SteveB58
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- Thread starter MattF
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dannysheff
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The standard woodworking vice widths --
In the 1860s the first UK cast iron wood vices were mostly around 9in-10in (but v heavy), the first QRs (1870s) from Syer and E&K were 9in then when J Parkinson invented the buttress screw QR in 1880s his company standardised from the start on 7in, 9in and 10 1/2in --- for some reason, these three jaw widths continued until the present day to be the standard for woodworking vices of the cast iron, fit-under/into-the-bench type (along with later 6in and smaller DIY types). Record, Woden and others chose to stick with these three sizes.
As for numbering, well ??? - the big three selling the modern version with rods from WWI on were Record, Woden and Parkinson, same sizes, but all quite different numbering, likewise the others such as Paramo, Ward&Payne, Marples, Dawn, etc.
CwazyWabbits dropbox catalogues (see any of his posts, thanks CW) will show the numbering, at least for the big 3.
SteveB58
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Here's a site you may not have seen before. https://smallworkshop.co.uk/2018/04/25/the-twentieth-century-vice/
The_Yellow_Ardvark
https://www.death-clock.org/
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I have a vice.
It is a smoking vice.
Bad pun. Bye.
StevieO
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Nice looking Parkinson showing it's original RED paint too!
I'm sure by now it's old enough to smoke though................................. eek!
The_Yellow_Ardvark
https://www.death-clock.org/
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It is.
It was made for the GPO, was "used by the WD and still has both sets of numbers on it.
The image is a bit old, just found it when looking at an old drive.
dannysheff
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dannysheff
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Oh yes - and your vice shows it very clearly -- what's the little 'nib' on the edge of the base about half-way between the rear and side mounting holes - on lots of vices. It's clearly not just a casting artifact (it would have been ground off like the other 'runners and risers').
is it a machining datum of some kind, or does it have some use for swivel bases or??
StevieO
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Nice No 8. Big vice.
33 KG
I've got a Parky size 9 non-QR waiting for refurb. It's a monster 52KG.
Bought it from an old guy who had it from his father and used it for years after that. Then had a back operation and had to sell all his workshop kit.
Issue is I can't get it in my shotblaster so it's all manual clean up.
It's too heavy for my shelving so it's on the floor next to the cyclone gathering dust.
Anyone interested let me know. It stands me at £52 costs and happy with extra for a few beers if anyone wants it. Would make a tidy sum once refurbished.
Any offers, let me know.
Near Stoke/Sandbach M6. Collect only.
this is where it all began!!!
My 4th form (14yrs old) metal work class project, Mr Wilson was the teacher he caned me a few times for talking oh and making Chinese throwing stars on the spot welder
i remember days and days of hack sawing and cross filing, no milling machines in our class in NZ in mid 80s
rear moving jaw style, German style precision haha
my initials stamped on the bottom , i think i got a C for it
has anyone else got their school metal shop school projects still lying around??
My 4th form (14yrs old) metal work class project, Mr Wilson was the teacher he caned me a few times for talking oh and making Chinese throwing stars on the spot welder
i remember days and days of hack sawing and cross filing, no milling machines in our class in NZ in mid 80s
rear moving jaw style, German style precision haha
my initials stamped on the bottom , i think i got a C for it
has anyone else got their school metal shop school projects still lying around??
dannysheff
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Brilliant - I love school-metalwork class or apprentice made vices - some are just to standard design and some the design is more original. Have bought one or two (+). Yours is fine - full marks for the dovetail slideway - did you do the design/drawings?
Happy Xmas/Holiday vice-seekers.
SteveB58
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My mum had a trowel and dad had a paper hook that made at 12, where there are now I don't know. Our metal work master had a series of heart attacks while we were in, what is now, year 9 so not a lot got done. I didn't take metal or wood work at O Level. I do have several piece I made as apprentice fitter while in HM Dockyard Portsmouth, We did make a small vice over 18 months while in a variety of fitting and machine shops. Sadly, for me I decided to round the corners on mine, can't remember why, and I was up before the foreman for not making it to the design spec, and what would happen if I did that with a job when I was qualified etc etc. All that work went in the recycle bin. Here's some of the items I made in my first year while in the fitting shop.
we all had to follow the one design given to us by Mr Wilson, we could however improvise with the spindle nose, i was marked down for my effort, now i can see why
dannysheff
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One of my family names is Wilson, so -- "Boy, you have to stay behind and redo this vice" (smacks bench with ruler and tweeks Ranger's ear).
What do you do different this time?
(anyway I'd give you better than a C - did anyone ever get an A from Mr W?)
mark roberts
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This is the holy grail for woodworking vice. Its a pattern makers vice which can tilt and spin. The capacity is huge. They weigh about 60kg.
Arc Tourist
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Haven’t purchased anything of late until I saw this bandsaw blade sharpening vice/clamp from an old logging area which had its heyday from 1880 to 1920
made by j sagar & co ltd Halifax
heavy and well made I’m going to use it to for sharpening my chainsaw as the handle cam arrangement makes it quick and easy to hold and release the bar.
im not going to do anything to it except oil the joints
made by j sagar & co ltd Halifax
heavy and well made I’m going to use it to for sharpening my chainsaw as the handle cam arrangement makes it quick and easy to hold and release the bar.
im not going to do anything to it except oil the joints
Dieselman 63
Forklift Certified
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There’s a guy who collects that stuff and may want to buy it off you. I’ll see if I can find his email.
does anyone know the evolution of the numbering system of the records
see photo below, i am thinking this maybe the first edition of numbering ie "1" then "1." then No1 then with an underline of the 0
the name record is alot smaller than later models and the supports under the base plate are not as substantial when compared to the later models
see photo below, i am thinking this maybe the first edition of numbering ie "1" then "1." then No1 then with an underline of the 0
the name record is alot smaller than later models and the supports under the base plate are not as substantial when compared to the later models
dannysheff
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See Wabbit's dropbox catalogues. Note some standard British vices have model numbers and size numbers, others (eg many later Records) give both in a single no.
But I think the numbering size system for plain acme screw bench vices like this ie, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3 was started by Parkinson with their 'Handy' series (although they complicated it by at some points using A to indicate next size down and beyond 3 or 4 going crazy with A,B,C etc.) The others such as Woden, Record did (mostly) similar.
You may not be asking this question, but more about typeface styles, sizes, positioning?
Another strange Record model number is 23 (also maybe 22) - very early on used for their copy of the Parkinson QR woodworking vice (cast slides, not rods) then later for the v different most common QR bench top vice.
