Desmond Stephan Simplex 41P

[EngineerNate]

I picked this up on the way to dinner with the better three quarters and some friends yesterday evening. Feels extremely solid and the make seems to get some praise in these parts. Well used but free moving and looks like it'll clean up really well. Any suggestions for finish/cleaning/lubrication, and does anyone have any info on this manufacturer?

Cheers,
Nathan

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[rustyzman]

I don't have specific info for you, but I do have my Grandfather's Simplex vise that he used at Skil Tools as a Tool and Die Maker from the 1950's thru the 1980's. He had to fight a bit to get them to let him take it home when he retired and they closed the Chicago shop, but he got it! Mine has the swivel rear jaw and the smooth face machinist jaws. It is a wonderful vise and extremely well made. I would not hesitate to pick one up if I was in need.
There is another thread in here somewhere that covers this brand. Do a quick search and I bet you will find it.

Nice Vise. You will enjoy it, I am sure!

 

[EngineerNate]

Oh, so my jaws may be smooth on purpose then? I figured they wer just knackered. That makes way more sense!

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[drivesitfar]

Nate: great looking old vise. here's a link to the vintage vise companies thread and last week a couple members just posted up some good information about Simplex, Desmond Stephen who eventually became Ridgid.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=283430

 

[EngineerNate]

Interesting! Cool that the lineage is still sort of alive, though unfortunately in mega corp form.

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[davethorik]

Not really, Ridge Tool stopped making these vises in 1980.

 

[blazemaster83]

Great vise. I have a 41s, and a 61s. The "s" means swivel base. I use them both daily in my machine shop. I bought the 41 first years ago and liked it so much I kept an eye out for a larger model. A forum member sold me the 61 a few years ago. I have also been keeping my eye out for a stationary model like yours.

 

[EngineerNate]

I would have liked to have the swivel base but to by honest, 99% of the time I don't need it.

There was a swivel base 6" Wilton locally for under $100 yesterday and I missed it. [emoji24] Would have complimented this one well on the bench.

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[drivesitfar]

Nate: I agree with the non swivel as I like 100 year old vises and the swivel bases seem to be the weak point and they really aren't needed that much.

just BEWARE that ALL WILTONS ARE NOT THE SAME QUALITY cause they make/made a cheap quality line of vises too.

their C series bullets are their top quality along with their bullets, then their tradesmans and some of the tradesmans were made in ASIA. even though their lower quality is still decent it's not nearly as good as their bullet vises.

personally I like your Simplex better, but I like pre WWII vises.

Blaze: got any pics of your cool old vises and maybe of your shop to share here or just post a few over on my Organization thread and give me some inspiration?

 

[EngineerNate]

It was a bullet.

I'm still super stoked to have this one, but another slightly larger vise would be a good addition.

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[drivesitfar]

Nate: just tell yourself maybe the big Wilton had a crack you didn't see in the picture and keep looking. also if you can't find a bigger desmond/simplex might I suggest a Reed, Rock Island, Athol or a few other pre WWII vises.

also their 6 inch wide jaw vises usually weigh 120 pounds and up.

in case you want to strip yours and just put on a few light coats of BLO here's my big Reed 4c (178 pounds) that might need some shining up, but I like the patina and it works just fine.

good luck

 

[EngineerNate]

That's a good looking vise!

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