Information on "Woden #2 Vise"

[ive]

Hi all.

What size is a #2 Woden Vise? I read that these are older, quality made vises. Correct?

 

[2oolhound]

Woden is on par with Record who took over the company in the 60's. #2 is small to mid sized, about 3.5" wide jaws.

 

[dutchgray]

Yep it will be a quality vice, 3.5" jaw width. 21lb weight. Record did buy them out and by the end of the 60's had dropped the name, so at least that old. I have a few Wodens in the collection.

 

[lbgradwell]

If you keep looking, you will find a better price than $50...

To give you some perspective, the No.2 is the fourth vise (second from the right). From Left to right there's Woden No. 0, Woden No. 1, Record No. 100, Woden No. 2 and Record No. 5:

 

[Inno]

I have a 186b/0 and a Model 0. They have some cosmetic differences, e.g. shape of the base.

What are the approximate manufacture date for these two lines? Is the B line earlier? It is certainly in rougher shape.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Michaelj]

Hi

I have a 186/3 S - no mention of the B - does anyone have a view on the dating?

Thanks!

M

 

[Dave455]

Yes, certainly older, but certainly quality too. The other guys have pretty much said it all.

The very old ones were green, rather than blue.

I have two of my grandfathers. The small one is in original green, and has some age to it. He seemed to prefer Woden to be other makers, as his woodworking vice is Woden too.

 

[Michaelj]

Looks quality, currently getting some new jaws manufactured.

The green came thru as I cleaned, going to take it to the paint shop to try match it... looks super cool!

On the aging I am ******* it around the 30’s .. amazing to think it is almost a 100 years old and can still do the job!!!

M

 

[Andy wetherill]

From what I read Woden were established in 1957 and taken over by record in 1961.

 

[Dave455]

From what I read Woden were established in 1957 and taken over by record in 1961.

Woden are much older than that.

I have Woden tools that belonged to my Grandfather and are pre war for sure!

Some of the Woden tools, such as the older G clamps, are nicer to use than say Record, as they are a nicer rounded shape with no sharp edges.

 

[Andy wetherill]

Yes, looking further, the hand tool range was started in 1957 , the company was around longer, I thought it was odd that I see so much of it about to be produced over such a short space of time.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

"Vice (vise), hand tool, and steel products manufacturer The Steel Nut & Joseph Hampton Ltd., Woden Works, Wednesbury dates to 1897 with that name, and originally to 1851. In 1957 the company founded Woden Tools Ltd. for its hand tool business. Woden Tools Ltd. was taken over in 1961 by Record of Sheffield. Production moved to Sheffield, where Woden tools were manufactured until the early 1970s."

There is a catalog of Woden tools from 1931 with a vise on the cover on the OWWM website. I think the vises and clamps had been around long before that though. The 1957 date refers to a hand tool line that came much later. While on the subject I would like to know the proper pronunciation of Woden. I've assumed it is pronounced Woe-den with the long O. It is one of those names I've only seen in print and as I have two Woden vises I should know the proper pronunciation. Ed.

 

[Dave455]

"Vice (vise), hand tool, and steel products manufacturer The Steel Nut & Joseph Hampton Ltd., Woden Works, Wednesbury dates to 1897 with that name, and originally to 1851. In 1957 the company founded Woden Tools Ltd. for its hand tool business. Woden Tools Ltd. was taken over in 1961 by Record of Sheffield. Production moved to Sheffield, where Woden tools were manufactured until the early 1970s."

There is a catalog of Woden tools from 1931 with a vise on the cover on the OWWM website. I think the vises and clamps had been around long before that though. The 1957 date refers to a hand tool line that came much later. While on the subject I would like to know the proper pronunciation of Woden. I've assumed it is pronounced Woe-den with the long O. It is one of those names I've only seen in print and as I have two Woden vises I should know how the proper pronunciation. Ed.

Yes, pronounced “woe-den”, or if you prefer, “woden” as distinct from “wooden” or “waden”.

The word is Norse. Woden was a Norse god, after whom we name one of our days. “Wednesday” is a corruption of “Wodens day”!

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I just finished cleaning up my 2nd Woden. This one a 186B / 4 with 4-1/2" jaws. It needed quite a bit of work including some new jaws to get it fixed up. It fits right in with the 3" jaw 186B / 1 I picked up a while back. I really like the style and strength of these vises. This thread could use a few more pics so here is a Woden pair. Ed.

 

[Andy wetherill]

I just finished cleaning up my 2nd Woden. This one a 186B / 4 with 4-1/2" jaws. It needed quite a bit of work including some new jaws to get it fixed up. It fits right in with the 3" jaw 186B / 1 I picked up a while back. I really like the style and strength of these vises. This thread could use a few more pics so here is a Woden pair. Ed.

Very nice to. I will have finished my 00 by the middle of the week, I’ll put up a picture.

 

[Andy wetherill]

In the meantime, this venerable beast is our workaday at the workshop…….

 

[Andy wetherill]

In the meantime, this venerable beast is our workaday at the workshop…….

A nice line in sash clamps as well.

 

[Andy wetherill]

Woden 168B/00 after a light refurb and a coat of paint, next door is a Woden pin push, both from car boot sale finds.

 

[j-ro]

Curious about the 00… does it fasten to a bench with three bolts?

 

[ive]

Thank you all.