I spent the ThanksGiving's Day weekend with at my granddaughter's house in Cincinnati.. Saturday she suggested exploring the Ohio Valley Antique Mall... It's huge place covering 85,000 square feet under a single roof. I find Antiqueing to be nostalgic, sending me back in time. And grew up around many items there. Though it's interesting, so much of the stuff was nothing more than junk. Then again my late Father-in-Law had a phrase. What's one man's junk,,is another man's gold. Well my gold can be found in over 10,000 square feet of my garages. Old habits are hard to mend. And a single Columbian Vise mounted on a DIY stand caught my eye. Asking price was $199.00. Since I already own a dozen, I easily walked away. Though at half that price I'd be taking it home....
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I have a dozen vises in my collection. All made in the USA. Few below...
5" Columbian 605 M2 at my work station.
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6" wilton bullet1760 and Wilton 646 5" Columbian 045-m4 in another garage
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Craftsman 3 1/2" on welding table,, Made in USA
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Craftsman 5" In another garage
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If your bored the next time you're in Ohio. Make the trip up to Springfield OH to the Hart of Ohio Antique Center. (http://www.heartofohioantiques.com/ (http://www.heartofohioantiques.com/)) There is a guy there with 2 booths stacked deep with anything you can think of when it comes to USA made tools. Wrenchs, sockets, pliers, taps & dyes, drills, machining tools, vices, etc... Vary fair prices on most stuff. It's a win win for me cause the wife gets to walkaround looking nicknacks and I usually wind up spending $100 on greasy hand tools.
Man I would have absolutely bought this vise at that price, my old POS " AMERICAN " branded import from my mom's grandfather is better than nothing but isn't that great and I'd love to have something better.
Quality,, that's why I purchase USA vises.. Buy it once,, Use it for a lifetime!
It's a shame that most of the machines and tools are no longer made in the USA. And if it is made here, so many of the components are made overseas. The newer generation don't look at quality, rather price. That goes for kitchen utensils too. In 1965 I purchased a full set of Revere Ware pots and pans. That I have used them for every meal over sixty years,, and today they still look nearly new. And will sell today for what I paid.
Quote from: Highland512 on Dec 03, 2025, 09:27 AMIf your bored the next time you're in Ohio. Make the trip up to Springfield OH to the Hart of Ohio Antique Center. (http://www.heartofohioantiques.com/ (http://www.heartofohioantiques.com/)) There is a guy there with 2 booths stacked deep with anything you can think of when it comes to USA made tools. Wrenchs, sockets, pliers, taps & dyes, drills, machining tools, vices, etc... Vary fair prices on most stuff. It's a win win for me cause the wife gets to walkaround looking nicknacks and I usually wind up spending $100 on greasy hand tools.
Next time I'm down there I'll swing by.
Great vise -- I would have offered $150 and taken it home for $175. I don't need another vise, but that's good quality iron.