Bench Vise Identification

[Tynndareus]

I bought this vice for 30 Canadian pesos and thought it was a pretty good deal, 3-inch jaws, though after measuring I found them to be closer to 75mm which makes sense as there is a 75 stamped on the other side of the vise.

There are no other visible stamping. Judging by rough shape and the slides, and rear sliding arm it seems to be an older European vise, but my research has me stopped there. Does anyone have any idea what this vise is, or where it came from?

I plan on replacing the jaws, slides, and repainting it, I am getting the slides cut from tool steel, and still working on sourcing jaws that will fit with the locating pins.

Thank you in advance

 

[bastel]

An image would be nice, but I know 5 posts are required for this...

 

[Tynndareus]

I did try to embed 5 images. Here is an album though.

imgur[dot]com/a/1qGYi4u

 

[lardy1]

Three more to go.

 

[Tynndareus]

Photos:

 

[Professional Tool User]

I still can't see the photos. No offence, but if you can't at least see a brand name or COO mark on it, it may not be what you think it is. I don't know what the used vice market is like in Atlantic Canada, but classifieds I've seen in Western Canada are full of old record vices which outnumber all the old USA made vices by maybe 10 to 1. All made in England record vices I've seen have both brand name and COO marks.

 

[bastel]

The album https://m.imgur.com/a/1qGYi4u works, though. 1st photo is out if it.
Looks very much like a Meier & Weichelt / LES vise, see other photos of a 10cm one I got on a whim. But the way the lead screw is held to the vise is different. Might be just a variation or somebody else made the same thing (kinda doubt it, the slide mechanism is quite distinct, also the cast matches). You can see a flat spot on the side at the 3 o'clock position, that's where the set screw would have been for the other mechanism.

 

[Tynndareus]

Incredibly quick reply, and extremely detailed! Thank you

Couple more questions, is there any way to guess an approximate age of the vice?

Also is there any parts still available for these?
I had contacted my local metal shop to make new tool steel slides as the ends of mine have been bumped and aren't flat anymore, and the jaws seem rather unique compared to my other vises.

 

[bastel]

Incredibly quick reply, and extremely detailed! Thank you

Couple more questions, is there any way to guess an approximate age of the vice?

Also is there any parts still available for these?
I had contacted my local metal shop to make new tool steel slides as the ends of mine have been bumped and aren't flat anymore, and the jaws seem rather unique compared to my other vises.

How old.. 40 years at least, probably more.

Considering all the companies are long gone, no parts are available. Making own slides and inserts is a good idea.

I believe the original slides might be tool steel, I have never seen them damaged. Though I dunno if too hard slides are a good idea, ideally the slides wear out, not the machined casting. But then the contact slide + jaw is only under REAL load when clamping tight, so it should be ok. Also the further back you open the vise, the more the front top of the rear jaw will also press on the slide as the overhanging jaw will try to tip downwards. But all negligible if well greased.

Some people make a pattern into the jaw inserts with an angle grinder by hand, you can also make smooth jaws and add dimples, the blue vise on my picture has such dimple jaws (see picture). Just harden the steel afterwards and temper.

When all this is done you should invest more Canadian pesos into a bigger version of this vise

 

[Tynndareus]

Thank you again for the information, I will bring it in and talk to my metal shop about the slides and get their opinion.

I just got the first coat of paint on the vise last night. I can count 5 previous coats so this isn't it's first trip around the block.

When all this is done you should invest more Canadian pesos into a bigger version of this vise

I was told this morning that I should probably start investing a bit more into older tools, and I will take that advice. There isn't much of a market for old vices around the east coast of Canada but I will do what I can.

 

[bastel]

Just wait, vises will be your vice.. you will always want to complete the set of your first vise, 3", 4", 5" and 6"

 

[Tynndareus]

Update:
Finished painting the vise, I have yet to replace the gibs (slides), and I need to clean up some of the machined faces still once the paint has cured.