Dad's Tools - Emmert Vise

Sorry to hear about it. Good luck finding the vise. Maybe you can offer your sisters kid some $$ for it ?

It is hard no matter how things get divided up.

-- "so much to learn and so little time"..

ouch that’s too bad.
Estate distribution can be a trouble event, for sure.

Wish I could help with your search.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I see them from time to time on e-bay but they fetch quite a price. I was watching for them for a while but could never justify that kind of expense.

Lee Valley sells a knockoff looks pretty good

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

That’s too bad. Maybe you can trade the kid something for it. How old is he?

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

You have my sympathies on your father’s death. I have seen problems like this many times over the years and it really doesn’t make sense to me why items in an estate settlement cannot be distributed in a fair and equitable manner- particularly those whose only value is one of sentimentality.

I agree with snowdog. It might be worth a try or perhaps you have something of his grandfather’s for which he would be willing to swap.

Good luck.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

and then, maybe he will become a woodworker in his later years and the vise will then become a treasure to him as well.. you never know

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Yepper, make an offer for that puppy, er… uh… vise! Other than that, I would haunt eBay as Emmerts turn up there fairly frequent. Just check the particulars closely as many of them are missing a part or two. Good luck.

always,
J.C .

P.S. Also, be prepared to make a serious bid as they hold their value well.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

Let him know that you and the other brother are looking for one and let him know how fortunate his is that Dad wanted to keep it in the family so he won’t sell it.

-- "Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life" Solomon

Thanks for the kind replies. Not much chance of getting the vise as it was a “spite’ thing that caused the mediation and the vise among other things will end up in the landfill before we ever see them. Oh well. Moving forward. Will keep my eyes on eBay and have searched Craig’s List but that takes work as you have to click on every location rather than a generic global search. But I did it.

Happy woodworking to all.

Hi Steve:

Just came across your post a bit late to be sure but I thought I would reply. I understand the feeling regarding the vise, my dad was a patternmaker for about 60 years and he had two emmerts, a turtleback and a U2 whic I inherited when he passed away. He used both vises working on multiple projects at one time at home while working on others in the shop where he worked. We both have put many miles on these vises but now I am in no position to make any more use of either so If you are still interested I have either one available. They are not by any means pristine or as I interpret that museum ready. The turtleback needs a new handle and the U2 need some Emmert blue paint other than that everything is there and works fine, dogs all present and accounted for.
If you are still interested email me and I will send photos. smacmo@verizon.net in NJ.

Stan (insguru)

Indianapolis,IN craigslist has one listed for $750.00

That really struck a chord with me, disgusted me. I’m sorry the chips fell as they did. Karma will straighten it all out eventually. I’m a huge fan of the Emmert, even one without provenance.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

You can find them on Ebay from time to time but the shipping will cost you.

-- http://mvflaim.wordpress.com/

Steve, its a shame it went down like that and im sorry for your loss. When my grandfather passed away i was lucky enough to inheret a lot of his tool and even some that were my great grandfathers as well. There’s somethin about an old tool that tells stories and carries a legacy with it. Ive posted a few of the treasures i came across in pop’s basement … unfortunately rather few stories behind the work they did have been told but i know there was plenty of work done with em.

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty

All, Interesting to see what comes up after 1163 days. I probably shouldn’t have vented that emotion in the original message but I guess that’s the benefit of hindsight. The good news is that as time passes wounds heal. The scar remains as a permanent reminder but the pain subsides and becomes a part of “normal” life.

Coincidently, my brother, son and nephew were with me at a remote location a month ago and we enjoyed our company as we remembered that 9 years ago to the day was when dad died. My sister remains in her little world with even fewer family members who will associate with her. Too bad in many ways but she earned every bit of it herself.

I’ve been lucky enough to have built a dedicated wood shop last year. My dad’s ashes are a part of the foundation and some of his tools are hung on the wall with pride. Some bring back a specific recollection of something we built together, others a more general memory and still others seem to retain the smells that came with sweat from hard work and Edgeworth Ready Rubbed pipe tobacco.

I hope you are one of the many of us whose woodworking adventures bring back memories of fun times with a parent or valued teacher. Sometimes when I’m “puttering” (that’s what he did) I reflect on just how lucky I’ve been in my life and thank him for the love and moral foundation he built in me.

Enough philosophy! This retired guy needs to get back to my second career as a firefighter while I think of my next wood project.