KWRB Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 I don't care what model specifically. Just needs to be an old model. I assume this one was made 1910-1950 sometime. I inherited (read: snagged before drug-addled relatives could sneak off with it to sell for scrap) a model 105 (bench mount, no swivel, 5" wide jaws) from a pile under the workbench of my great grandfather after he passed away. I want to restore it and mount it in a place of prominence. At some point in is life, the handle broke. Knowing my great grandfather, I'm 0% shocked. Anyway, I want to machine one up that is dimensionally correct. Turns out Reed patented their method of swaging the round ends on, but the patent didn't include dimensions. So if I get lucky and someone has one, I'm looking for the dimensions of the handle bar. Overall length, diameter of the bar, width and diameter of the roundish end parts. It will be a good beginner part to make in the lathe I inherited from him. Heartfelt thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DT Fan Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 I'll look around at work tonight, pretty sure we have several Reed's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledgehammer Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 Not a #5 I guess but it is a Reed the correct vintage that I restored. Handle was bent so I made a new one with round stock and ball bearings like I do for most any that I restore. The original ends were slightly more oval shaped and as you said, swaged on in a strange way. One end of mine was missing and had brazing around where it had been. I didn’t need factory original so I used what I had in the same diameter. My son was 3-4 when I did that and he could spin it open and closed without the handle installed easily. First pic is original sales literature from a hardware catalog I have. It’s mid 19-teens if I remember corectly 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtfireman85 Posted July 28, 2022 Share Posted July 28, 2022 I have one that looks a bit like that, I will look tomorrow, i really don’t remember who made it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawleigh99 Posted July 28, 2022 Share Posted July 28, 2022 Here is my Reed. It is a beast! Took two men to set it on the stand! The gallon oil jug is to show it's size. There is a little grub screw in the right side of the moveable jaw that locks the split collar. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DT Fan Posted July 28, 2022 Share Posted July 28, 2022 Looked around at work, we do indeed have several 5" Reed vices. The bar for the handle is 3/4"x12", balls are 1&1/2", nothing too fancy I guess. What to make them out of would be the question in my mind. Some sort of high-alloy steel would probably be best. 4140 always jumps to mind, it's pretty common and good for a variety of things. Might be something better. Cold-rolled would be easy to get and work with but I would worry about bending it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWRB Posted July 28, 2022 Author Share Posted July 28, 2022 1 hour ago, DT Fan said: Looked around at work, we do indeed have several 5" Reed vices. The bar for the handle is 3/4"x12", balls are 1&1/2", nothing too fancy I guess. What to make them out of would be the question in my mind. Some sort of high-alloy steel would probably be best. 4140 always jumps to mind, it's pretty common and good for a variety of things. Might be something better. Cold-rolled would be easy to get and work with but I would worry about bending it. Thank you!! Are the ball ends really spherical? From reading their patent, I expect they're not... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paystar5000 Posted July 28, 2022 Share Posted July 28, 2022 Handle is 17 1/2 over all. Handle is 1.00 OD. Looks like balls on the end have a pin in it for removal. Balls on end are 1.61 diameter. If you need more info I can get it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledgehammer Posted July 28, 2022 Share Posted July 28, 2022 3 hours ago, DT Fan said: Looked around at work, we do indeed have several 5" Reed vices. The bar for the handle is 3/4"x12", balls are 1&1/2", nothing too fancy I guess. What to make them out of would be the question in my mind. Some sort of high-alloy steel would probably be best. 4140 always jumps to mind, it's pretty common and good for a variety of things. Might be something better. Cold-rolled would be easy to get and work with but I would worry about bending it. I thought about the handles bending but have never had an issue with cold roll yet. I don’t put cheaters on the end of the handle or anything either. If snug won’t hold it I find a better tool option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
int 504 Posted July 28, 2022 Share Posted July 28, 2022 Another source is Garage Journal. They have large section on vises with many people who collect/restore etc. Practical Machinist also has a lot of vises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntractor Posted July 29, 2022 Share Posted July 29, 2022 I have one. I think the patent date is 1914. The knobs are shaped like flattened balls. There was a cross pin to hold them on the handle. My son welded and ground it to look nice. BTW, I am in Wayne County, NY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWRB Posted July 29, 2022 Author Share Posted July 29, 2022 1 hour ago, tntractor said: I have one. I think the patent date is 1914. The knobs are shaped like flattened balls. There was a cross pin to hold them on the handle. My son welded and ground it to look nice. BTW, I am in Wayne County, NY We're practically neighbors! That's the shape in looking for, the smooshed ball. Any chance of getting a major and minor diameter measurement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DT Fan Posted July 29, 2022 Share Posted July 29, 2022 22 hours ago, KWRB said: Thank you!! Are the ball ends really spherical? From reading their patent, I expect they're not... I'm going to assume they were originally. The one I took the measurements from is pretty beat, balls have been welded on. One on the next bench over is nicer and the balls are pretty round. Producing a good sphere on a lathe is a good challenge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawleigh99 Posted July 29, 2022 Share Posted July 29, 2022 I will try to take pictures of my handle this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledgehammer Posted July 30, 2022 Share Posted July 30, 2022 Here is the original remaining ball on mine as far as I know. It is/was brazed on. It is 1.5” wide. The jaws on my vise (pictured earlier) are 5.5” wide and open to nearly 12” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntractor Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 The ends piecesare about 1.25 in diameter and about 675 thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
searcyfarms Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 nope never heard of one or seen one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masteinmann Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 This is the one we have. No swivel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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