Antique Carpenter's Work Bench

[Maui]

I just purchased this vintage woodworking bench this morning, and will pick it up tomorrow. I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing the long Bailey Woonsocket Rhode Island Defiance wood plane that you see sitting on it. I have been trying to search online for the builders of these benches, but haven't had much luck in identifying who may have built it or when it was made. I do not see any identification markings on it yet. The screws themselves that you see in the clamps are both made of wood and have a pretty fine pitch. Any thoughts on who may have built it? I have ruled out Christiansen. I am guessing it is late 1800s/early 1900s.

 

[PBCampbell]

It seems a bit light in the frame for the time period you suggest. It also looks a bit busy for that too, although your being in New York it is possible. I'd hazard a guess at Leichtung(?) or the other German maker who's name escapes me. If you can flip it and take a good look under the table for a brand name you may find something. I'm sure they used to carve/brand their benches. Irregardless that's a very nice bench with some very nice vices. Do make sure to get some beeswax to lubricate those vice screws with.

 

[RTM]

Paraffin, not beeswax in my world. Beeswax is sticky, and can gum up the works, catch sawdust and dirt. Buddy restores wooden bookbinding presses, and hates beeswax and the results it gives to 100-200 year old screws.

Sjoberg is another name to check. Check who Highland Hardware sells also.

Without getting a good look at the screws it's hard to say. If wooden, and fine pitch, usually newer. Good ones from the olden days we're often 4TPI or less.

 

[seber]

More than half the well made carpenter's benches I've run across were made by the user. If so, you won't find much. Mine was made from Harley Davidson pallets and was heavy as hell. But I left it behind when I sold the ranch.

 

[Maui]

For reference, the overall length is just a bit more than 7 feet.

 

[Maui]

Here are some photos of the underside of one of the screw mechanisms. I still don't see any markings on it. But I will do a more complete examination once I remove it from the trailer.

 

[neophyte]

I would guess a commercial make from Scandinavia somewhere.
Benches like that where still being made ip until the 1960s, if not even now.
The finish darkening suggests at least a few decades or more old.

 

[Maui]

Isn't the use of an all wood screw (instead of steel being used in the screw mechanism) an indication that it is at least early 1900s?

 

[neophyte]

Isn't the use of an all wood screw (instead of steel being used in the screw mechanism) an indication that it is at least early 1900s?

No.
You can still purchase wood screws for vises, although mostly nowadays made for people into historic woodworking and tools in the USA.
In Europe, I believe wood screws hung around way longer than in the USA on vises.
In the UK, there’s the Ken Hawley Trust, which was set up to preserve the history of tool making in Sheffield.
Films were taken of various shops, manufacturers, and tool makers making tools for the various tool firms and brands.
While not specifically vise or bench related, there was a film made in 1962, showing one of the craftsmen who made wooden molding planes for Marples.
I’m not sure that wooden planes, or wooden molding planes where even much of a thing after WWII in the USA.

Meanwhile in Germany, Ulmis still is, and has been making wooden planes for 100 years or more.
Sjobergs still makes at least one bench with a wooden screw for one of the Vises.
The other vise on the bench uses a steel screw and guide.

https://sjobergs.se/en/product/sjobergs-original-1100-1-station-height-850-33075/

I presume in places like Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, wooden workbenches probably stuck around at least till the USSR collapsed.
Former Thonet factories are still making bentwood chairs using the original Thonet techniques, and were doing so thru the Cold war.

 

[RTM]

.
I’m not sure that wooden planes, or wooden molding planes where even much of a thing after WWII in the USA.

.

I think 1926 was the last catalog (found online or in my library) from Sandusky or Sargent showing a sufficient number of wooden planes, moulding or bench, to be considered production.

The 1926 Sargent has a few transitional.

Sargent Planes and Other Tools : Sargent & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

84 p., illus., 16.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Stanley sold the transitional til 1918

The Superior Works - Patrick's Blood & Gore: Planes #21 - #37

My Sandusky 1925 has a few pages, will look up when I get home.

 

[RTM]

Here is an underside view of a vintage Christiansen bench, note the very wide pitch of the screw, and compare it to yours. (Not mine, took pic off CL) The CHRISTIANSEN WORKBENCH COMPANY was in business until at least 1937 per ITCL. The top is sitting on a new base, but the overall size is 86” W 36”H 32”D, to give you an idea of scale.

This difference is what makes me think yours is newer.