Show us your bench vice(s)

[dannysheff]

I'm having a hard time seeing this as an apprentice piece. In my mind there are too many skills from too many trades for it to make sense, there are aspects of pattern making, moulding, casting, fettling, machining possibly more. All this to make a small vice of limited use. In my experience tool room made vices were high quality and apprentice made vice were made to show off or test skills, something I don't see in this.

Fair comment

 

[owas]

Saw this in the back of a scrap truck, gave him a tenner for it

 

[ranger08]

New one on me on marketplace now near me. A Jopin from Australia. Looks like the Leader series from Record from hot rolled steel plate. Nice looking vice for £40. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3220672028165639

i have two of them, all plate steel very good light and strong vices, made between 1965 and 1975

 

[Vono]

Saw this in the back of a scrap truck, gave him a tenner for it

View attachment 337437

An absolute bargain & i'm glad it was rescued !

 

[ranger08]

because I know ranger will ask, here's the Rollo clamp-on - not great pix, but you can see solidly made, 2in wide jaw, meets top and bottom (can be reversed) which has horiz and vert slots cast in (jaws cast, not hardened steel), can't see my micrometer just now, but bars 1/2in dia, threaded prob cut from same, appr 12tpi. As with other Rollos I've seen, the Tommy bar has brass domed nuts as ends.View attachment 337053well made, with less play than usual for this type, has that upright look, but not as impressive as yours - what size Jaws on yours?View attachment 337054

im convinced mine is a Rollo, same paint, jaw shape, screw, and same wedge shape of the base plate which is uncommon
looking for where the name plate would of gone, i notice mine has what could be a rivet hole in the end of one of the slides however cant see it in the other

 

[25.4_mechanic]

I have to say this. Some of these that advertise "refurbished" vice must be joking. Look at this for sale - "£50 Refurbished"
How can anyone paint the handle and the hub???????????? And paint the main body parts without removing the jaws. Wonder what state it is in inside!!!
Astonishing.

This amazing refurbisher has also even painted the jaws !

I also see very, very many vices and sometimes I get nauseous, what some advertises as refurbished, restored or in good condition ....

I have created a directory with the name cabinet of horrors, from which I will occasionally show something.

Would you like a sample?

Sensitive natures may please wear eye protection:

Only my good upbringing and the concern about my rating status on the ad portal let me refrain from writing one or the other line to these "restaurateurs" about their defilements ....


Have a good start into a nice week,

Carsten

 

[a111r]

Interesting vice.
№ 4 is, of course, indicative of a series of sizes production.

View attachment 337382

I'm not certain but the № abbreviation for number was certainly used in Russia, and unlike English language was used even on Russian typewriters (see below).

View attachment 337379

But then again I've seen № represented that way in old Victorian memorabilia, cigarette ads etc.
Here's one for US maker Churchman.

View attachment 337381

So, with no other indication on the vice - a hard one to identify.

Thank you.
Regardless of its identity, I will restore it; clean it up, remove the welding snot and possibly paint it.

 

[Dcal]

I'm not really a viceist, however I thought I'd post my latest acquisition from @indy4x a 4inch Swindens.

It all works as it should , however it is missing a jaw from the lower (pipe) section, the back cover and the spanner for the clamp.
It is perfectly useable as it is, however I know I would damage the bit with the missing jaw so thought it best to make a new one.

The jaw was remarkable difficult to make, given the kit and skill I have, but a nice little project none the less.
I made this one from mild steel, which should be good practice for a proper hardened one (if I can get the bar stock.)

The "bolt" for the clamp is not any size I know, (closest I can find is 12mm) does anyone know the original size.
Also what was the original colour scheme?
The current models of Swinden vices are far too brash for a working tool. (IMHO)

 

[dannysheff]

I also see very, very many vices and sometimes I get nauseous, what some advertises as refurbished, restored or in good condition ....

I have created a directory with the name cabinet of horrors, from which I will occasionally show something.

Would you like a sample?

Sensitive natures may please wear eye protection:

View attachment 337491View attachment 337492View attachment 337493View attachment 337494View attachment 337495

Only my good upbringing and the concern about my rating status on the ad portal let me refrain from writing one or the other line to these "restaurateurs" about their defilements ....


Have a good start into a nice week,

Carsten

Strangely enough, in the weekend's Financial Times' 'How to Spend It' online, there's an interview with 'the Mozart of Watchmaking' in Geneve and on his bench is a small Boley, but it looks poorly overpainted.

 

[ranger08]

I'm not really a viceist, however I thought I'd post my latest acquisition from @indy4x a 4inch Swindens.

View attachment 337504

It all works as it should , however it is missing a jaw from the lower (pipe) section, the back cover and the spanner for the clamp.
It is perfectly useable as it is, however I know I would damage the bit with the missing jaw so thought it best to make a new one.


View attachment 337505

The jaw was remarkable difficult to make, given the kit and skill I have, but a nice little project none the less.
I made this one from mild steel, which should be good practice for a proper hardened one (if I can get the bar stock.)

The "bolt" for the clamp is not any size I know, (closest I can find is 12mm) does anyone know the original size.
Also what was the original colour scheme?

The current models of Swinden vices are far too brash for a working tool. (IMHO)

lovely find, some in nz is selling a very nice recond one but wants a large sum for it, awesome vices

 

[MattF]

The "bolt" for the clamp is not any size I know, (closest I can find is 12mm) does anyone know the original size.

It'll likely be ½" BSW. I'll check mine later.

 

[StevieO]

Saw this in the back of a scrap truck, gave him a tenner for it

View attachment 337437

Incredible bargain!

7 inch jaw too.

I have a 10 and two 11.
The 10 is from that series design.
The 11 are both from the design change to the "Unbreakable" series cast into the housing.
Recently found out the 11 are different hole dimensions to the older 11 ones, so watch out if you buy any jaws.

 

[StevieO]

I also see very, very many vices and sometimes I get nauseous, what some advertises as refurbished, restored or in good condition ....

I have created a directory with the name cabinet of horrors, from which I will occasionally show something.

Would you like a sample?

Sensitive natures may please wear eye protection:

View attachment 337491View attachment 337492View attachment 337493View attachment 337494View attachment 337495

Only my good upbringing and the concern about my rating status on the ad portal let me refrain from writing one or the other line to these "restaurateurs" about their defilements ....


Have a good start into a nice week,

Carsten

Unbelievable Carsten. I saw one not long back where the "refurbisher" painted all the bearing surfaces too..... including all of the top of the sliding jaw flat.

 

[Dcal]

It'll likely be ½" BSW. I'll check mine later.

Thanks Matt
The bolt is ok, it's just the closest fit for the head I can get is a 12mm socket, but I need to hammer it on.
½ inch AF is too slack and 3/16 whit is far too tight.
I don’t remember there being anything between 3/16 whit (or 7/16 AF) and ½ AF but it been a long time since I used imperial stuff.

I could file a bit off to get a nice fit for the 12mm socket and use that for the base to make a spanner.
It would mean if I ever got the proper spanner (unlikely I know) it wouldn’t fit the modified bolt.
I could always make a new bolt to fit the proper spanner but this looks like the top of a very slippery slope towards madness so I’ll just file the bolt and use the bloody thing.

 

[Arc Tourist]

........................The "bolt" for the clamp is not any size I know, (closest I can find is 12mm) does anyone know the original size. ................................

Have a look on page 305 of this thread, post #6100 . I posted photos of the bolt on my 4" Swindens vice with measurement in inches.

 

[SteveB58]

Thanks Matt
The bolt is ok, it's just the closest fit for the head I can get is a 12mm socket, but I need to hammer it on.
½ inch AF is too slack and 3/16 whit is far too tight.
I don’t remember there being anything between 3/16 whit (or 7/16 AF) and ½ AF but it been a long time since I used imperial stuff.

I could file a bit off to get a nice fit for the 12mm socket and use that for the base to make a spanner.
It would mean if I ever got the proper spanner (unlikely I know) it wouldn’t fit the modified bolt.
I could always make a new bolt to fit the proper spanner but this looks like the top of a very slippery slope towards madness so I’ll just file the bolt and use the bloody thing.

File the 3/16 Whitworth spanner to fit the nut, easy enough to replace from car boots.

 

[Vono]

Incredible bargain!

7 inch jaw too.

View attachment 337543


I have a 10 and two 11.
The 10 is from that series design.
The 11 are both from the design change to the "Unbreakable" series cast into the housing.
Recently found out the 11 are different hole dimensions to the older 11 ones, so watch out if you buy any jaws.
View attachment 337544

That looks a cool catalogue.

 

[StevieO]

That looks a cool catalogue.

Hi Vono, I don't have much from the later Alfred Herbert catalogue I copied - in fact just the Fortis and Ajax pages (and also see attached).
But I do have another Alfred Herbert catalogue - 15th edition - date unknown.
Sadly its 13.5MB and the server will not let me post it here. Send me an email add and I'll email to you.
br
Steve

How about this - an air operated vice !

 

[WandererInBrum]

Got these today. One broken/lost locking pin on one vice and not the best paint job, but £100 the pair I’m happy.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Wow, nice find !