Parker Vise Catalog

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Has any body seen this catalog it tells of a fire and the vises they no longer make and the new vise numbers versus the old?

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

I wonder what year this covers and double click for enlargements, Gary

[Robin Lewis]

Interesting! I just took a quick look at The Parker Story Vol 2's Vise section and noted two things. 1) This catalog isn't listed in it and 2) there seems to be no mention of the Charles C Lewis Co. in Springfield, Mass? Looking on the web, I found the Charles C Lewis Co is still in existence and has been since 1886. http://www.charlesclewis.com/index.htm

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Robin , maybe someone has seen this catalog, and can shed some light on it . The thing only has about 12 pages and yes it is complete, interesting tidbit about the fire? The inside of the front cover mentions they make medical supplies, I have a catalog of that stuff too? This stuff is from a box of things a friend sent me, Gary

[Dean Romig]

The BIG fire I believe was in 1974.





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[edgarspencer]

Charles Lewis is just a machinery dealer. It's common place to find Mfgrs catalogs with distributors names also shown.
I have this same catalog, though in very much worse for wear condition.

Pattern storage buildings had a regular habit of burning themselves up, especially located downwind of the cupola, which was a fire breathing monster.

Dean, the iron foundry at Parkers was closed many years before the BIG fire.

[Dave Suponski]

The vacant Parker gun works burned in 1984.

[edgarspencer]

And the foundry was further up S. Colony St.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Any one know what year this catalog might be? Gary

[Bill Murphy]

Catalog #58, no date, also has "old new" comparison chart. #61, no date, 8 1/2X11 format. #5, small format, no date. Sorry, that's all I have.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Thanks Bill, I have the catalog for medical things you would find in a doctors office, also a Parker catalog, gary

[Bill Murphy]

Gary, could you post a few pictures of the "doctor's office" catalogs? I've never seen one of those.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Bill, I will do so tomorrow, gary

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Bill here are a few photos of the catalog, double click for enlargements, Gary

[Bill Murphy]

Gary, I do not have that catalog. Thanks for the pictures and any more that you choose to post.

[James J. Roberts]

Last month at DC big flea antique show in Chantilly Virginia I found a Parker bench vise number 204 patented in 1910,they don't make them that any more J.J.

[Robert Preece]

It's just a lead but the University of California-Santa Barbara library has #61, #58, #57-A and #57-D, and three other vise-related items (a catalogue, a handbook, and something else not specified) but I didn't receive... any dates. One could call and maybe ask.

[Jeff Kuss]

The big fire.

[Brian Dudley]

Jeff,
Is that the gun works?

[Dave Suponski]

Yes it is Brian.

[Brian Dudley]

Have not seen that photo before. Only the one that is in TPS, which is post blaze. That is a different angle of the building than shown in drawings of the period.

[Jeff Kuss]

I don't remember where I got that picture anymore. It was on the web and I saved it.

[Dave Suponski]

Ya, Me too Jeff.

[Dean Romig]

Yes, me as well. It was a good number of years ago.






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[Robert Preece]

Regarding Parker vise trade catalogues, last week the UCSB Romaine Trade catalogue collection in Santa Barbara sent me the details of their vise catalogue holdings, which they just processed with bibliographic information. http://www.artdesigncafe.com/charles-parker-hardware-vises-catalogues . I'm not sure, but there may be new finds not seen before.

[edgarspencer]

Robert, that 'Aero View....' map of Meriden is available from a seller on ebay. It's a pretty high quality reprint, and most every street name is legible. It's about 16" x 20"

[James J. Roberts]

I would like to know the price of my Parker vise no. 204 when it was made in 1910. J.J.

[Robert Preece]

Cool. Thanks. I'll check it out. We compiled some Meriden maps (1884-1919) here: http://www.artdesigncafe.com/meriden-ct-historical-maps. Some show the Parker companies all over.

[edgarspencer]

I would like to know the price of my Parker vise no. 204 when it was made in 1910. J.J.
JJ, the 204 shares patented features with many models, but it didn't come out until 1923. It cost $17. A lot of iron for not much money.

[James J. Roberts]

Edgar,Thanks for the information on my vise,how did they ever make a vise like that for $17.00.I found my vise at the DC Big Flea antique show in Chantilly Va. it cost me $150.00 and glad to find it. J.J.

[edgarspencer]

Edgar,Thanks for the information on my vise,how did they ever make a vise like that for $17.00.I found my vise at the DC Big Flea antique show in Chantilly Va. it cost me $150.00 and glad to find it. J.J.

$17 in 1923 bought what $238 buys today, so $150 was a good price if it's in decent shape.

[Dave Suponski]

If anyone really needs a Parker Vise. This one can be had for $100 plus shipping.

[edgarspencer]

Wow, a vise with Provenance.

[allan.mclane]

Wow, a vise with Provenance.

I always knew you had some vises :whistle:

[allan.mclane]

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[Robert Preece]

I asked a librarian at the Smithsonian to detail their bundled online library catalogue listing / holdings of 17 "volumes" of Parker vises. 13 ended up new finds here for surviving, one of a kind originals held in public libraries. Last week, I added them to my online compilation: http://www.artdesigncafe.com/charles-parker-hardware-vises-catalogues

I recall there were also some new bathroom accessories catalogues, link at the bottom of that page.

I'm not sure, but anyone interested in their catalogues might be able to get them via interlibrary loan at a university library, if one has that connection. Also one might be able to request a reference copy of any pre-1923 catalogues for research purposes for a fee. Typically fees at libraries can vary from very reasonable to very expensive.