craigslist score! Athol 614 vise

GrimmJeeper

GrimmJeeper

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Gardena, CA
I just picked this vise up from a retired mechanic on craigslist for $20. :shocked:

IMG_20110313_151630.jpg


It's an Athol model 614, and it's in great shape. turns nice and smooth, everything was well lubed and it's been wiped down with oil on a regular basis for the last 30 years. Time to build a sturdy metal working table, I don't think the wooden workbench my father and I built 20 years ago is going to stand up to what I have planned for this bad boy.

I'm pretty happy right now :D
 
Must... Change... White Balance... :D

Nice score.

Any idea on what thickness metal you're going to use for the top of your table?

Scott
 
no idea, most likely whatever is cheap. i'd like to use 3/8" plate, but no way i can afford that :D

and it's a cell camera, best I could do :D
 
thats a nice score for $20. there is also a nice wilton on criagslist san diego for $75. wiltons are top of the line. they go for about $450 for the one thats on criagslist. just thought id let everyone know.
 
Jeepman401 said:
In before asp
Click to expand...
:roflmao:

Nice vise. Don't let them multiply. http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1038402

I've heard of a lot of Athol's on the left coast which is really surprising because they're made about an hour from where I grew up out here in MA. If I had to guess I'd say your vise was made in the '30's or '40's, but I'm not sure where a date stamp might be on those. Definitely a great find for $20.
 
There is a 4 digit tag on it on the opposite side from what you see in the picture. I'll try to get some better shots of it tomorrow when I'm back over at my shop.
 
I was just over there today and forgot all about snapping some better pics :doh: I'll get some tomorrow.

bails85, you're right. As soon as the guy I bought this vice from said "I beat the hell out of this thing for the last 30 years" I was sold :D I hope to do the same for the rest of the years I'm able to swing a hammer.
 
Some of my vises were used in a machine shop that made parts for a nuclear plant during 50/60/70's and to the best of my knowledge they were mfg'd in the 30's or 40's. You won't find a better vise for decent $ than an 75 year old one.
 
here are some better pics :D

DSCF3618.jpg


this tag says 8435 as near as i can tell.
DSCF3616.jpg


DSCF3615.jpg


DSCF3619.jpg


the jaws had some home made brass pads covering each side that were split and falling apart. it looks to me like they were on there for a long time, as the teeth in the jaw pad look almost new. the only place they are worn is where the brass covering pad had split.
 
Nice :thumbup:. Those jaws are in awesome shape. Maybe build your own set of soft jaws out of copper sheet?

Don't use the back of the slide as an anvil and it will last through your lifetime too.

Gonna clean it up and paint it or leave it as is?
 
I tend to avoid beating on moving parts (unless I'm driving them :D) so no worries there. I think I'll wire wheel it and paint it eventually, but I like the way it looks right now, and it's been well oiled so it's not going to start rusting up any time soon.
 
I have a really old vise that was handed down to me... it was my brother in-law's, in 1979 he died at age 24 from an aneurism. He was a machinist by trade and had this super huge vise in excellent shape. I didn't install it on my bench because its too big... similar to the one in your pics, but mine has a swivel base.

I think the only way I can make use of mine is mount it on a stand and bolt it to the garage floor.

The only new vise I would buy is a Wilton.

.
 
Could also be Reed.

I wouldn't go by color. Half of them have been repainted.
 
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