Show us your bench vice(s)

[CwazyWabbit]

There's no possibility it could be an early prototype is there?
It might account for why it has some features but lacks others that maybe came in later, perhaps they were just trying brass out as a material to use?

No idea, I'm intrigued by the fact it has a main screw retaining plate that has the hole for QR lever, the main nut is mounted in pretty much the same way as the QR half nuts are, and the number 5 on the side for the model number is unlike the markings I've seen on any of the other Parkinsons vices I have. Also the use of VICE rather than VISE.

If I understand correctly, brass tools of all types were used where needed in munition factories, to limit the chance of sparking an explosion ?

Seems strange to only be half brass though, and having a steel bar through the steel main screw, surely that's the most likely part to have an impact?

 

[dannysheff]

Another thing it doesn't look like, but you do see sometimes, is a tool or replacement part cast in a light alloy (aluminium or zinc base) or copper alloy (brass, bronze etc) because the maker worked in a foundry and it was easy to cast using a part as a pattern (with permission or when the foreman was looking the other way, eg on nights) -- the result is usually a bit rough and will be a bit smaller due to shrinkage - I've seen a 'Woden' woodworking vice in light alloy like this and have a 'Stanley' brass spokeshave, in both cases the cast lettering was quite indistinct. This case is not the same.

As Parkinson's were casting iron and steel all the time for vices and other machines, why brass? and why have a nut cut for a buttress thread when it would seem much more sensible in this case to use an acme thread as in their Handy range.

There are arguments for brass parts as some brasses run very smoothly against iron and steel (but wear a bit quicker, I think).

Maybe it's not just an 'ordinary' brass, but a high spec alloy like phosphor bronze, manganese bronze or copper beryllium that they were evaluating for its properties - the navy used a lot of these - a special for them? You didn't acquire it near Portsmouth or Rosyth or Barrow or similar?

Or was it made especially to puzzle a vice enthusiast 100 years later? - edit - more like 130 years?

 

[Vono]

Another thought I did have for CwazyWabbits brass Parkinson was it wasn't some sort of "exhibition piece" was it? New & polished brass does look rather good & aesthetically would look pretty special on a vice.

 

[dannysheff]

vice stands:

bench is good, but a stand can really be useful also highlights a big vice -- occasionally see the old stands from parky etc, but price is high. am currently fettling/cleaning/painting and making a winter cover for a v solid grinder stand for my big vice - the combo will be heeeavy but can just barrel-walk it if nec

anyone 'show us your vice stand'?

 

[Arc Tourist]

Its overseas so no photo, but picture a 3 1/2" vice mounted on a 4" pipe at elbow height, that's attached to an old 22" wheel rim; it easily fits into a corner of the garage when not in use.

 

[MattF]

vice stands:

bench is good, but a stand can really be useful also highlights a big vice -- occasionally see the old stands from parky etc, but price is high. am currently fettling/cleaning/painting and making a winter cover for a v solid grinder stand for my big vice - the combo will be heeeavy but can just barrel-walk it if nec

anyone 'show us your vice stand'?

These are mine.



The above is a Parkinson stand. No file rack or drawer, but has the drawer hangers.



This one is an unknown make.

 

[Seadog]

I have this. A Woden stand with a rather smaller than usual Woden vice. The stand has been re-drilled to suit, not by me I might add.

 

[MattF]

That looks like it may be a Parkinson stand

 

[Vono]

Couple of cool vice stands there, i'm jealous.
Vice stands are fabulous looking things especially those with a file rack. They must be some weight on their own to not topple over !

 

[MattF]

They're not light. My brother brought that bottom one back to mine the other day. We were going to lift it to the workshop, but that has wheels on the front, so we decided sod that & I wheeled it there.

 

[Vono]

Until I started looking CwazyWabbits B&H scans I didn't even know such a thing existed.
Something else i'd rather like to buy at some point

 

[Vono]

These are mine.

View attachment 258779

The above is a Parkinson stand. No file rack or drawer, but has the drawer hangers.

View attachment 258780

This one is an unknown make.

Just noticed, is that Parkinson a swivel jaw ?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Just noticed, is that Parkinson a swivel jaw ?

It is indeed

 

[MattF]

Just noticed, is that Parkinson a swivel jaw ?

It is. That's the vice that swivel base came with.

 

[Vono]

It is. That's the vice that swivel base came with.

Cool

I don't suppose there's any chance of any pics of it, including with the jaw angled is there? I'd really like to see that.

Great thing to have !!

 

[MattF]

 

[Vono]

View attachment 258917
View attachment 258918
View attachment 258919

Superb what a beauty, great condition too.

Such a cool design, you're a lucky man.

Thanks for posting pics, much appreciated. I've never seen one of those properly before.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

We know of 3 of the swivel jaws in existence (that I can remember).

 

[Arc Tourist]

We know of 3 of the swivel jaws in existence (that I can remember).

The 6" is a heavy beast, 123 lbs with base ! Can't resist, the hunt is on.

 

[MattF]

The 6" is a heavy beast, 123 lbs with base ! Can't resist, the hunt is on.

Patience is definitely the key on that front.