Show us your bench vice(s)

[dannysheff]

some more early examples --- my Sheffield-made Cocker Bros 4in jaw has script both sides, low waist, deco inlay and one jaw support shorter than other
my Shipley-made no 9 Parkinson's Vice (with replacement no 9A jaw faces) has a high waist, script on rt side, deco inlay and both jaw supports same length
my early 'long base' woodworkers has Parkinsons' and vise, but I may have a son's vice version in the heap back of the shed?? Mecres' version above seems to have Parkinson's and vise

another feature, as your recent acquisition, above, is the threaded hole in base, slightly offset from centre, for swivel - my Cocker bros has this, but with less of a distinctive boss

 

[SteveB58]

Trying to establish a timeline for Parkinsons "Perfect" vice/vise.

Patented 1884
Cocker Bros mentioned as producing in Jan1886
1889 Paris show picture shows the low parting line in the two part static.
There is an advert that purports to be from 1896 which shows a drawing of a vice with low parting line, 'Vise' spelling, and decorative inlay.

MattF has a 2 part with high parting line, 'vice' spelling and non decorative inlay
I have a two part Cocker Bros with low parting line, 'vice' spelling and decorative inlay
I also have a two part (non Cocker Bros) with low parting line, 'vice' spelling, and non decorative inlay.

So key design features on early vices are as listed below.

Cocker Bros on the main body
High or low parting line for the two part body
Decorative corners to the inlay on the slide, or plain square corners.
Spelling of vice or vise on the side of the dynamic jaw
Parkinson's or Parkinsons' on the side of the dynamic jaw.

As we move on further evolution includes

Change from rubbing strip top and bottom on side of slide to only at top.
Change from two part main body to single part.
Change from jaw inserts being non threaded to threaded, i.e later vices have the screws coming in from the back of the insert through the cast iron body.


Also something I need to verify.
What side of the dynamic jaw is the logo on? Some definitely have it just on the right hand side (when looking at the vice from the front), see my example recently. Others have it on the left hand side, there is an example of each in my Parkinsons 'vice tree' picture (although one is on a No7 and the other on a No8). Is this a date thing? or is this just a size thing? or do some have it on both sides?

Anyway this is a brain dump to try and put the details in one place, feel free to add to this as I know a few of you have studied these vices quite a bit, and quite a bit of this information I have taken from your posts.

I take it you have see this on eBay.

 

[dannysheff]

I think Cocker Bros was a large works, with foundry, but specialising in springs - key component of the Parky Perfect

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I take it you have see this on eBay.

Yep, that is where the Jan 1886 date comes from. I guess that shows that a tenner is overpriced for that advert, it's been on eBay a couple of years now....

 

[Barking Mat]

Well I won the auction and she's an early one.

Hard to see but it looks like it is using the 'Vice' spelling.
The base is very similar to the brass Parkinsons I have, the two ears that stick out the front to support the dynamic jaw are of different lengths like my brass one.

The big washer is not original, it has threads on the inside so looks like something that was repurposed for the job.

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I find the base support interesting, not seen that before.

 

[ranger08]

AMES Carpenters Vice.
I have done exhaustive searches for information on this with no results. Anyone have any leads on where this unit came from?

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is that an instant grip vice

 

[dannysheff]

------left hand side, there is an example of each in my Parkinsons 'vice tree' picture (although one is on a No7 and the other on a No8 --------.

Your Parky 'vice tree' must be in danger of blocking out the sun in your neighbourhood?

maybe it's a vice-wood by now with Record, Woden quite tall as well

(only jealous - keep going, but don't stand near if someone shouts '--timber')

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Surprisingly I'm pretty sure I have just the one woden now :-O

 

[SteveB58]

Found a new reclamation yard today, found some rusty bits and pieces which, one day, will become something though don't know what at present. Anyway, found two rusting vices whilst rummaging among the rusty gold. One is a parkinson Perfect 8A the other had no markings apart from what you can see.

 

[MattF]

Top one appears of US origin, IMHO.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Top one is a Chas Parker vise I think judging by the spindle retainer and the jaw inserts.
Could well have the name on the spindle retainer.

 

[dannysheff]

Found a new reclamation yard today, found some rusty bits and pieces which, one day, will become something though don't know what at present. Anyway, found two rusting vices whilst rummaging among the rusty gold. One is a parkinson Perfect 8A the other had no markings apart from what you can see.

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great finds - fine big Parky and that early Chas Parker looks immaculate - (cherished for 150 yrs and still going strong?)

and wabbit's ad is informative -- never seen wrought iron cast in to cast iron --- I think it would work as cast iron melting point considerably lower than wrought - and that is just the place where many fine hefty American vises get broken

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Time for another question.
I've been looking at the below advert and finally noticed the quote about sizes (or more specifically weights) available.

Now the heaviest "Perfect' vise that I know the weight for is the modern style 9A at 144 lbs, assuming they aren't talking about the milling vices (355lbs) or the rope vices (1150lbs) is it possible that the big vice in the picture from the Paris exhibition (below) is 270lb and perhaps significantly larger than a 9A? I'm pretty certain the two part old vises weigh more than their modern counterparts but I doubt a 9A would have weighed 126lb more, would it?

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Come to think of it one of the Southern Hemisphere guys on this forum has a very large old two part Parky, I wonder how much that weighs? Also MattF has a pretty big two parter as well.

 

[SteveB58]

great finds - fine big Parky and that early Chas Parker looks immaculate - (cherished for 150 yrs and still going strong?)

and wabbit's ad is informative -- never seen wrought iron cast in to cast iron --- I think it would work as cast iron melting point considerably lower than wrought - and that is just the place where many fine hefty American vises get broken

Well they didn't come home with me. As much as I admired them they would just take up space in the workshop. The yard is in the Suffolk/Essex boarder area and the owner seems a decent chap who will listen to bids.

 

[dannysheff]

Time for another question.
I've been looking at the below advert and finally noticed the quote about sizes (or more specifically weights) available.
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Now the heaviest "Perfect' vise that I know the weight for is the modern style 9A at 144 lbs, assuming they aren't talking about the milling vices (355lbs) or the rope vices (1150lbs) is it possible that the big vice in the picture from the Paris exhibition (below) is 270lb and perhaps significantly larger than a 9A? I'm pretty certain the two part old vises weigh more than their modern counterparts but I doubt a 9A would have weighed 126lb more, would it?
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A typical work-bench is about 30-34ins high, which would make that big'un 16-20ins high - my No9 is under 12ins high - so I'd say the one in the photo is a good candidate for the 270lbs

isn't there a catalogue page somewhere listing 9B and C as well as 9A. Never knew why the As & Bs and not more numbers. Note also the biggest could include a swivel base, the early ones may have been just a threaded hole and a plate, but then came a very wide version (I have one, don't know date).

 

[CwazyWabbit]

My memory isn't what it used to be, will have to keep an eye out for the catalogue with 9B and C in, my B&H catalogues go back to 1913 but they are still the new style parkies in them (well strictly speaking they are the one piece static but jaw inserts are screwed from the front unlike the latest style).

 

[God mode restorations]

Stumbled across this on my Instagram page...this place has some serious vintage I wants...

 

[dannysheff]

Stumbled across this on my Instagram page...this place has some serious vintage I wants...

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could flood the market in his state for big-boy vises
I seem to remember this guy, or similar, is younger than most of us - and there was a quote from his mum to the effect "well it keeps him from hanging around on street corners and getting into trouble"

anyway --- this helps prompt me to tidy up the keepers and pass on the rest, so here's my two favourite Vonos in place and given a lick of paint - as far as I could make out they were originally green but the paint had completely blackened with age/oxidation/UV/oiling or ? - the modern green oil paint I use seems to get lighter with age

firstly the swivel No 3 - nice and hefty for only 3in jaw and operates smoothly (they also made a C-for compact suffix series - lighter and no swivel

 

[dannysheff]

and here's the second - both shown here ages ago pre-rehab and still installed in our greenhouse on the potting bench 'vice-bench-extension' - everyone needs such a thing

as you can see, it's the swivel version of the biggest of their QR woodworking vices