ask you
guys about. It was made by the Charles Parker Company of Meriden, Connecticut which as best
I can tell was a very old & storied company that ceased operations around 1957.

This vise is in excellent condition & I am posting this hoping some of you might know something about
the particular model & whether it might have some collectible value. I picked it up (literally) at a
garage sale a couple of years ago but have been reluctant to put it into use without making an effort
to find out its value.

It weighs about 55 - 57 lbs, measures about 21 inches long, closed position as shown below. The
square shown in the 2nd picture as a point of reference is 7 inches tall. The jaw is 5 inches wide.
And I have lost the detailed notes I made of it a while back; I'll get back by my shop/storage/junkyard
asap & re-measure it to post later. Meanwhile, you can get a pretty good idea from this:

[cutter]

I have a couple of views of the front at the bottom of this page; you can see the clean, sharp lines of
the castings which distinguish it from modern equipment. Also note the massive collar.

But first I want to use this page to display an excerpt of a website hosted by the company that
currently occupies the 4th floor of the old Charles Parker building (now called the Meriden Enterprise
Center ), from this link:
http://www.highpowersecurity.com/facility.htm

"The Meriden Enterprise Center is a large manufacturing plant that is home to over 60 businesses,
located in the center of Connecticut.

The plant was the former home of companies such as the Charles Parker company, known for the
manufacture of the Springfield rifle and the development of one of the early repeating rifles in the
mid- nineteenth century. Charles Parker was born in 1809 and rose from poverty to become one
of Connecticut’s leading industrialists. He also became the city of Meriden's first mayor. He started
his manufacturing career inventing and producing coffee mills in a small shop in 1832.

By 1860, he owned several large factories and employed hundreds of people, in and around
Meriden. Parker products included hardware and house wares, flatware, clocks, lamps, piano stools
and benches, vises, coffee mills, industrial machinery, and, after 1862, guns. Guns, however, never
amounted to more than 10 percent of Parker’s business. Charles Parker died in 1901 and his descendants
carried on his businesses until 1957. The Great Depression of the 1930s took its toll on the Parker
enterprise and it never fully recovered. Parker products have now become “collector’s items,” especially
the Parker shotguns. The Charles Parker Company sold its gun facility and the rights to the Parker gun
to Remington Arms Company in 1934, and Remington continued the Parker shotgun line until World War II.
The attraction by collectors to the Parker shotgun comes because of the gun’s inherent quality and beauty.
The Parker gun is an American classic.

During World War II, the plant became the home of the New Departure Manufacturing Company,
which produced ball-bearings. The company was eventually owned by General Motors. At its peak,
over 20,000 people were employed at the plant. During much of the plant's life, the plant was powered
with an on-site power generation station which also powered other parts of the city. Stories are told
about the plant during this time. It is rumored that during the war, thousands of ball bearings were
stored underneath the parking lot of the plant, almost a whole year's production worth, in case the factory
was bombed! In this case, the company would recover the store of bearings until factory production was
re-established."

Pretty cool stuff, huh? I hope this doesn't bore any of you because it fascinates me. :D

[fla jim]

This is as good as watching the"History Channel". I love reading about old stuff.
It's funny what is collectable these days. There was a post on the "Dark Side" about the high prices at a welding shop aution. Included was a 9" South bend lathe. These have become collectable, and command a price many times the original. I have an old 13" South Bend made around 1940. Being industrial three phase, it's affordable. Even parts for the 9" get unbelievable prices on E-Bay.
Cutter, keep the posts coming I loved the old band saw.

[Newb]

That's a great looking vise. One of the vises I just picked up is a Reed Mfg vise that opens about 16", and is super heavy duty. It was never used that much because he mounted it in a bad area of the shop so he used all the others. Find out, that this vise must have been purchased around 1950 or earlier based on the info he gave me. Not bad considering it probably only cost me about $10 when I add in all the other junk I got at the same time. Don't think mine has any collector value to it, but I like the fact it's that old. Makes me hope some of the stuff I make lasts that long.

[james]

Cutter interesting story on the parker vise i have been dragging a smaller version around with me for about 14 years(was laying on the shop floor when i adopted it)... did a search on it but never got that much info, your a wealth of knowledge
thanks jim

[boilerman]

OH cutter i got bad news ....that vise is junk ....send to me for proper disposal....and to help you out i'll pay shipping

[cutter]

Thanks fellers - all of you. I enjoy stuff like this so much & its a real pleasure to find others who like
it too. Most of my old junk is woodworking tools like planes and chisels because that has been my
primary interest for many years and there is so much more documentation available for it.
I don't really shoot for value as collectibles so much as just buying what's available that I can
afford, and I won't hardly buy anything that I am not willing to use unless it just falls into my lap
like this one & the Wilton did. I enjoy having a "new" hand old tool to put to use much more than
any new one. Somehow it makes me feel like I am doing something meaningful by rescuing
it for my son to use or whoever may own it years in the future. Sometimes I have this vision of my
kids someday (not too soon, I hope) getting together to figure out what to do with my stuff and
saying "What the hell was he thinking about???". May not happen though because my son
is familiar with most of it, already has some of it and my youngest daughter is pretty adamant that
she will want her share, so my oldest daughter might be the only one who doesn't get it.

Oh & boilerman - thanks for your generous offer but I just can't bring myself to abuse your friendship
that way.

[david_r]

FYI,
There's a guy over on Chaski that has a "Chase Parker vice" for sale for $75. Could be a gem like this one.

Of course, he isn't actually smart enough to post his location.

[cutter]

I finally remembered to take a camera with me yesterday to get shots of a couple of details that impressed
me about this vise. There is not much light available where it is stored but after 15 or 20 attempts I think I
got a shot of the jaw detail that you can see. They are beautifully dovetailed to the castings. Betcha won't
find this on your Harbor Freight stuff.

[cutter]

And one more little decorative touch is this "scalloped" molding effect on the main casting. I don't suppose
it means much structurally but it does let you know that you're looking at something from another century,
made by men who cared about things other than just the bottom line.

[Newb]

Cutter,
Didn't you know you're not supposed to post porn on this website? :) .... after all, craftsmanship like that can only be viewed as porn for us folk that don't get to see such fine work any more.

There's got to be some way to date that thing.

[TonyC]

While we're waxing nostaglic about old vises, here is one that I inherited from my father. It was made by the Littlestown Hardware and Foundry Co in Littlestown PA. The Jaws are 3 1/4". Bit of an odd size don't you think? It's not as impressive as Cutter's but like him, I just love working with old tools. They have character!

[TonyC]

Originally posted by TonyC
While we're waxing nostaglic about old vises, here is one that I inherited from my father. It was made by the Littlestown Hardware and Foundry Co in Littlestown PA. The Jaws are 3 1/4". Bit of an odd size don't you think? It's not as impressive as Cutter's but like him, I just love working with old tools. They have character!

An update to my own post:

After I posted this vise I did some research on the company. It turns out they are still in business! They are now strictly a commercial alumnium foundry. They opened their doors in 1916! They are still relatively small with 95 employees but it's still nice to see an American company still at it.

I sent an e-mail to them yesterday with photos of the vise. I got a reply this morning from their vice-president. He was very nice in his response. He said they made that model from 1940 to 1978 but that from looking at the pictures, their "old-timers" say it was made between 1940 and 1960. They didn't use any numbers back then that would tie it down any closer than that. He thanked me for contacting them and for the memories it brought back. Now my vise has a little story to go with it!

[cutter]

Aww, that's just plain nice, Tony. So neat to find a company that has the interest and takes the time
to respond that way. I love old tools with a story & they all have stories to tell if we could just hear them.

[rusted]

That's a cool-looking vise for sure Tony. I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for an old one now, I've got a Record mechanic's vise off of eBay that's as big as I need, but it has no story behind it besides a Paypal transaction with a faceless corporation. :laugh:

[TonyC]

Originally posted by rusted
That's a cool-looking vise for sure Tony. I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for an old one now:

Thanks, rusted. Interestingly enough there is a vise on E-bay now exactly like the one I posted. It's missing the swing bar which could be replaced easily enough. The vise is sitting at five bucks right now. It will cost you more than that to ship it though. You can see it at this link. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2391207919&category=20761)

[rusted]

Hey I bid on it. Hopefully no one from here goes and jacks up the price! :laugh:

No quick-change base handle, and no original handle, but for what I bid, I think it would be worth it.

Thanks!

[TonyC]

Where are you fellows finding the hammertone paint? Our local Wal-Mart has it but only in a couple of colors.

[rusted]

Banzaitoyota came in and outbid me with like 5 minutes to go. Thanks Banzaitoyota! :D

[Banzaitoyota]

I didnt win it :(

[rusted]

Originally posted by Banzaitoyota
I didnt win it :(

That's a bummer man, some guy got it for lik e$11.53. Oh well, next time.

[Banzaitoyota]

I forgot about it and didnt go protect my bid from SNIPERZ!

[DaimondKing]

Here is the other interesting & heavy old vise I have been meaning to photograph and ask you
guys about. It was made by the Charles Parker Company of Meriden, Connecticut which as best
I can tell was a very old & storied company that ceased operations around 1957.

This vise is in excellent condition & I am posting this hoping some of you might know something about
the particular model & whether it might have some collectible value. I picked it up (literally) at a
garage sale a couple of years ago but have been reluctant to put it into use without making an effort
to find out its value.

It weighs about 55 - 57 lbs, measures about 21 inches long, closed position as shown below. The
square shown in the 2nd picture as a point of reference is 7 inches tall. The jaw is 5 inches wide.
And I have lost the detailed notes I made of it a while back; I'll get back by my shop/storage/junkyard
asap & re-measure it to post later. Meanwhile, you can get a pretty good idea from this:
-------------------------------------------------------------------

I was surfing the web trying to find info on a Charles parker Co., Vise Pat 1930 / No 973 1/2 I aquired, and had come across this website and a post by user "Cutter" (who has since been banned) in 2004. He was aksing about the value of the vise. I too would like to sell it and believe its worth about $100 to $150 but was hoping to get some feedback from people who probably know better than I do.

I dont currently have any pictures but it is in excellent condition and I could post pics pretty quick. If anyone is willing to prove info that would be wonderful.

Thank you.
Rodney
dgnik40@hotmail.com

[Brad Blazer]

What's funny to me about a lot of nice antiques is that the going rate is no more than similar items sell for new. The vise posted by cutter looks like what sells for $300 - 600 new. I don't see much market incentive to not use the heck out of them. :laugh:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=409&PMITEM=426-1000

[WANNAWELD]

I love old school american made vises

[*chris*]

I paid $75 for this rusted hunk:

http://woodwurker.com/webimages/20080512parkervice.jpg

[NancyK]

I have an Parker vise with the pat. Nov.Nov.26 1867. It came out of the railroad yards in Roseville, CA sometime in the 1950's or 60's and has been in use ever since. It opens to 8+' . jaws7 `/1 inches and besides the Parker name it has the number 240 on it. Can any one tell me much about it. I am new at this forum and need help in attaching a picture

[denrep]

Hello, NancyK :waving:

We sure appreciate you offering to share your vise(s) with us.

Specter gives a nice explanation of photo uploading:
Under Quick Reply Block click on Go Advanced, then the Additional Options window appears, Click on Attach Files, click on Manage Attachments, click on Browse then locate the JPG picture or file that you want to attach, then click on Upload, once file of JPG number appears, click open, click on close that window, now finish you message and click on submit to post.
It's easier than it sounds!

There are a few other vise threads around here.

Are you wondering something specific about your Parker vise?

Good Luck

[NancyK]

If it has any value other than a good working antiquie

[denrep]

Myself, I've never heard of any high-dollar antique vises. Mostly just working oddities.

But... You never know; afterall, there was the $14,000 garage sale typewriter! :dizzy:
Maybe if the Parker Co has a significant history of sorts. Or if the cast patent date is significant in history.

What say anyone else??

Good Luck

[NancyK]

I have an Parker vise with the pat. Nov.Nov.26 1867. It came out of the railroad yards in Roseville, CA sometime in the 1950's or 60's and has been in use ever since. It opens to 8+' . jaws7 `/1 inches and besides the Parker name it has the number 240 on it. Can any one tell me much about it. I am new at this forum and need help in attaching a picture
I have re submitted this with a pic, any advise is welcome.

[William McCormick Jr]

I have re submitted this with a pic, any advise is welcome.

Lots of oil.

Or take it apart and clean it up.

Sincerely,


William McCormick

[denrep]

I have re submitted this with a pic, any advise is welcome.

Good choice of words NancyK! :laugh:

William,
I think NancyK wants to sell, and is hoping to be advised on values.

NancyK - Sorry to say, I think it's a common old workhorse of a vise with a value of maybe about $150.00 tops. And that would probably have to be at auction, with competitive bidding. I wouldn't be surprised if it's 60 years newer than the patent date.

I hope to be proven wrong.

Only other chance might be if some historical significance could be linked and promoted P.T. Barnum style.

Good Luck

[NancyK]

Good choice of words NancyK! :laugh:

William,
I think NancyK wants to sell, and is hoping to be advised on values.

NancyK - Sorry to say, I think it's a common old workhorse of a vise with a value of maybe about $150.00 tops. And that would probably have to be at auction, with competitive bidding. I wouldn't be surprised if it's 60 years newer than the patent date.

I hope to be proven wrong.

Only other chance might be if some historical significance could be linked and promoted P.T. Barnum style.

Good Luck Yes, I know it is a good old work horse and I know It will be hard to find someone that can use something this big. Thank you for your information. I would like to paint it. I had to remove all the old peeling paint. So I have two questions. There is still a little stuborn paint that I can scrape off. Will it be okay to use a sand blaster? Question number 2, What kind of paint is recommended? I believe the bottom layer of paint was red. But there were at least 6 deiiferent colors.

[denrep]

. . . So I have two questions.
There is still a little stuborn paint that I can scrape off. Will it be okay to use a sand blaster?

Question number 2, What kind of paint is recommended?. . .

NancyK,
For cleaning, sandblasting would work, but I feel it would be messy and take away from the nice original worn and polished look. You could probably burn away the stubborn paint with any type of torch and then wire brush the area while warm.

It'd be nice to find a Railroad ID stamp on it when it's cleaned up.

Maybe someone else can recommend paint; I usually go for the can and color that's closest to reach. :laugh:

Good Luck

[NancyK]

NancyK,
For cleaning, sandblasting would work, but I feel it would be messy and take away from the nice original worn and polished look. You could probably burn away the stubborn paint with any type of torch and then wire brush the area while warm.

It'd be nice to find a Railroad ID stamp on it when it's cleaned up.

Maybe someone else can recommend paint; I usually go for the can and color that's closest to reach. :laugh:

Good Luck Thanks forthe advise on removing the stubborn paint. I like your way of picking a paint. NancyK

[TEK]

Nancy, like denrep suggested, I would try burning the old paint off and then a good wire brush should do it...

As for finishes, why not try a hot oil finish?...looks way better than paint, might bring more money...

[NancyK]

Nancy, like denrep suggested, I would try burning the old paint off and then a good wire brush should do it...

As for finishes, why not try a hot oil finish?...looks way better than paint, might bring more money...
I have not worked with a hot oil finish. Please describe the process.

[TEK]

Nancy, I never have either...I have just seen the results and it looked good...

There is a member here that does that, and he can probably tell you how...

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=28978&highlight=hillco

That thread was his first on this site...

He also goes by 'Hotfoot' over on the Hobart forum..this is his profile page...

http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/member.php?u=4813

If you look through his postings, you can probably find one where he describes how to do the hot oil finish....

If you go to this site and search 'vise'..you will find a lot of info also..good luck and pleasant reading...

http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/index.php