CwazyWabbit
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Out of curiosity do you remember what you paid for the baby bullet on the power-arm base back then?
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Arc Tourist
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Long time ago, but I think it was $29.95 or there about; so roughly a day's wages at the time.
SteveB58
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mtf70
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A first post on here and I'd like to share a pic of this little 2" wide jaw I.Sorby which I've owned for around 40 years. Sorby are probably well known for their woodworking tools, but I have not really found any information about vices by this manufacturer.
It belonged to my paternal Grandfather who died when I was very young. It was originally mounted on a wooden stand with a much larger engineer's vice, but my maternal Grandfather (who helped clear the workshop) left it outside for years and I was too young to act.
I eventually did rescue this small vice from the gently rotting stand and mounted it to a rudimentary bench that I made when I was 11 or 12. I made regular use of it in my practical activities until it was replaced by a Record #0 a few years later.
I'd always had it in my mind to restore the Sorby and hopefully release that rusted handle too!
If anyone could shed any light on Sorby vices it would be much appreciated.
It belonged to my paternal Grandfather who died when I was very young. It was originally mounted on a wooden stand with a much larger engineer's vice, but my maternal Grandfather (who helped clear the workshop) left it outside for years and I was too young to act.
I eventually did rescue this small vice from the gently rotting stand and mounted it to a rudimentary bench that I made when I was 11 or 12. I made regular use of it in my practical activities until it was replaced by a Record #0 a few years later.
I'd always had it in my mind to restore the Sorby and hopefully release that rusted handle too!
If anyone could shed any light on Sorby vices it would be much appreciated.
CwazyWabbit
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Some interesting information on the company name over the years is here https://workingbyhand.wordpress.com/2019/10/18/which-sorby-you-ask/
mtf70
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Does make for interesting reading - Thanks for sharing.
Forgot to take a pic of the other side so here it is with 'Sheffield' on the body and the screw removed to show it is plain thread; haven't checked but would guess a Whit form.
mtf70
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I also have this 3" vice which I believe may be a Parkinson but I'm not certain.
Came from my late Great (paternal) Uncle Gordon. He was heavily into fine woodworking and turning in his later years and the vice has quite a coating of varnish (overspray I guess) so maybe more will be revealed when it is restored.
Quite a heavily built vice for its small size and I like the cast lip on the bottom ensuring that it won't be mounted too far back on a bench.
Came from my late Great (paternal) Uncle Gordon. He was heavily into fine woodworking and turning in his later years and the vice has quite a coating of varnish (overspray I guess) so maybe more will be revealed when it is restored.
Quite a heavily built vice for its small size and I like the cast lip on the bottom ensuring that it won't be mounted too far back on a bench.
dannysheff
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I'd agree - probably Parkinson.
And as you say, seadog - this type was still in the catalogues maybe up to WWI, but I think it goes back to before Parkinson's patent for quick release in 1880 and before the name Handy or use of the word 'improved' for the later versions.
Regarding the Sorby mini, I'd guess it was likely the I Sorby when owned by Marples - there was a mini Marples vice v similar.
I've a 35P that I use, and it's a nice vice. I was boringly conventional though & redid mine in Roundel Blue
I believe the very early parky s had more ornate slides with recessed sides, this looks like a later model to me
Looks like cast steel ? Let us know what you find out
Try cleaning that with electrolysis, it will probably free up the handle & strip most of the paint. Don't put the spring in the electrolysis tank, it can make them go brittle & snap. Citric acid is safer for springs.
StevieO
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Overall Shape, 3 piece housing, mounting nib underneath, No2 cast into moving jaw. Round tulip hub, flattened round ends to hub bar. All suggests Parkinson, like Danny said.
I think Ranger is right too. The moving jaw is flat on the sides instead of a top bearing surface (so typical to Record et al) or top and bottom ones which Parkinson used in a very stylised (Victorian) way in early Handy 3 piece designs. Timing of the flat jaw vs stylised is difficult- could be the forerunner or could have come later. Parkinson eventually went to single top bearing on moving jaw like so many- see photo of Perfect vice example.
As we have seen so many times in vice, there were a lot of hybrids out at crossover times in design change for production. The flat moving jaw reminds me of some US brands.
Interesting vice.
CwazyWabbit
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From what I've seen, examples of Parkinson went from the ornate sides to the top bearing surface whilst still in the three piece vice production. I have a 3 piece Model F No 7 with the single top bearing surface and jaw screws from the front rather than through from the back.
SteveB58
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