Quenchcrack Posted July 24, 2005 Share Posted July 24, 2005 I posted this on Anvilfire but it doesn't hurt to ask everyone! OK, went out to Sunday Dinner up by Reelfoot Lake (catfish at the Lakeview!!!!)and on the way back, we pass a flea market. Naturally, we stop. Lying amid a pile of rusty farm tools is a complete 4" post vise. "How much for this rusty old vise" says me. "Fifteen dollars" says he. "Take Ten?" says me. "Gimme Twelve" says he. I take it home and check it out. All parts appear to be original except the turning handle and the bolt that goes through the moving leg. Threads and jaws are in good condition. The post and moving legs are chanfered so that they appear to have been twisted 45 degrees. Something is stamped into adjacent sides of the moving leg. It is just too pitted and I can't read either marking. Anyone have any ideas? I tried rubbing chalk into the marking but it failed to show anything legible. Update: I went out and looked again and it appears that one side says "Pittsburgh". Still can't read the other side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted July 24, 2005 Share Posted July 24, 2005 Motor brush or sand blast the pitting and you may be able to read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted July 24, 2005 Share Posted July 24, 2005 A photo of the vise and close-ups of the important features would be nice. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Thomas Posted July 24, 2005 Share Posted July 24, 2005 What Hollis said. Then if you can't read it, try a pencil rubbing... put paper against it and run a pencil flat all over the area. I once found an entire secret map to the headquarters of... no wait... wrong cereal box forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quenchcrack Posted July 24, 2005 Author Share Posted July 24, 2005 I am letting it baste in WD40 for a while. I will brush away whatever comes loose and try to get some good photos. Other than the pitting, it is in pretty good shape, especially for $12. I'm ashamed of myself :oops: I wonder if Oil City Forge made leg vises? Weren't they in Pittsburgh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 Don't be ashamed of a good find! I got a 5" for $15 at a swap meet. The guy didn't want to load it back in his truck and came down off the asking price of $25. It was complete so I mounted it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quenchcrack Posted July 25, 2005 Author Share Posted July 25, 2005 Yeah, if I can get it cleaned up and tightened up a bit, I plan to use it for Demos. I can use my old Russian Anvil for something besides a door stop. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 I had a friend pick up a mint condition wagon tongue vise for $5 at a fleamarket once---none of the other's in our group had asked about it since they generally ran above $100 there and that was too rich for most of us---he asked... Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quenchcrack Posted July 25, 2005 Author Share Posted July 25, 2005 Here is more information: Went out and looked again after soaking it in WD40 overnight. I can now read " OHN V (or W)_________RELL". My guess is it is JOHN _______something. JOHN MORRELL! Oh, no that's a meat packer...never mind. :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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