Show us your bench vice(s)

[Arc Tourist]

Piddled around in my makeshift workshop today, and after a bit of minor shortening to a replacement spring, I got the little Record #0 vice back together. I decided not to polish up the exposed metal to a shiny finish, but in hindsight, it would have looked better. Its the first Record I've seen or had, and is a nice quality vice for sure; the jaws line up perfectly.
I bought this Hydra-Clamp base awhile ago (last photo on the right), which is a ball mount. Don't know what was on it before, but I think with an adapter it might be just the ticket to attach the Record vice to ?
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[winchman]

I have lost the spring from a Record number 3 what else can be used?

 

[pressbrake1]

Picked up another big vice this week from Canvey Island of all places 18-1/2 heavy chipping vice
Very similar to real bigun I got hold of, only different is jaw width

 

[Farside]

I have lost the spring from a Record number 3 what else can be used?

Valve spring? Looks to be in the same kind of size range.

 

[Gragson]

Took apart and cleaned up the little Record #0 and J & S vices a couple of days ago. Need to find a spring and washer to retain the screw on the Record, but finished refurbishing the drill vice with some fresh grease and a coat of paint.
.View attachment 178992 View attachment 178993 View attachment 178994

Recent convert to dry graphite lubricant on a few recent vice restores, silky smooth and does not stick fillings and swarf to the screw etc, just blast it off with air line.

 

[Arc Tourist]

I have lost the spring from a Record number 3 what else can be used?

I measured the diameter of the screw shaft where it exits into the front jaw channel, then measured the length to the retaining pin hole and added 1/8 inch for compression, and then got a suitable washer to fit over the spring before putting the pin in.

I would suggest you check with your local hardware store or iron monger to see what compression springs they might have.

 

[Turbo]

Just found this on Ebay with original decal so stands a chance of being the 'correct' colour
View attachment 179426

That looks like the colour, Fordson blue would probably be a good match. I went ahead & painted it with what blue I had, looks similar to yours!

 

[SWraymond]

Hi guys need some advice, whilst im still waiting to try find some welding overalls (tall and big) so I can actually do a course, I bought my first vice. It's a record 23. I love it but from looking on here I now want a big one. anyway whilst looking I found a paramo 41, whats peoples options on paramo? I have no need but I kind of like vices now, just bought a woden carpenters vice and I have no use for it.

Also any links to where I can get welding overalls for tall and big much appreciated

 

[Craig-SM]

Nothing wrong with a Paramo and designs are suspiciously like Record, I believe I read the owners were Record employees. The 41 has a quick release which is must in my opinion. No doubt someone with more knowledge will correct me if I'm wrong

 

[Farside]

whats peoples options on paramo?

Digging around for information a couple of years ago...
From what I could find, Paramo were set up by the government on (or shortly after) the outbreak of hostilities as an alternative source of vices should the Record works get obliterated.
I don't know the details of how and what finances were involved, and for that matter who was involved. It was quite likely ex-employees of Record, and certainly people who knew what they were doing.
As far as I can tell Paramo used designs that were out of patent, and although they may have been direct copies of Record vices of the day (and earlier), Record could do nothing about that. Needless to say, Record looked forward to the day the war finished and Paramo would be disbanded, but that didn't happen.
I have a Paramo with no number. I've wondered if that was their first offering, as it is quite old-fashioned looking even by 1940 standards, and definitely owes quite a lot to the earlier series of Perfect vices.

 

[SteveB58]

Bought this off eBay last week. Strange one. On the face of it it appears to be a mish mash of a manufactured vice with home made bits added. The jaws and the screw could be production, whereas the frame and the guides are very much home made. No makers mark, numbers or casting ids. Any suggestions welcome. Steve.

Just found another on eBay, lot dearer than I paid, but the same vice nevertheless. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Du...258970?hash=item1cd20ea35a:g:s8wAAOSwaURc4uog

 

[4String.]

Digging around for information a couple of years ago...
From what I could find, Paramo were set up by the government on (or shortly after) the outbreak of hostilities as an alternative source of vices should the Record works get obliterated.
I don't know the details of how and what finances were involved, and for that matter who was involved. It was quite likely ex-employees of Record, and certainly people who knew what they were doing.
As far as I can tell Paramo used designs that were out of patent, and although they may have been direct copies of Record vices of the day (and earlier), Record could do nothing about that. Needless to say, Record looked forward to the day the war finished and Paramo would be disbanded, but that didn't happen.
I have a Paramo with no number. I've wondered if that was their first offering, as it is quite old-fashioned looking even by 1940 standards, and definitely owes quite a lot to the earlier series of Perfect vices.

Paramo were based at the “Caledonian Works” on Smith Street, Chapeltown, Sheffield, and were owned by the Parramore family.

My dear old Dad worked there as a maintenance fitter for many years, and got me a job labouring after I left school in 1980. They closed in 1981, iirc, the site is now a housing estate, and I have many happy memories of my time there. We lived in Ecclesfield, the next “village” to Chapeltown, and the p**s ups and works trips were legendary in the area. Practically everything in Dad’s garage was Paramo, , and I still have a “relocated” 9” angle grinder, nicknamed the “Maybach grinder” by my big bro for the prodigious amount of torque that would have it out of your hands if you didn’t hold on when you fired it up .

Dad passed away 7 years ago, but I still remember sitting on the back step on a summers’ morning and having a pot of tea with him before he went on to a morning shift. In spite of wearing overalls at work, his clothes always had that smell, and to this day, the smell of grease-covered bright drawn bar takes me instantly back to those days. Similarly, the smell of grinding reminds me of our kid, sadly gone for over 3 years, who worked as a welder at William Greens, Station Road, Ecclesfield, also long gone with a Morrisons supermarket now on the site.

 

[Viceman]

I got a job lot of Paramo wood vices the other week, all brand new but the packaging was ancient so I presume dates back to the early 80s. I've been trying to research the history of the company but there doesn't seem to be a fat lot of information about. Should have just come on here, great site for info!!

 

[123hotchef]

My new 2 vices

 

[123hotchef]

do you guys make your on replacement jaws or just buy them?

 

[Viceman]

do you guys make your on replacement jaws or just buy them?

I'll make the awkward sizes you can't get hold of if I have to, but usually wait for a cheap deal on the standard sizes, buying in bulk from America has been quite successful, they just take an age to arrive

 

[123hotchef]

I'll make the awkward sizes you can't get hold of if I have to, but usually wait for a cheap deal on the standard sizes, buying in bulk from America has been quite successful, they just take an age to arrive

il order a set of ebay then ta

 

[SWraymond]

Cheers for the info. I may go and collect it.

Anyone know what a record 114 is currently worth?

The side says record heavy duty if that helps

 

[SparkUK]

I just started a vice clean up today, what a stupidly heavy lump they are!! It's been in storage for a few years so it was a little stubborn. I actually broke a snapon hammer on it!!

 

[SparkUK]

One vice in bits and the others I use sporadically