Purchased at an estate sale a few days ago. I needed a vise and this one grabbed me. It is marked 'American Scale Co. Kansas City MO' & 'No 211 4 Inch'.
I didn't find much information about the manufacturer online. These vises don't appear to have the 'collector' value that some other vises have, such as a Charles Parker vise, though it is strikingly similar in design and function to the C Parker vise seen in this vise restoration video by Mr. Pete. Some information online indicated the company was around from 1910 to 1956, when it went out of business.
I took it apart, cleaned off all the old dirt, grease, etc. I found no other markings except for the number '10' stamped in the acme threaded main vise nut.
There were traces of a single layer of blue paint on some of the surfaces. Whether it was originally painted that color or not is not known. I found nothing broken, or having been broken and repaired, and nothing worn excessively. I intend to keep it just as it is. I lubed the mating surfaces and put it back together. All other surfaces were brushed/wiped with a rust preventive oil. The vise works well and will be mounted for use on my bench.
I didn't find much information about the manufacturer online. These vises don't appear to have the 'collector' value that some other vises have, such as a Charles Parker vise, though it is strikingly similar in design and function to the C Parker vise seen in this vise restoration video by Mr. Pete. Some information online indicated the company was around from 1910 to 1956, when it went out of business.
I took it apart, cleaned off all the old dirt, grease, etc. I found no other markings except for the number '10' stamped in the acme threaded main vise nut.
There were traces of a single layer of blue paint on some of the surfaces. Whether it was originally painted that color or not is not known. I found nothing broken, or having been broken and repaired, and nothing worn excessively. I intend to keep it just as it is. I lubed the mating surfaces and put it back together. All other surfaces were brushed/wiped with a rust preventive oil. The vise works well and will be mounted for use on my bench.