How Many Vises Do You Have?

[mt_flyfisher]

google image search solved the mystery

I may still have some fly tying materials that were labeled Universal Vise company. And, (seeing as you’re from State College) I may have bought them from Penn Traffic, one of the original anchor stores at the Nittany Mall, when I was a student at Penn State back in the 1960’s. They had a pretty good stock of fly tying materials in that store back then (I remember buying Mustad 94840 hooks there for around $1.50/100 box). Maybe that’s where your vise came from?

You can find more information about the company on the Internet, and there are some of their items for sale on EBay now, including several of their fly tying kits which were reported to have been popular back in the day.

 

[lars]

Is that tube of Overton's as old as the vise? 😉

yes

 

[Bamboozle]

It's just something I never really got interested in. I do enjoy looking at the flies posted in the What Are You Tying Today? thread. There are some really talented tyers here on PAFF. Especially nfrechet, his belong in a museum.

The Main Line Fly-Tyers meet in your backyard if you want lessons.

 

[lars]

Larry, this would go nice in your van. You know what? I think you're a pretty cool guy all around. I hope you can make it up this year again. I am actually going to set the date for that pretty soon. Don't worry, we won't remind you then that HopBack's timer for you will then be down to 4 years!! Lol You know I am just busting your stones!

This cedar box with it's Thompson vise is actually the ideal set up for the van. Too bad i bought it for a buddy who said he wanted to learn to tie. $100 for the entire lot. It's been a couple years and he hasn't used it. I think i need to ungift it. 🙂

Looking forward to spending some more time at the Jam!

 

[jifigz]

This cedar box with it's Thompson vise is actually the ideal set up for the van. Too bad i bought it for a buddy who said he wanted to learn to tie. $100 for the entire lot. It's been a couple years and he hasn't used it. I think i need to ungift it. 🙂

Looking forward to spending some more time at the Jam!

Yeah, dude! Imagine how great it would be rolling around in that van from place to place, catching fish, tying flies, going where you want when you want! I need a van, or a camper, and also to retire, I guess. Lol

 

[lars]

I am available to go anywhere anyone would like to invite me to fish with them!! 🙂

 

[nymphingmaniac]

I may still have some fly tying materials that were labeled Universal Vise company. And, (seeing as you’re from State College) I may have bought them from Penn Traffic, one of the original anchor stores at the Nittany Mall, when I was a student at Penn State back in the 1960’s. They had a pretty good stock of fly tying materials in that store back then (I remember buying Mustad 94840 hooks there for around $1.50/100 box). Maybe that’s where your vise came from?

You can find more information about the company on the Internet, and there are some of their items for sale on EBay now, including several of their fly tying kits which were reported to have been popular back in the day.

Doubt it. We were from Northern Jersey and grandfather did not come to PA to fish.

 

[wildtrout2]

The word "need" should DEFINITELY be eliminated from the fly fishing vocabulary and be permanently replaced with the word...

"Want..."

Which apparently should be applied to all things fly fishing. 😉

 

[jifigz]

Which apparently should be applied to all things fly fishing. 😉

And most everything in life, right? The only real things that I need are calories, water, some form of clothing, and shelter. Everything else are merely wants. Some things feel like needs due to our system, though, such as money. But is it really a need? If the government collapses tomorrow, who cares about the dollar?

Okay, now I'm getting batty. I'm not a prepper, I promise. But I do try to keep a fair amount of ammunition on hand.

 

[wildtrout2]

This would go against your keep it simple system 🙂

Not really, it's why I have one fly rod that I use and don't tie flies.

 

[RLeep2]

I think I have four vises at present. My main vise for trout and panfish flies is a Griffin Blackfoot Mongoose (?). It was a gift about 15 years ago. It's a nice vise but I've never been thrilled with it. It is not cam operated, but employs the dual screws on the jaws. I don't like all the fadiddling of adjusting it to different hook sizes.

Almost all my bass and pike flies are tied on a Regal knockoff (Crown) I found in a Cabela's bargain cave in Prairie du Chien, WI. I like it because it allows me to avoid using my Griffin..

I also have a 1970's vintage Orvis Simplicity vise with an Allen wrench for the cam pin. Before the cam pin broke, this was my main vise. I think it is just a Thompson A with a black anodized finish and a red plastic sleeve on the cam lever. It was 50 bucks though, back when 50 bucks meant something.

Finally, I have a Herter's Model 11 cast iron vise from my first tying kit in 1964. It is a beast and does not accept a hook smaller than a #10. I haven't tied a fly on it in over 50 years, but I have used it to bust up bags of ice to put in my cooler.

 

[Bamboozle]

...I also have a 1970's vintage Orvis Simplicity vise with an Allen wrench for the cam pin. Before the cam pin broke, this was my main vise. I think it is just a Thompson A with a black anodized finish and a red plastic sleeve on the cam lever. It was 50 bucks though, back when 50 bucks meant something...

That sounds like my first vise, but for some reason I recall it being called the Orvis Supreme.

I have never been able to find pictures of one but it was a decent vise.

 

[Kms]

The Main Line Fly-Tyers meet in your backyard if you want lessons.

I signed up for the beginner tying lessons in January, and I’m sure slots are available.

 

[wildtrout2]

I signed up for the beginner tying lessons in January, and I’m sure slots are available.

Living on the Main Line, I was a member of Main Line Fly-Tyers when it first started, way back in the 70's. I didn't know it was still in existance until I saw it mentioned here a couple of years ago. I do recall there were a lot of really nice folks willing to teach the beginners. Very happy to hear it's still going strong.

Something I forgot to mention. Back then, I didn't even have my drivers license yet, but I do remember one of the club members used to come by my parents house to pick me up and take me to the tying sessions. I vaguely remember my beginners tying kit too, which was a plastic box with a lid/handle that held the materials. I think it came with a Thompson vise. Sooo long ago!

 

[Bamboozle]

FWIW - If you attend the non-fly fishing Philadelphia Fishing Show at the Expo Center in Oaks, the Main Line Fly-Tyers often participate and are usually selling decent flies for a decent price.