Old school woodworking vises

[Slip_Kid]

I picked these up on Facebook marketplace for $80 total. At $40.00 each I think it's a fair price. I cleaned them up, everything works and there are no broken parts. On the smaller Wilcox I will replace the pipe handle with a wooden handle. I'm building a new woodworking bench and will mount both of these. The larger Columbian is a model 3-CD, I like the handle on that one. Any idea how old these are? I will post new pics when finished.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Not exactly a “You ****” price, but not bad either. Those will clean up nice and be a great addition to a new bench. Good that you are able to put them to use.
pictures as you go, please.

 

[RTM]

Looks like they have literature from the 1913- 27

Richards-Wilcox Mfg. Co. : Catalog Number Twelve : Door Hangers, Grindstones and Hardware Specialties : Richards-Wilcox Manufacturing Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

300 p., illus., 21.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

See them all here

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

I managed to dig out the patent for the quick release to help a buddy fix his. The QR won't work if the vise is upside down, just so you are aware.

Here's the patent

US Patent: 1,055,278 - Quick-acting vise

US patent 1,055,278 Quick-acting vise was issued to George G. Hunt of Plano, IL. It was granted on 03/04/1913. "This invention relates to improvements in quick acting vises and has for its primary object to provide a device of this character where the operating

datamp.org

Another here for a clamp, boring

Patents for Richards-Wilcox Manufacturing Co.

And as Turbo says, nice vise. My buddy loves his.

 

[Slip_Kid]

Thanks for the info guys

 

[toolmiser]

I've got nothing for age but that isn't a bad price. Try to buy a new good quality, and one as the "quick release". I had one where I used pipe to make the handle and I decided to make one out of wood. I like the wood, it doesn't pinch nearly as hard.

 

[Slip_Kid]

I've got nothing for age but that isn't a bad price. Try to buy a new good quality, and one as the "quick release". I had one where I used pipe to make the handle and I decided to make one out of wood. I like the wood, it doesn't pinch nearly as hard.

I priced out new workworking vices, stuff around $100 was just OK. These vices are cast iron and steel, they should work out well. I agree that a wood handle will work out nicely.

 

[RTM]

If you wrap a rubber band under the knob where it meets the shaft, it greatly reduces the inadvertent pinching, and makes the knobs stay on longer too.

 

[Slip_Kid]

I'm almost complete with my workbench. I need to add dog holes to the top, I will figure out how to do it.

 

[Slip_Kid]

 

[Packard V8]

Congrats. Very nice workbench.

jack vines

 

[RedVise]

As noted, the quick release can bite you when not mounted and rotated...

 

[Slip_Kid]

The quick release works fine on the small vise but I need to be aware of which position it is in.

 

[Slip_Kid]

Finished with the dog holes, put some Danish Oil on the top. She's ready to go to work.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Slip_Kid

IMO: You did very well, especially with the quick release vise.
I'm not a woodworker. However, having a woodworking vise is invaluable for work holding that requires a softer grip, over a larger area. I also like that they are low profile, thus take no bench top space. My daily driver bench top vise is mounted on a heavy iron pedestal.

Looking forward to seeing those vises when restored.

I'm currently using a 7" Morgan 10A woodworking vise. But I plan to replace it with a 10" W.C. Toles quick release woodworking vise, after I restore it.

 

[RTM]

But I plan to replace it with a 10" W.C. Toles quick release woodworking vise, after I restore it.

Sweet vise

Slip_Kid, pleased to see you lined up the vise dog with the bench holes across from it. The gain from that is huge, little bits at a time.

 

[exmaxima1]

Slip_Kid

IMO: You did very well, especially with the quick release vise.
I'm not a woodworker. However, having a woodworking vise is invaluable for work holding that requires a softer grip, over a larger area. I also like that they are low profile, thus take no bench top space. My daily driver bench top vise is mounted on a heavy iron pedestal.

Looking forward to seeing those vises when restored.

I'm currently using a 7" Morgan 10A woodworking vise. But I plan to replace it with a 10" W.C. Toles quick release woodworking vise, after I restore it.

Morgan makes a nice 10" quick release model as well. I installed a nylon dog in mine to avoid ruining a router bit or plane blade.

 

[four.cycle]

1915 Shapleigh Hardware Co. catalog Bonney Massey Richards-Wilcox vise ad pp 167

1937 C.M McClung catalog Coumbian vise ad pp 88

1951 Hardware Age Columbian Vise ad pp

First time I've seen the thread - pardon the late entry.
Unless I'm mistaken, I already sent all these to ITCL, so they should be available for download there.
International Tool Catalog Library

Your work bench is fabulous.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Morgan makes a nice 10" quick release model as well. I installed a nylon dog in mine to avoid ruining a router bit or plane blade.

How well does that nylon dog hold a workpiece?

 

[exmaxima1]

It's not great for heavy planing but works well for sanding and routing. I can swap it out for a maple dog pretty easily if I need more grip.

 

[skmbabon]

A 2 page spread from the 1914 Richards-Wilcox catalog No. 12. The QR mechanism was patented in 1913.
The design didn't change much after that. 1940 catalog from Caverhill, Learmont & Co. Ltd. (Montreal, Toronto & Ottawa) has the same specs.