Old Vise ID needed

[hartkem]

Like many of you I like old quality made vises. I recently picked up what looks like a very old vise but am having trouble identifying it. On the side it says II & B co. or maybe 11 and B co. 4 1/2". I've searched for both and came up with H & B co but none of the pictures I saw looked like this one.

 

[1982fxr]

New one to me...?

 

[KMScott]

It's a Illinois Iron and Bolt Co vise. That is about all I know. I added your vise to the Vise Spreadsheet. I need a few more spec:s like weight and max opening or the length of the square slider from casting to end when the vise is closed. Nice vise, I see a nut in the back, kind of curious what that does.

 

[hartkem]

It's a Illinois Iron and Bolt Co vise. That is about all I know. I added your vise to the Vise Spreadsheet. I need a few more spec:s like weight and max opening or the length of the square slider from casting to end when the vise is closed. Nice vise, I see a nut in the back, kind of curious what that does.

Thanks so much for the ID. I’ll try to get you that data soon.

 

[rusty65]

It's a Illinois Iron and Bolt Co vise. That is about all I know. I added your vise to the Vise Spreadsheet. I need a few more spec:s like weight and max opening or the length of the square slider from casting to end when the vise is closed. Nice vise, I see a nut in the back, kind of curious what that does.

The nut holds the main screw into the vise and moves it while opening.


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[rusty65]

Mine has a different style main screw handle. The ends of mine are tapered.

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[Fierljeppen]

Nice job! First post and you get a spreadsheet vise right out of the gate.

The Illinois Iron & Bolt Co. was established as an iron foundry and blacksmith shop in 1864 by Angelo Carpenter in the town he platted, Carpentersville, Illinois. In the era of your vise (1880's-1900's), the II&B Co. was manufacturing: cast & steel wagon skeins, hydraulic presses, blacksmith tools, vises, anvils, jack screws, sad irons, clothes reels and lawn ornaments.

Carpentersville, until last year, was where the Wilton Machinist, "C" series and Tradesman vises were machined, painted and packaged and for many years.

Your vise, although rare, is out there. I've seen one other flavor of the II&B woodworkers vise, which is shown in the photo's below, with a 1895 catalog scan.

 

[KMScott]

The nut holds the main screw into the vise and moves it while opening.



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OK, we did the same to the MillScott vise Royce built, the leadscrew is so long that supporting it is necessary.

Nice info Fierljeppen, thanks. You are an asset to GJ.

 

[Shiftless]

My ACCO has the same set up with a big nut in the back. This vise has 3 inch wide jaws.

 

[KMScott]

My ACCO has the same set up with a big nut in the back. This vise has 3 inch wide jaws.

It's a great idea, keeps the spindle in line with the nut.

That Acco vise needs a little cleanup Shift.

 

[hartkem]

Wasn’t aware that it was considered a woodworkers vise. Guess that makes sense with the jaws being smooth. I was attracted to the ***********. I don’t do much woodworking and my original plan was to fabricate a set of copper soft jaws. I already have a reed 204 mounted to the front left side of my workbench. Now where to mount this one? Right side? End? I’ll have to play with location.

 

[SweetD]

Welcome to the I.I.&B. club. Yours is older than mine, but the same size. (That sounds weird LOL).





I had a local machinist make me a main nut for mine as the original was cracked. He did an unbelievable job replicating the original. I still need to do a refurb on the vise. Great vise, and pretty rare.



Dave

 

[hartkem]

cleaned the vise up with a wire wheel and lubricated the screw. Applied boiled lend seed oil for a coating and mounted to the other side of my bench. Then decided to make some soft jaws from copper. I soldered the edges and they stay on great.

 

[rusty65]

cleaned the vise up with a wire wheel and lubricated the screw. Applied boiled lend seed oil for a coating and mounted to the other side of my bench. Then decided to make some soft jaws from copper. I soldered the edges and they stay on great.

That’s awesome looks great! Just out of curiosity did yours have a pointed piece sticking out of the bottom of your vise. On the base towards the workbench.


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[hartkem]

That’s awesome looks great! Just out of curiosity did yours have a pointed piece sticking out of the bottom of your vise. On the base towards the workbench.


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Yes it does.

 

[johnswelding]

I have the vise with same markings 4 1/2 " jaws but with knurled jaws on it, Any clues on age for this one? It opens to 5 1/4 " and about 80-90 lbs in weight.
Any idea of value?

 

[johnswelding]

Here are a couple of photos

 

[KMScott]

Here are a couple of photos

Nice vise Johnswelding, would love to see a picture of the other side. Worth unknown until it sells.

 

[johnswelding]

So Sorry , must have had a senior moment. This is my first shot at this so I'll try to get the photos for all of you.

 

[Duke74]

Hey everyone. This little Vise was listed for $10 but someone beat me to it. I asked the seller what brand it was but they couldn’t tell, they just said it had some years on it. The screws that hold the jaws on look like Philips but they could have been replaced. What stood out to me are the holes in the top of the jaws. Anyone seen anything like this before? I took pictures of the vise before they disappeared. Thanks

 

[TailGunner3000]

That's a Swayne Robinson Metl-Former vise. The holes on top held cylinders that allowed the user to bend tubing and strips of metal. It was also badged as Dunlop, and probably others.