Mystery Vise - Who Made It?

[tooljunkie4]

Found this stuck to a workbench on the local craigslist. I realize that it is broken, but am more curious about who made it. Is this something any of you can identify?

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

that's an FPU vise. I'm pretty sure they are made in Poland. I'm sure the experts here can give you more information than I have. If it was cheap enough i'd buy it for sure!

 

[GrayFlattop]

Yup - made in Poland. I bought one over 40 years ago - very nice vise. You can adjust the gibs to take up any slop. Even with it being broken it might be useful - and certainly better than no vise at all!

 

[F-22]

Found this stuck to a workbench on the local craigslist. I realize that it is broken, but am more curious about who made it. Is this something any of you can identify?

These aren't uncommon in eastern Europe. I seem to recall they often cracked like that.

This Polish style is inverted when compared to the German style dovetail vises (leinen, schlegel, gressel...). On those, the rear jaw would go inside the base instead of hugging it. This Polish style may make the guides and the lead screw less exposed, and also made to incorporate a swivel underneath while the classic German design fixed to the end of a table. But most likely the polish cast iron wasn't very high quality so a lot of them cracked like that.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Bunch of threads on them..

 

[RTM]

Bison vises are similar (The US branch of FPU?). For a few $$, that one should be fine for most uses.

I have a 5" version, not sure if its a real FPU, Bison, or knockoff

 

[tooljunkie4]

that's an FPU vise. I'm pretty sure they are made in Poland. I'm sure the experts here can give you more information than I have. If it was cheap enough i'd buy it for sure!

The whole shebang is apparently $75. When I posted this thread earlier, the price was $99. Not my ad, by the way.

Work bench with vice - tools - by owner - sale - craigslist

48" x 32" 36" tall Workbench with vice $75

baltimore.craigslist.org

These aren't uncommon in eastern Europe. I seem to recall they often cracked like that.

This Polish style is inverted when compared to the German style dovetail vises (leinen, schlegel, gressel...). On those, the rear jaw would go inside the base instead of hugging it. This Polish style may make the guides and the lead screw less exposed, and also made to incorporate a swivel underneath while the classic German design fixed to the end of a table. But most likely the polish cast iron wasn't very high quality so a lot of them cracked like that.

It reminded me of a Gressel I saw some in an old youtube restoration video. It's an interesting format. Not sure how useful it is for larger workpieces to make the outboard jaw static, but I've been keen on taking that design for a spin.

 

[Shiftless]

Bison vises are similar (The US branch of FPU?). For a few $$, that one should be fine for most uses.

I have a 5" version, not sure if its a real FPU, Bison, or knockoff

That’s a genuine FPU, made in Poland. Look at the emblem. That’s the mark of the real deal. They are great vises. Even with the cracked off piece, it could still be useful.

 

[RTM]

That’s a genuine FPU, made in Poland. Look at the emblem. That’s the mark of the real deal. They are great vises. Even with the cracked off piece, it could still be useful.

I was referring to mine being real. Many layers of paint on it, so can’t read a logo.

 

[Shiftless]

I was referring to mine being real. Many layers of paint on it, so can’t read a logo.

Sounds like a LOT of paint. Good luck with the uncovering whenever you get around to that job.

 

[RTM]

Sounds like a LOT of paint. Good luck with the uncovering whenever you get around to that job.

It was in a prop shop in a theater supposedly. Sold it as a fundraiser.

Unfortunately only pic handy of the wrong side.

 

[1foxracing]

It's a Bison for sure, more about the company https://bison-chuck.com/en-us/

I've owned a couple of them and was very happy with them.

 

[Shiftless]

Where are the 3 locking adjustment screws?

 

[slowtwitch73]

^^^ other side

 

[Shiftless]

Where are the 3 locking adjustment screws?

^^^ other side

Thanks. I don’t know they were one side only.
BTW, FPU stands for

Fabryka Przyrazow Uchwytow

 

[slowtwitch73]

Thanks. I don’t know they were one side only.
BTW, FPU stands for

Fabryka Przyrazow Uchwytow

I have a Schlegel of that design with no adjustable gib, so no bolts on either side.

 

[senlow]

Thanks. I don’t know they were one side only.
BTW, FPU stands for

Fabryka Przyrazow Uchwytow

It turns out that one of the only Polish words I can pronounce is piwo (beer). So, I'll just keep pronouncing the name as FPU. Phonetically, that's "eff pee you". Hmm. . . Pines may have something to say about the name.

 

[Shiftless]

“Pines may have something to say about the name.”

Where would we all be without him?

 

[PostwarO27]

I have one of these. Its a 6" jaw version that used to be my fathers. I remember from being a kid he had it mounted on his work bench in the garage. After he passed I found it lying in the corner of his basement on the floor. I thru it in my truck and brought it home and found out why it was in the corner. Its missing the gib.

Now I;m trying to track down an OEM piece. I can always make one as I have access to a tools shop but I want an OEM part. Anybody got one? It should be about 9 1/2" long with three recesses spaced 3 3/8" apart on the one side. It will be about 5/16 thick and have a short side profile like a parallelogram.

 

[slowtwitch73]

You'll never find an oem gib.

 

[PostwarO27]

You'll never find an oem gib.

I wouldn't say never. I've found two people that have the vise but both of them are cracked along the dovetail so I;m hoping they would consider parting them out. They both have the gib I need so I'm still hoping.