CwazyWabbit
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They seem to be getting quite common now, after all that is number 4I predict a post from @CwazyWabbit in the near future.
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magnet
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Hey mate thanks a lot for that its been a mystery to me for years. So its for use on a tool and cutter grinder? That would explain the huge range of motion i suppose. Thanks again for clearing that upIt's a Wadkin universal tool and cutter viceIt's the middle style of three that I know they produced, there is one the same as yours in one of the workshops at the science museum (not on public display).
They are awesome vices aren't they
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MattF
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magnet
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Thanks for that
Arc Tourist
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I acquired this ball mounted vice not long ago, and haven't been able to find out who made it or what it was used for; anyone here have a clue ? 
One of the wood jaws are missing.
One of the wood jaws are missing.
Screwdriver
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I acquired this ball mounted vice not long ago, and haven't been able to find out who made it or what it was used for; anyone here have a clue ?
One of the wood jaws are missing.
View attachment 290661
Could be a purpose designed knife vice, certainly would be a very useful item for that. Chances are though it’s more like a saw setting vice.
The_Yellow_Ardvark
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The only one similar was in the rope walk in Portsmouth dockyard.I acquired this ball mounted vice not long ago, and haven't been able to find out who made it or what it was used for; anyone here have a clue ?
One of the wood jaws are missing.
View attachment 290661
It was wall mounted, the round base was on the wall and the jaws were just above waist height.
The told me it was for clamping the flat clamps in as they cleaned the hole.
But did not demonstrate.
The_Yellow_Ardvark
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Saw setting vice are not normally adjustable and have wider longer jaws to clamp the blade.
Arc Tourist
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Interesting, didn't think about it possibly being wall mounted.
Screwdriver
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In hindsight also not really deep enough for a full size saw blade. Would make a great knife clamp though.
Arc Tourist
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I've got my Dads saw sharpening vice and related tools. The vice above has approximately 2" jaws, and the depth wouldn't allow for sharpen anything larger than the old and tiny "Gentlemen's" saws even with extended width jaws.
Arc Tourist
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I can see that being a possibility, as its stoutly built of cast iron. The chrome plated handles look like cheap pot metal, but are made of steel.
Edit: here's a photo showing size comparison to a Record No. 80 IMP vice.
mark roberts
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I'm new here but herd a rumour of a wadkin vice so came to investigate. Heres my recently aquired vice. A wadkin pattern makers vice. It came out of the dockyards at portsmouth.
Arc Tourist
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Hello, and Welcome to the forum.
That pattern makers vice is a great find indeed ! More photos please ?
That pattern makers vice is a great find indeed ! More photos please ?
Dieselman 63
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SteveB58
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Spent a lot of time in the pattern shop Portsmouth Dockyard, mainly drinking tea, smoking and playing table tennis, I had friends in the shop and it was a good place for a wet and a warm on cold days. As far as I rememeber it was on the top floor of the iron foundry, All closed around 83 following the 81 defence review.
Whilst looking for images of the pattern shop I came across a picture of the one of the 3 fitting shops used by RNB apprentices till around 1980. There were 3 fitting shops with 20=30 apprentices in each. We spent 8 months, five days a week from 8am to 4 pm filing, scraping learning and how to use hand tools to a very high degree of tolerance. It had been said that the dockyards and Rolls Royce produced the finest craftsmen in the country, I've yet to see any evidence that would contradict that claim. While this picture is a little before my time the shop hadn't changed when I was there. I'm sure some of the more eagle eyed of you will recognise the vices in use. Coincidently the last vestiges of the apprentice training centre, a surrounding wall, was demolished only last week.
mark roberts
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Thanks for the pics steve, I love a bit of history. I bought the vice from a guy in scotland who bought a few of them years ago. The capacity of this thing is immense. I have yet to mount it to a bench because I'm decluttering my work shop and having a cull of machines.
CwazyWabbit
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I'm guessing you've seen these pages?
CwazyWabbit
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Just in case any of these are interesting to you.
Here are some catalogue pictures followed by some other pictures of actual known vices that have been found.
These two on the table are mine, the right hand one is the early design and has a white metal socket holding the ball.
The left hand one is the latest design and has moved to a rod instead of a keyway and doesn't open so far.
The vice below exists in the Science Museums workshops and is the middle design, this can be seen by the bolt on the opposite side of the ball from the clamp showing it has a two part base.
