Old Armstrong Co. Bench Vise

[welcomeaboardcaptain]

Amongst my other recent finds, I ran into this Armstrong, Co. Bench Vise. Adjusts to 3 different sizes and has teeth. Any ideas on the type? I have a few vises myself so I will probably be selling this. Any estimate on value? Thanks a lot for any opinions!

 

[mjozefow]

Very cool! I have no idea what it would be worth though.

 

[selohssa]

That is a very cool looking vise. What is the reason for the strange design?

 

[welcomeaboardcaptain]

Any other opinions on this?

 

[Mickey O]

Any other opinions on this?

It would look nice on my workbench.


Obviously it's made to quickly adjust from small opening to large openings quickly with the re-positional rear jaw and wasn't a big success because they aren't all that popular (doesn't mean it wasn't a good design or work well, just didn't catch on, could be cost to manufacture). As far as value I have no idea, whatever someone will pay for it. It may not be from the well known Armstrong tool company, there were a lot of tool makers back in the day with the Armstrong name, I think the Armstrong we are all familiar with was always in Chicago (now another plant down south (Alabama or Arkansas). The vise you have looks like it says Bridgeport, CT so it may be a different company, I'd look to see if there's a patent number and look it up. Even if you can't find a number you can still search for patents.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

I think that could be the same company that made my pipe threading kit. Does yours say F. Armstrong like mine? They are both in Bridgeport, CT. If so, I've never seen a vise that they made. Pretty cool.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45099362@N02/4436117573/" title="IMG_3319 by BanjoSavesTheDay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4436117573_7c4efeeee2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_3319" /></a>

 

[welcomeaboardcaptain]

It says "Armstrong Mfg. Bridgeport, CT". There are some numbers on the back by the adjusting pin but they are near impossible to see clearly/read. I think I see Patient "22-83" but I am not sure. Attached picture.

Does anyone have any interest in this? I am trying to find out as much as I can about it.

 

[welcomeaboardcaptain]

Still flying in the dark with this. I've been looking for a few hours with different patents etc and Armstrong Mfg. in general and can't come up with anything similar to this vise. Hoping someone sees this and has some info. It weighs around 35 lbs.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Sorry I can't help. Try posting it on Practical Machinist, someone there might know.

 

[nolatoolguy]

WOW, now thats a mans vice

It would look ausome hanging from the ceiling in my room

 

[welcomeaboardcaptain]

Would this specifically be used for pipes?

 

[welcomeaboardcaptain]

ahhh Any other info that someone might have on this?

 

[Mickey O]

Would this specifically be used for pipes?

? Don't know, the Armstrong Mfg. company in CT made a lot of things for pipe so the vise may have been built with that purpose.

ahhh Any other info that someone might have on this?

What are you looking for? I can tell you that you won't get rich selling it. It's probably heavy. Maybe it's made for a ship. That Armstrong Mfg. in CT from what I can gather went out of business in the mid to late '20's so it would be from before the '30's if that info is correct. It's unique.

If you want to find out more you're probably going to have to clean it up a bit and look for a model or patent number or a date and do some research, if you get a patent number try google patent search, you can also try old magazines that are online, Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Hardware Dealers Magazine, etc. Or you could wait and hope someone does it for you or someone happens along and knows about that particular vise.

 

[welcomeaboardcaptain]

It looks like it says "Pat. May 22-32". Which I would assume would be May 22nd, 1932. It is very tough to see the numbers because the adjusting knob is right infront of them.

 

[welcomeaboardcaptain]

Found more info on this. Now listed in buy and sell.

http://books.google.com/books?id=PK...v=onepage&q=armstrong mfg. bench vise&f=false