CoyoteGear Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I finally got a post vise!! I have been using my bench vise and trying to be gentle with it as I know they are not meant for the abuse. But every once in a while you get carried away and take a few swings at the hot item in the vise. But this weekend I scored this little beauty, the guy was asking $125 (the cheapest I have seen on the oly-pen) and I didn't hesitate to pull out my anvil cash stash to seal the deal, opens and closes very smooth, everything is solid and tight, only one little chip out of one of the jaws. Not sure make, age etc. The only mark I found is the 2 under the mounting bracket. Any help on age manufacturer etc would be appreciated. Thanks guys! I can't wait to weld up a stand for this little guy and put him to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reversepolarity Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Without a makers mark on it. It is pretty hard to ID. Looks to be in great shape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I have 4 leg vises and I know this much about each of them age: Mature Manufacturer: somebody most likely long out of business Value: exactly what I paid for each of them Future: Secure, I never Lay Off Tools Yours looks quite nice, good value, enjoy by putting to work it was designed for and make up what ever story you want to tell of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 "Columbian" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Frank: In todays world "Columbian" sounds like a brand of illegal drugs so I'm told Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SReynolds Posted April 1, 2016 Share Posted April 1, 2016 Negative on narcotics. Coffee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Wanna' be nit picky? Colombia in South America is spelled with an "o" where we use the "u". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 I try to always put misspelings in so folks can find them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Bill Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Coyote, I have an identical twin to your vise that is marked ACME approximately in the center of the ski jump on the movable jaw. Weight (60 on mine) is at the bottom of the jump. I found the markings quite by accident only after the third steel-wooling with oil; the letters are 3/16" in height and lightly stamped. So lightly, in fact, that an aggressive scouring using an angle grinder with a wire wheel could quickly obliterate them. You have a very nice tool there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 As I recall ACME was a sears brand way back when and they used to contract out to differing manufacturers over the years So you could have 2 anvils marked ACME and made by very different manufacturers. (IIRC HB made some of the ACME anvils...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoyoteGear Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share Posted April 4, 2016 Thanks guys! I went in with a wire toothbrush and did some hand brushing turns out it had marks all over the place! Both of jaws are stamped M 4, and the top of one of the jaws says "tool" or maybe "tocl" and then vw & whc? With a faint 50 at the base of the jaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 1901 is probably the date; I've owned a couple of date stamped postvises---more than the number of date stamped anvils I have owned. 50 may be the weight in pounds, weigh it! Is that a broad arrow in picture 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orange Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 I was able to pick out the letters you mentioned. Me as a jokster 100 years ago. "I'll stamp random letters on this vise, they'll be so confused. HAHA" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 might be 1904.... You don't stamp random letters and numbers on your gear for ID purposes? I once bought an anvil just because it was stamped POWE; I was hoping for POWERS; but Postman told me it was POWELL Well only till I get my Chisels out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SReynolds Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 I had a bit of a chuckle when I read that you get carried away with your bench vise and take a few swings at a hot item. Just struck me funny bone as I am now wondering what you must be using for a bench vise if you are not supposed to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reversepolarity Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Indeed those are the weight, and date stamps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray iron Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 coyote gear, I believe your vise is a van Wagoner and Williams Columbian bought them out in 1901. Looks like columbian made the vise. About 1910 the triangle mount has the C stamp in the middle. I found this info in google books 1901 Iron Age trade book. Probably was marked V & W Hardware . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray iron Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 From Timothy Miller Posted 23 Aug 2012 Places to look for markings are on the screw box peter wrights are marked here. Also on the leg just under the pivot I have a William Foster vise marked as such with a crown and the word foster under it. I also have a vise marked on the front jaw with V W & W H Co. AKA Van Wagoner & Williams Hardware Co. Bingo! Coyote ID solved . Above quote from old forum post of member Timothy Miller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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