Prentiss No. 58 Chipping Vise

Photos from Tom Davis, digital enhancement by Jock Dempsey.

In 1868 Mason Prentiss was issued a patent for his swivel jaw vise. Shortly afterwards he started manufacturing vises or having vises manufactured to his specifications in Watertown, NY. Over the years he was issued more vise patents and changed manufacturers. In 1948 the company stopped production and was then bought by Chas. Parker Vise Co. who continued production in the 1950’s.

Chipping vises are made primarily for weight and durability. With 8.5″ jaws and weighing nearly 300 pounds this vise definitely fills the bill. They date from when castings were commonly cleaned up with a cold chisel and often made into finished parts by hand, filing and scraping after chiseling close to shape.

This Prentiss vise came out of the Laramie, WY. R.R. shop in 1959, the stand dated 1921 Abq. R.R. shop came out of the Albuquerque shop in 1968 when it was decommissioned