Need help with this old Meadville vise

[bedn0009]

Hello,

I got this from my grandpa's shop. I'm sure it's old, just not sure HOW old. It was his, it works, and it's cool.

My question is - in what order do I mount it? That large square flat piece (numbered 3 in my pic) seems to have 2 different holes that the vice could mount through. Am i correct in that? Why 2 holes?

Also, is that round, flat disc even part of the vise? It's labeled Eagle wood turning.

 

[2oolhound]

My guess is #3, the large square piece mounts to the bench with the sawed off end flush to the edge of the bench (so stuff clamped in the jaws will clear the edge of the bench). #4 goes in the square piece and the vise #5, goes on top. #2 goes over the threaded rod from below the surface of the bench followed by the nut, #1.

The big hole in the square plate (#3) that looks to be at the edge of the large round basin that was machined into the plate may be for a locking mechanism to stop the vise from rotating. The tape measure covers that hole on the edge of the basin so it's hard to see it completely.

 

[jimreed2160]

It looks like an old drill press vise to me. The important part is the nut on the bottom. The vise swivels on the large washer. Just loosen the bottom nut, swivel it into place, and then tighten the nut. The other pieces seem to be spacers.

 

[454ragtop]

I suspect what happened was the original plate that went between the vise and the bench top got lost/broken. The square and round plates are a shop made work around. There was likely a "key" on the vise, that fit into multiple notches in the original plate, allowing it to be locked in place in multiple locations.

 

[notlob]

Your vise is pretty old - late 19th-early 20th century.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352467

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=3004&tab=6