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The VISES of Garage Journal

chevychuck

Active member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Messages
25
Finally getting my vises moved out of the house and into the new shop. Gotta build some more work benches to mount the rest.
 

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the gypsy

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Mar 13, 2013
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1,780
Location
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Anyone have this vise mounted (under) to their workbench? I was looking to get a wilton bullet machinist 4-5" jaw for my workbench but it cost way too much and kinda hard to find. Anyone care to sell me one?

Is that handle removable, anyone know?
10010.jpg

This vise looks similar to the one the 4x4 crowd put into their trailer receivers. IMHO
 

zkling

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Messages
16,939
Really? The pics don't make it look that large, and the numbering system wouldn't match with the x9x series which were fixed bases. :dunno:
 

Trey T

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Joined
Aug 3, 2011
Messages
3,749
Location
Houston, TX
This vise looks similar to the one the 4x4 crowd put into their trailer receivers. IMHO
Yup. It was designed for the 4x4 crowd. For a small 2-car garage, I never liked to bolt a vise down on top of the work bench. I figured this can be a good platform to use. I would use this for light to medium duty while reserve my Wilton C3 for heavy duty tasks.
 

scrapdaddy

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Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Messages
126
Location
Dittmer, Mo.
Just wondering what you guys thought about the 8 1/2 ". Would you pay $3,000 for it? I'd like to have one, just because, but not from a bidding war. I know, if money is not a concern, then what the heck! Passed up an 8" last year for $400, right in my town, kinda kicking myself on that one.

I guess my 6" Reed and Rigid vises will have to make due.
 

Blue_Spruce

New member
Joined
Feb 11, 2015
Messages
2
I recently came across this old brute - a Woden marked "No. 9A" on one side - fastened to an old farm workbench. No other markings are discernible.

Having little knowledge of Woden vises apart from a 186 in a neighbour's shop, I have not been able to unearth the provenance of this one. It is quite large, with the base extending back beneath the slide, and is secured via two points at the side, and one at the rear. Jaws are fastened from the rear via two bolts each, and the QR lever appears non-functional (though it's mounting plate is loose).

It appears to have been sitting dormant for quite awhile, and pressed for time, I was not able to take a look behind/beneath to pin down the source of some appreciable slop in the screw; all parts appear intact at first glance, though I cannot confirm.

Thanks to anyone with some direction on this unit. I have been diligently scanning for another Record No. 4 or 5 for a portable stand when I came across this Woden. It is far too heavy for my intended use, though that is a poor excuse for passing it up.
 

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Thrumcap

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Joined
Aug 9, 2014
Messages
293
Location
Nova Scotia
If you have the means go for it! That doesn't seem too high for what it is considering what beasts have been selling for lately. You may never see another one again and that IS proper size for a GJ members bench :lol_hitti
I'm putting my money where my mouth is, next week I get to pick my my bench beast.

You've allowed them to influence you. Be careful. This lot will have you literally sleeping with vices due to how many they'll try and convince you to buy. :D You have to learn to resist. :D

This may be where i get into the ocean freight business. :rocker:

Some more quotes from the catalog:

Record Heavy Duty Vice
The special feature of this vice is its great strength of construction for shock-resistance.
It is designed expressly for rough and heavy work in foundries, dockyards, and in any workshop where heavy duties are imposed upon Vices.
Vise No. 48, 8" jaw, List Price 260 / -, 5 3/8" depth of jaw, 12" max. opening, weight 240 lbs, Code Word IGWOK.
INFORMATION FOR OVERSEAS:
The No. 48 shipping specification: packed in cases of two, gross weight 518 lbs, 7 cu. ft.
Price List for Repair Parts, Record No. 48, 1921:
Sliding Jaw 130 / -
Body 140 / -
Main Screw and Handle 30 / -
Jaw Plates, per pair (with set screws) 14 / -
Nut 10 / 6
Cover Plate (with set screws) 4 / -

The code word listed above appears to be the Marconi International Code for Marconi Wireless operators, the bible that was used by Marconi wireless operators worldwide, containing over 500 pages of 5-digit codes and their translations.
Can't check for sure because the closest public copy to me is at MIT. :lol: Although the first wireless transmission occurred in Nova Scotia, we should have a copy here somewhere!


Thrumcap
:canada:
 

CwazyWabbit

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Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Messages
1,189
Location
Surrey, UK
Blue_SpruceThe plate that holds the QR lever isn't properly in place (see gap at bottom) this plate retains the vice screw and it's poor fitting will be adding to the slop.
 
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Thrumcap

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2014
Messages
293
Location
Nova Scotia
I'm waiting to see if someone on here posts "my new vise". >$3K, dang. I hope they inspected it thoroughly before purchase.

To me, that price is totally nuts. Will have to keep an eye out if the bid is abandoned....
I figured 600 max.

Thrumcap
:canada:
 

Fretters

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Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
4,217
Location
South Yorkshire, England
I recently came across this old brute - a Woden marked "No. 9A" on one side - fastened to an old farm workbench. No other markings are discernible.

Having little knowledge of Woden vises apart from a 186 in a neighbour's shop, I have not been able to unearth the provenance of this one. It is quite large, with the base extending back beneath the slide, and is secured via two points at the side, and one at the rear. Jaws are fastened from the rear via two bolts each, and the QR lever appears non-functional (though it's mounting plate is loose).

It appears to have been sitting dormant for quite awhile, and pressed for time, I was not able to take a look behind/beneath to pin down the source of some appreciable slop in the screw; all parts appear intact at first glance, though I cannot confirm.

Thanks to anyone with some direction on this unit. I have been diligently scanning for another Record No. 4 or 5 for a portable stand when I came across this Woden. It is far too heavy for my intended use, though that is a poor excuse for passing it up.

The Woden's are good vices. That's one of their mechanic type range, for heavy duty use/abuse. As CW says, that QR plate being loose will increase the amount of slop on the screw. They're free floating, with that plate and the jaw itself being the retainers for the leadscrew. The QR not working could be several things. Try and get a photo of the underneath if you can. It may also be the spring has just worked free, or the end snapped off. The spring is behind that front plate.
 

Blue_Spruce

New member
Joined
Feb 11, 2015
Messages
2
dutchgray - I should have clarified that it is in the back of my truck, after trading a small bit of time for it. Despite knowing little of it, the thing looked deserving of more attention than the old building allowed.
 

Fretters

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Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
4,217
Location
South Yorkshire, England
This may be where i get into the ocean freight business. :rocker:

:D Must admit, that is one of those vices which might be a once in a life time find. Can't imagine there were many industries which found a need for something that large.It makes owt I've ever seen literally look like a toy. :D


Some more quotes from the catalog:

Record Heavy Duty Vice
The special feature of this vice is its great strength of construction for shock-resistance.
It is designed expressly for rough and heavy work in foundries, dockyards, and in any workshop where heavy duties are imposed upon Vices.
Vise No. 48, 8" jaw, List Price 260 / -, 5 3/8" depth of jaw, 12" max. opening, weight 240 lbs, Code Word IGWOK.
INFORMATION FOR OVERSEAS:
The No. 48 shipping specification: packed in cases of two, gross weight 518 lbs, 7 cu. ft.
Price List for Repair Parts, Record No. 48, 1921:
Sliding Jaw 130 / -
Body 140 / -
Main Screw and Handle 30 / -
Jaw Plates, per pair (with set screws) 14 / -
Nut 10 / 6
Cover Plate (with set screws) 4 / -

If you do ever go ahead with that catalogue conversion, any chance you might put it in PDF format too? Sounds like that thing is a goldmine of info.
 

Thrumcap

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Joined
Aug 9, 2014
Messages
293
Location
Nova Scotia
Thrumcap Do I have competition for the purchase of the 48?

:drool: figuring out how close Nottinghamshire is to a container port......

The price is high....I've asked for more photos....he hasn't replied to me either.

As Yoda said, "There is another"....

Last year, this appeared and vanished on ebay.co.uk for 350GBP
image.jpg

The one in front is a 6" Record 112 vice for purposes of scale...when a Coke can just isn't enough.
It was IDed as a 518, but Record didn't make a 518....
No. 518 1/2 : 8 1/2 inch jaw, 12 inch opening, 5 1/2 inch depth, weight: 265 lb.
15 pounds heavier than the No.49....
So, they are out there, in the fog....... Hiding behind the unicorn

Thrumcap
:canadian:
 
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dutchgray

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Sep 28, 2014
Messages
6,467
Location
Dorset. England.
Fretters
It is in nice condition but it was fairly expensive for its small capacity.

Just checked an inflation calculator and that No 48 at £260 in 1921 is £10k today, between the cost, age and the fact that heavy industry destroys equipment through use, there really isn't going to be many around.
 

Thrumcap

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Joined
Aug 9, 2014
Messages
293
Location
Nova Scotia
Fretters
It is in nice condition but it was fairly expensive for its small capacity.

Just checked an inflation calculator and that No 48 at £260 in 1921 is £10k today, between the cost, age and the fact that heavy industry destroys equipment through use, there really isn't going to be many around.
Wow, just what i was looking up! The other point is that vices in England would have had to survive use and the scrap drives of WWII....

Thrumcap
 

joe.striper

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Joined
Sep 13, 2013
Messages
2,251
Location
agawam, ma
Finally picked up that HUGE vise today. It is a beast. Also a ***** to handle because unlike a bench vise I can't disassemble it. It is also an awkward shape. I had to load it myself cause the seller is 78.

As stated earlier here by people smarter than me, this is a Fisher Norris chain drive vise. Model #5, 7" jaws, 1911 is molded into the static jaw. 150 lbs

OK here's the good. It is complete, it is in remarkably good shape and has a great patina. The jaw face are very clean. Threads are very nice and the action is tight and smoooth.

The not so good; dynamic jaw insert has been welded on (but a very nice job), the chain is worn (it is only 100 years old) and there is a chip missing on the back of the static jaw but that won't affect performance at all.

Here are the pics.
 

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joe.striper

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Sep 13, 2013
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Location
agawam, ma
While I was there I saw these 4 other vises. I told him I'd take all 4 but I was out of cash. :-(
 

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topop101

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Jan 1, 2015
Messages
1,688
Location
NW Missouri
Finally picked up that HUGE vise today. It is a beast. Also a ***** to handle because unlike a bench vise I can't disassemble it. It is also an awkward shape. I had to load it myself cause the seller is 78.

As stated earlier here by people smarter than me, this is a Fisher Norris chain drive vise. Model #5, 7" jaws, 1911 is molded into the static jaw. 150 lbs

OK here's the good. It is complete, it is in remarkably good shape and has a great patina. The jaw face are very clean. Threads are very nice and the action is tight and smoooth.

The not so good; dynamic jaw insert has been welded on (but a very nice job), the chain is worn (it is only 100 years old) and there is a chip missing on the back of the static jaw but that won't affect performance at all.

Here are the pics.
Very cool piece. Looks like that machine has done a lot of work. Imagine the stories it could tell. Man I really like this old iron
 

Fretters

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Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
4,217
Location
South Yorkshire, England
I've attached one image I have knocking about with Woden info.


:drool: figuring out how close Nottinghamshire is to a container port......

Grimsby is probably the closest place which springs to mind, at around 60/70 miles or so. Not sure what type of shipping they do from there though. :D

That 518 was/is a weird beast.
 

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