Show us your bench vice(s)

[MattF]

Well, you started it all back in 2015.

I missed the whole anvil discussion though.

Can't believe it's so many years since this thread started.

 

[Arc Tourist]

I missed the whole anvil discussion though.

Can't believe it's so many years since this thread started.

You did good, but not so for many of our wallet's.

 

[Seadog]

I will get mine out, pics and on here

Beware the Innuendo Police as well

 

[arther dailey]

lost for words for a change , all will be revieled tomoz as long as I remember to do the deed

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Look what sold on eBay a couple of days ago.... a rarity indeed https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-SWINDEN-039-S-TABLE-BENCH-VICE-/255081007217

 

[Arc Tourist]

Look what sold on eBay a couple of days ago.... a rarity indeed https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-SWINDEN-039-S-TABLE-BENCH-VICE-/255081007217

That's a model I haven't seen before, and no, I don't want one at that price in that poor of condition. I would guess a die hard collector bid on it.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I've seen a photo of one before and I do know who won the auction (I didn't bid on it). It's almost mythical and if I'm honest I thought it would reach a higher price.

 

[arther dailey]

There is if you start it

done

 

[pressbrake1]

I’m really looking forward to spamming this thread with one of mine!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

the Record Pipe Vice-Stands (so it can be broken down for transport or stowing, but meaty enough for the vice) - so it has a fold-down tool tray to make the legs rigid, and a fold down platform to stand on so your weight keeps the plot stable... or that's the plan anyway .

I have one of these stands languishing here, minus the vice which I 'refurb'd and sold on, and the foot stand. Rusty and unloved but too big/awkward to try to pass on. It's either going to be introduced to Mr Angry Grinder or wire brushed and painted as a stand outside in the garden to hold a creation [as yet to be made.....].

 

[GRW]

I have one of these stands languishing here, minus the vice which I 'refurb'd and sold on, and the foot stand. Rusty and unloved but too big/awkward to try to pass on. It's either going to be introduced to Mr Angry Grinder or wire brushed and painted as a stand outside in the garden to hold a creation [as yet to be made.....].

I've never actually seen one of these Pipe Vice stands in the flesh - only pics - so my stand thing is only a very loose interpretation and is I think heftier with a much larger mounting plate. It's also got tubular legs (simply cos I had the heavy steel tube blagged free) as it was made from metal I had lying about - so there wasn't much of "a plan" in its construction
(I've added castors on the front legs now too, so you can tip the vice on the Stand towards you and move it easily without having to lift it)

I thought an old vice pipe stand though might be well handy to carry a Roller or similar to stabilise long sections of metal for cutting or whatever (in fact if it had a pipe, chain or regular vice on it to clamp it might even work even better in a support role).

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I thought an old vice pipe stand though might be well handy to carry a Roller or similar to stabilise long sections of metal for cutting or whatever (in fact if it had a pipe, chain or regular vice on it to clamp it might even work even better in a support role).

Tbh, I think you'd be better just making one to your own design, it'd be easier than modding an existing stand. Mine I made from an old brake drum, a length of pipe (gas or similar) with a hole drilled & tapped, a suitable length of rod to slide inside it, a bolt for the tapped hole to act as a lock, and a top support for your workpiece. I added a conveyor roller so that I could adjust length more easily, but a bar'd do just as well.

I posted pics a while back.....

 

[dobbslc]

I picked up a nice looking vice yesterday at a car boot in West Bay near Lyme Regis, an old boy had it and kept saying it's made from best Sheffield steel. I can't see any makers name on it but there is something stamped on the front but it will need a clean to see it better.

Does anybody have an idea what it is or who made it.
This one might go on an outdoor bench at some point if I ever get the time.

 

[dannysheff]

I picked up a nice looking vice yesterday at a car boot in West Bay near Lyme Regis, an old boy had it and kept saying it's made from best Sheffield steel. I can't see any makers name on it but there is something stamped on the front but it will need a clean to see it better.

Does anybody have an idea what it is or who made it.
This one might go on an outdoor bench at some point if I ever get the time.

Looks well made - the moving rear jaw and dovetailed sliding ways are typical of German and Swiss vices, but UK catalogues of pre WWI also showed earlier British made vices of such a type, but I've not seen quite this design (wide rear slide and rear bolted jaws).

The jaw faces might be steel (Sheffield or other) but the rest is most likely cast iron, but nice vice, Sheff or not. - looks quite big for a clamp on - how heavy and how wide jaws? -- let us know if the inscription becomes clear.

 

[Vono]

Seems to have gone a bit quiet here.

So here's a Topic - them o'er the water on garage journal --- I tune in to that huge vise thread sometimes, but, while they're perfectly friendly to Canadians, Australians, Germans, Brits et al and sometimes mention Polish, Japanese and Russian vises (and Czech, who made the Wilton before Wilton did), the real interest is vises made in the good ole US of A - and certainly there're some good uns even if they go completely mad about Wilton ($2000 for a rarity anyone?).

So here we are on the UK equivalent - what's happening?? - will there be a trend towards high prices on rarities and like in the USA on the smallest and largest sizes of quality brands (as with Wilton) - ie some kind of deeper collector's scene as in USA or with Stanley tool rarities or Norris planes or?

Or should we just concentrate on the practical fact that some fettling of a fine old vice gives another century of hard use, and share refurb tips and which are the favourites etc?

I think I have a foot in both camps - absolutely go for re-using a good old vice, but then again, why shouldn't a person admire and collect a fine piece of functional history, and even pay a high price for it if they wish? In any case, even if I only had one vice for each bench, I'd still be interested in the history, apart from any ownership.

One thing they do have on gj is an extensive database of vise models - should we do the same for UK vices? (sorry, but I'm not a database person - pencil in a notebook is more my style)

Interesting post.

I think the trend for vice prices is upwards, older stuff just tends to go up in value (especially when the modern equivalent is nowhere near as good) whether it'll take off like with the American stuff I dunno but it does seem to be increasing. I hope they don't go crazy as then we may get into folk buying them just as "investments" & never to use them or trying to flog for very high prices which will impact folk who just want something well built & old that they can use.

I personally have a few that that I use regularly & the others are on the shelf. They're only on the shelf though as I don't have anywhere to mount them..(I can only accommodate so many workbenches to mount then on !)

I like to use them but also the design & the history interests me greatly too. I find the info' about the manufacturers & their models (& any changes made to the products during production) fascinating, period catalogues & photographs of them actually in use (as some have kindly posted on here) are also superb to see. As a tangible link to our industrial history & the quality products we made in this country they do take some beating. A solid quality bit of old kit is a pleasure to use and have in the garage/shed.

I personally tend to like them original (even if looking rather worn) or having been restored if it was done sometime ago (old paint etc). Restoration tips though are always interesting as are things like maintenance/preservation (best ways to oil/grease/ prevent rust etc etc).

A database would be cool, (i'm not a database type person either but it would be a heck of a resource).

 

[GRW]

I certainly have an appreciation for old vices as something from a time when built up to a high standard, not down to a price, and without the notion of built-in obsolescence or failure in its design.
Many things we still rely on for our infrastructure to function today are over a century old (Think Dams, Reservoirs, bridges and much more) - was because they were built to last indefinitely (With responsible use & mtce).
The replacement of the "Durable" with the "Disposable" is why many of us have regard for "old stuff" and disdain for the stuff we now have instead.
That's Progress for ya!

 

[Vono]

It was my Birthday recently & my other half's mum has an old vice in the cellar that i'd mentioned a while back that I was interested in if she was ever getting rid of it. It was attached to an old bench & basically just sat there not having been used in many years.

I got it as a Birthday present

It's a lovely old Parkinsons No16, this thing is original & is complete with original retailer badge. The retailer was J Heaton & sons of Leyland Lancs, the town i'm originally from !

I spent the afternoon cleaning sawdust out of the thread (i'm off work this week). A lovely way to spend afternoon, It's just utter quality.

Here's some pics. It's a big thing, the Vice just visible next to it is a Parky No8.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

It was my Birthday recently & my other half's mum has an old vice in the cellar that i'd mentioned a while back that I was interested in if she was ever getting rid of it. It was attached to an old bench & basically just sat there not having been used in many years.

I got it as a Birthday present

It's a lovely old Parkinsons No16, this thing is original & is complete with original retailer badge. The retailer was Heaton's of Leyland, the town i'm originally from !

I spent the afternoon cleaning sawdust out of the thread (i'm off work this week). A lovely way to spend afternoon, It's just utter quality.

Here's some pics

View attachment 305592 View attachment 305593 View attachment 305594 View attachment 305595 View attachment 305596

Very nice, original paint as well.

Like the pipe vice and MOD Right angle torch.

 

[FR518]

Look what sold on eBay a couple of days ago.... a rarity indeed https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-SWINDEN-039-S-TABLE-BENCH-VICE-/255081007217

New pretend collector on fb got it and going to make money on it sending it abroad

 

[FR518]

I picked up a nice looking vice yesterday at a car boot in West Bay near Lyme Regis, an old boy had it and kept saying it's made from best Sheffield steel. I can't see any makers name on it but there is something stamped on the front but it will need a clean to see it better.
View attachment 305207View attachment 305208
Does anybody have an idea what it is or who made it.
This one might go on an outdoor bench at some point if I ever get the time. View attachment 305210

Sure it’s a Parkinson’s