Got a Vanderman No1 given to me.

[Grandpasaurus]

Hi guys. A coworker moved into a new (for him) house in Worcester, MA and this was in his basement under a workbench. He said he had no use for it and it was mine if I wanted it. It's a Vanderman No.1. I recently gave it a power wash and blowdry. Heavy vise that has definitely seen use. After poking around the intarwebs, I'm thinking this is on the older side, closer to 1900 than 1950. The lettering on the side is rough, so I think it was before a lot of quality control came around.
I've been thinking about taking up bladesmithing. I could sell it for a good price and put the money into my anvil fund, but I might be missing out on a good vise in my new vice.
Pictures attached.

 

[Grandpasaurus]

decided to keep it. Just spent some time grinding all the crud and rust off it. This vise is far from pristine, but I think all the scars give it character. I could use a good vise, and the anvil will wait a little longer. Chase the shop dog approved my decision

 

[RTM]

. Chase the shop dog approved my decision

those Ears. My Avatar dog is in Awe

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

decided to keep it. Just spent some time grinding all the crud and rust off it. This vise is far from pristine, but I think all the scars give it character. I could use a good vise, and the anvil will wait a little longer. Chase the shop dog approved my decision

Chase is smart. That is a nice vise. Now I am going to do some research on the one.

 

[msharley]

Great Score!

 

[Roberts210]

Great score on the dog. Nice vise too.

 

[Grandpasaurus]

Great score on the dog. Nice vise too.

Luckily, he grew into his ears.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Luckily, he grew into his ears.

Big ears must pick good vises. Wow.

 

[dcummer]

My brother bought this Vanderman #1 vise from a coworker at New England Pressed Steel in Natick MA in the early 1970's. The guy had brought it to the shop and tried to convince the foreman to swap for a more normal size vise from the shop. Foreman nixed that idea, and my brother bought it for I think $5. I remember it lived on the passenger side floorboards of my brother's 1965 VW bug for quite a time. It fell into my stewardship when he passed in 2010. It was filthy but a trip through the electrolysis derust tank really cleaned it up, and then boiled linseed oil and several years of dry time. My brother made the mounting plate for it, otherwise it isn't the easiest vise to mount. It doesn't look it, but it actually is spotlessly clean. I enjoy having it for the provenance, but I don't use it.

 

[Cleave]

Interesting vises - what are the half round shapes on the back for? Looks like they go a little past half round, probably sized to slip fit a couple common pipe sizes?

 

[msharley]

Luckily, he grew into his ears.

He got ears.............

Like the doors on a Yellow Cab!

Good on you!!

 

[Grandpasaurus]

Interesting vises - what are the half round shapes on the back for? Looks like they go a little past half round, probably sized to slip fit a couple common pipe sizes?

It's a pipefitters vise. I don't know how they used them. My No. 1 only has the logo and letters on one side. This one looks like they're on both?

 

[dcummer]

Mine has the round logo on both sides of the moving jaw, and the full text only on the one side of the body. Appears to be the opposite side from yours. Years ago I stumbled across this catalog clipping, can't remember where:

 

[Packard V8]

Interesting!

While not a fan of the exposed screw pattern, I'd give that one space.

jack vines

 

[Cleave]

Maybe those half rounds are for pipe bending?