Show us your bench vice(s)

[Seadog]

Huh, I've got a 00.

 

[JOEPRO]

This is very cool they way it functions

 

[CwazyWabbit]

They were originally made by Berjo, I have a small single sided one somewhere.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

 

[dannysheff]

I think that Bradford may have been the birthplace of the British cast iron vice (plenty of wrought iron leg vices before that, from W Mids, Sheffield and elsewhere). Doing some online searching, found 'Jones Mercantile Directory' of 1863 - thanks to Bradford Library.

-- no Entwhistle and Kenyon, no Smith, Marks, Riley or Wilson or Syers (London) not even Parkinson, in the right kind of business in1863, in Bradford, Keighley or Shipley. So J Parkinson of Shipley must have grown fast (not unusual at that time), to be such a big maker of vices/vices by the late 1880s. (and other machine tools).
Parkinsons Vise catalogue of 1937 says they started vice manufacture in 1882 - presumably the earlier version of the 'Handy' type with three main castings, (their QR patent was mid-1880s and for a while those were being made by Cocker Bros of Sheffield.)
However I have been aware of the probability that there was a series of very hefty cast iron woodworking vices coming out of this area, non QR, but seemingly earlier than the above, of a few variations, and some resemblance to the later (1877) Syers type and the E&K rack and cam QR vices.

Here are the entry and ad for Jonas Woodhead (founded 1847 and later to get into the railway, then auto spring and shock business and move to Leeds in 1892, still in existence).

Although not a big concern, doesn't look like new to this business ('large stock', different models of vice) . Vices are not mentioned in the script, but may be covered by the term cramp - and obviously at least two vice variants are shown.

I think the railway train leaf spring business was such a big deal, (and Parkinson growing so fast), that Woodhead got out of vices by about 1890 at the latest.

I have one clearly marked as J Woodhead (just refurbing, will show soon) and 4 others that may well have come from them - poss back to late 1840s?? (A quick skip thro the directory didn't get me any other vice or cramp makers except an anvil and vice maker which makes me think leg vice)

 

[ranger08]

hers is a couple of whopping great vices
Eclipse Vices No 123 and 124

 

[dannysheff]

I think that Bradford may have been the birthplace of the British cast iron vice (plenty of wrought iron leg vices before that, from W Mids, Sheffield and elsewhere). Doing some online searching, found 'Jones Mercantile Directory' of 1863 - thanks to Bradford Library.

-- no Entwhistle and Kenyon, no Smith, Marks, Riley or Wilson or Syers (London) not even Parkinson, in the right kind of business in1863, in Bradford, Keighley or Shipley. So J Parkinson of Shipley must have grown fast (not unusual at that time), to be such a big maker of vices/vices by the late 1880s. (and other machine tools).
Parkinsons Vise catalogue of 1937 says they started vice manufacture in 1882 - presumably the earlier version of the 'Handy' type with three main castings, (their QR patent was mid-1880s and for a while those were being made by Cocker Bros of Sheffield.)
However I have been aware of the probability that there was a series of very hefty cast iron woodworking vices coming out of this area, non QR, but seemingly earlier than the above, of a few variations, and some resemblance to the later (1877) Syers type and the E&K rack and cam QR vices.

Here are the entry and ad for Jonas Woodhead (founded 1847 and later to get into the railway, then auto spring and shock business and move to Leeds in 1892, still in existence).

View attachment 425390View attachment 425391

Although not a big concern, doesn't look like new to this business ('large stock', different models of vice) . Vices are not mentioned in the script, but may be covered by the term cramp - and obviously at least two vice variants are shown.

I think the railway train leaf spring business was such a big deal, (and Parkinson growing so fast), that Woodhead got out of vices by about 1890 at the latest.

I have one clearly marked as J Woodhead (just refurbing, will show soon) and 4 others that may well have come from them - poss back to late 1840s?? (A quick skip thro the directory didn't get me any other vice or cramp makers except an anvil and vice maker which makes me think leg vice)

see above - here are the two I was working on

 

[SteveB58]

see above - here are the two I was working on
View attachment 425639View attachment 425640

That looks like a rather nice looking tool box on the left, looks like a carpenters chest or shipwright's coffin.

 

[dannysheff]

That looks like a rather nice looking tool box on the left, looks like a carpenters chest or shipwright's coffin.

yes and it's huge - in my v crowded cellar w'shop I'm trying to build a ruff'n'reddy workbench around it to hold those two vices and still allow (some) access.
the tool chest is quite something - plain solid, dovetailed pine outside as they should be, but fitted inside with fine oak and mahogany tills and drawers including 2 for many saws which is unusual
- bit like big vices - you swear no more (I already have tool chests (yes, plural)), but when one like this turns up at the local junk-shop, what can a 'junky' do?

 

[SteveB58]

yes and it's huge - in my v crowded cellar w'shop I'm trying to build a ruff'n'reddy workbench around it to hold those two vices and still allow (some) access.
the tool chest is quite something - plain solid, dovetailed pine outside as they should be, but fitted inside with fine oak and mahogany tills and drawers including 2 for many saws which is unusual
- bit like big vices - you swear no more (I already have tool chests (yes, plural)), but when one like this turns up at the local junk-shop, what can a 'junky' do?

I have my grandfathers carpenters box, sadly no tills or drawers, nor indeed any tools. It's due to come into the house as storage. I've moved on from tool chests and boxes as in a limited space they are a little inconvenient. I've several of those large drawer cabinets from Machine Mart, find it much easier to find tools. I also have a couple of small filing cabinets which are great for chisels, files ans smaller screwdrivers in.

 

[JOEPRO]

A minty fresh 1 ton Record ebay find for £35 will be here in a few days.

With it being an English made version of course, it must be 23+ years old, it's in remarkable condition for the age. Seller appears to be original owner he said used only a couple of times.




This one will need nothing, just a de rusting and oiling.

 

[dannysheff]

At the risk of boring you - here are some more woodwork vices which I believe to be from Woodhead, Bradford - pre a tidy up and paint/linseed.

One reason I post these is to have something online should anyone in the future be searching vice history - I should do a website or link to such, but too busy with other things. I
may donate to Hawley Sheffield or to a Bradford collection.



You may see the similarity to the two shown in the advert above.

A couple more to come, which link in to the history of QR vices (see the excellent section of smallworkshop.co.uk).

 

[dannysheff]

same reason for posting as above

two more with the second being the Entwistle and Kenyon steel rack QR (patented 1877) just to show how similar in some aspects, but the first vice below gives a continuity to vice making in this area in that it is very like those above , including the 'upward arrow-head', but has the 'tunnel' covering the screw as do both the E&K and the slightly earlier Syers






as I said, the story is then taken up v well by smallworkshop.co.uk

ps don't know why these vices are not more popular as users - I had to go and pick em up as so heavy, luckily none more than 40 miles from me, and none except the lion and the QR cost me more than £15, but if I could choose only one woodworking vice I'd go with one of these - almost nothing to go wrong with the pre-QR. just watch out for casting breaks (as on 'lion' currently on ebay, tho I think it'd still work well) -- my feel is that the breaks either reflect a drop onto a hard floor, or some have chips out of the rear jaw 'flange' where it's been walloped

colour - most seem to have a dark grey and a light/bright green for different parts - I'll prob stick with that for the front, maybe highlight the arrows, and linseed the rest

phew, I didn't know I had so many under cover in that heap - (and that no 2 were the same)

that's all folks

 

[Luggsey]

Can anyone ID this vice for me?

 

[dannysheff]

Can anyone ID this vice for me?

View attachment 426331

pre1900 Parkinsons' Handy (not the 'improved' version ???

however, one story is that they got fed up w copies - so cld be a copy?

ps, just noted the jaws bolted from behind --- original?

 

[Luggsey]

pre1900 Parkinsons' Handy (not the 'improved' version ???

however, one story is that they got fed up w copies - so cld be a copy?

ps, just noted the jaws bolted from behind --- original?

I don't see the two bolts above the fixing bolt in any pictures I look at?
That seems to be different to the Parkinsons vice pictures I have looked at?
There is what looks to be a H logo at the back?

 

[ranger08]

for sale locally, i have seen one before probably a farming tool early 1900s
does anyone have any knowledge of these

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Seem quite common in the US, I've got an advert for them somewhere. They are supposed to have a lot of accessories with them.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

There you go

 

[SteveB58]

Several bits about this on YouTube, including this from about 18 minutes in.