Record No.75 Vice resto

[jipps]

So, some of you might have seen my Record No. 74 Vice Restoration.

The Record 74 is an awesome vice; I settled for one after about a solid year of looking for a Record 75 which I just could not find. There are a few reasons why a couldn't get a 75. They are rare enough to start with, but complicated further by (1) the fact that the jaws (5-1/2" with 3" centres, rear bolts) are essentially unobtainable, so you want to be paying really close attention to the jaws; and (2) living offshore, and the vice being heavy, eBay sellers generally won't ship heavy items like this to me.

Anyway, as is always the case, no sooner had I got the 74 up-and-running than I was able to get a great deal on a 75, from an eBayer who was willing to ship via the good ol' Royal Snail

So here's why I got it, I'll admit it wasn't the prettiest looking specimen:

 

[jipps]

So, what do we have?

Well, pic 1 shows that there's a bent handle. But look closely at the perspective of the picture and the fact that the bent part is in fact very close to the camera... I was willing to bet that the bend was way less severe in the flesh - and indeed that's how it turned out.

Besides that, pic 2 shows essentially unused jaws, while pics 3 & 4 show essentially unused anvil insert and point. The swivel base and original swivel bolts are also present (not always the case!).

 

[jipps]

The vice arrived on Tuesday morning. After a quick de-grease, I could see that the vice had been repainted that hammered silvery-turquoise colour that was very popular in machine shops form the 50s to the 70s (the vice itself is pre-WWII):

Only the base showed traces of the original Record Red enamel:

 

[jipps]

First job was to try to release the jaw inserts:

That wasn't happening, so I was content to leave them in situ... I've heard horror stories of these being scrapped in removal, and as I said up top, they're unobtainium now...

So, got everything stripped with the wire wheel:

and then masked up for undercoat:

 

[jipps]

I ordered some Hammerite Smooth Red spray (I hand painted the 74 in this colour, and regretted the time involved, even though the paint flowed nicely and the finish is good). The paint hasn't arrived yet, so my only other job for now was to true up the handle and de-burr the lead screw head. This went way better than expected with a little help from the 74:

 

[FlyingLancastrian]

Very nice indeed! How did you find out the age of it?

 

[jipps]

Very nice indeed! How did you find out the age of it?

Good question. When I said "the vice itself is pre-WWII", what I should have added is "to the best of my belief".

My rationale for this dating is as follows:

• The 1935 catalogue shows that the #75 vice was all steel
• The 1950 catalogue shows that the #75 vice (except slide and anvil insert) was no longer steel
• So, the vice definitely dates between 1935-1950
• Something happened between 1939 and 1950 to mean Record stopped all-steel production of the #75
• My best guess is that the Ministry of Supply (est 1939) was immediately on the case of all civilian-application steel
• Hence, it seems reasonable to presume that the all-steel #75s are pre war

Of course, there is a massive 15-year gap between my 1935 (steel) and 1950 (non-steel body) catalogues. Ultimately, I can only place the Vice between those two dates, until I can find any further catalogues or opinions more informed than my own

 

[jipps]

So, my paint still hasn't arrived

However, my replacement cotter pins turned up unexpectedly early (props to Sun Motorcycles, Coventry).

The lead screw needed a 11/64" (4.5mm) pin. This was much more problematic than the 3.2pin for the #74 vice, because (i) my local store had the smaller pins in stock; and (ii) more importantly, I knew that the head profile of the larger pin would foul the dynamic jaw, whereas the smaller pin of the 74 had no such problem.

I didn't know how readily the cotter pin head could be modded, without breaking the pin...

^^ This pic shows an unmodded pin (right) and the modded version (left). I needn't have worried about it; a couple of minutes with the pliers wrench, and the head was re-profiled such that it would fit far enough into the lead screw to clear the jaw. This also splayed the pin, further improving the fit

Last job was to trim to size.

Now all I need is the paint to turn up, and this will be finished!

 

[jipps]

Finally started getting some paint down today. Started with coat of hand-paint and will top up with spray after a couple of days...

 

[ZRX61]

Why did you have to buy cotterpins from Coventry? Surely they sell them in N.I.?

 

[jipps]

Why did you have to buy cotterpins from Coventry? Surely they sell them in N.I.?

The local shop had them up to 3.2mm; I needed 4.5mm and that was the next easiest route

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Looks good.

What is that piece that appears to slide in between the anvil and the rear of the static jaw?

It looks, to me from thousands of miles away, that it slides out and maybe they have/had different ones to slide in? Kind of like a hardy hole??

Could you not remove it to paint?

 

[jipps]

It's a hardened steel anvil insert, a bit like the removable puck of the 74. There has been some discussion of this insert on other UK forums, and it's removability or otherwise.

I mean, it's plain to see that it was slid in there in the factory; and the design of the #74 and indeed #80 incorporate readily removable anvil inserts (retained and screw-in pucks, respectively).

However, most folk seem to report a fairly seized anvil point (not all, some seem to be readily removable). Anyway, suffice to say new ones aren't available and would need making up. This one was in great shape, and I didn't want to force the issue too hard (it's stuck pretty tightly) and risk damaging the retainer mouth or the snug interface.

Hopefully it will work out okay just masked... like with the jaws, in the back of my mind was "first, do no harm" - I came by this philosophy the hard way; you wouldn't believe the stuff I used to destroy trying to give it a spruce up!

 

[humber2]

Is Red indicative of a "prior to" date?

 

[jipps]

Is Red indicative of a "prior to" date?

Good question, but no, the red vices appear to always have been red throughout production, and the blue vices were always blue.

Red enamel was the colour given to a small family of vices:

• Record Auto Vice No.74 (4" jaws, opening 4.5")
• Record Garage Vice No.75 (All Steel, Guaranteed Unbreakable, 5.25" jaws, 7" opening)
• Record "Imp" Table Vice No.80 (2.5" jaws, opening 2.5")

These red vices all shared certain design features, including:

- solid steel slide with lead screw above
- offset jaws "to admit long and wide work vertically"
- hardened steel anvil
- anvil point
- pipe grips with hardened steel jaws
- pipe and rod bender
- swivel base*


*The Imp has a table clamp rather than swivel




The #75 completes my set, so I'll post some pics of all three together when it's finished.

 

[humber2]

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=r...sAQIJw&biw=1199&bih=829#imgrc=1yf8JfBHsbBr9M:

More Red and Blue details to peruse.

 

[jipps]

So, here's the Record Garage Vice No.75... all screwed back together. Any white marks are the residue paste wax on the bare steel.

Pretty happy with how this came out, including the straight handle.

Now, I gotta find something that needs 5.25" jaws and a 7" opening

 

[WWShop]

Nice! That turned out great and looks like a beast. Loving the lock down handles too.

 

[JZiggy]

Looks awesome. I love that form factor. These never seem to turn up in the US!

 

[dutchgray]

Looks awesome. I love that form factor. These never seem to turn up in the US!

There isn't that many over here, finding a decent one is hard.

 

[jipps]

There isn't that many over here, finding a decent one is hard.

Too right; I looked for about a year. Having been through it, I'd say that the only real no-no is jaw insert condition, unless you know someone can make up some to your liking, as these are nigh-on impossible to buy. That, and make sure the lead screw is straight - something unfathomable has been going on if it's not, and the jaws will crab like crazy (see YouTube).

Handle can be fixed up, spring & retention fixed, QR swivel bolts substitutable, anvil condition likely less critical, pipe jaws almost never present (and can be readily fabricated)....

I have to say, when the beast was done, they a are hell of an impressive thing - would definitely recommend!

 

[HCNDM]

So, here's the Record Garage Vice No.75... all screwed back together. Any white marks are the residue paste wax on the bare steel.



Pretty happy with how this came out, including the straight handle.

Now, I gotta find something that needs 5.25" jaws and a 7" opening

She's a beauty!

 

[jipps]

Just got a PM about this thread today, and realized that I hadn't posted the comparison pics as promised. Let's redress that now:

...with the 74...

...and also with the Imp...

 

[streetcore]

Nice work! I bought one these at a yard sale today and noticed there is a bolt on the left hand side of the front jaws that doesn't seem to do anything. I see yours has the same bolt and I don't think you mentioned it in this thread (sorry if I missed it).

Any idea what it's for? Could it be there to hold some type of accessory pipe jaw in place?

Thanks.

 

[streetcore]

I just figured it out thanks to Google. I may have to go back to place I bought it and see if the seller will let me look around the garage for them.

 

[jipps]

If you mean the cylinder head plug, it doesn't screw in there, it screws into the head and is clamped in the jaw (as far as I know).

I think that square head screw is possibly to retain the pipe jaws.

I'd love to see a picture of your vice

 

[streetcore]

It is the screw for the pipe jaws that I'm referring to. I started another thread at the link below and another member has provided pics and measurements for the removable jaw. So I may try to make one.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369940

 

[weldor1970]

Sort of off topic I'm new i just picked up a record number 75 as i just broke my record number 3 that i abused for about 10 years. Question is 75 mean anything? If i was to guess weight perhaps must weigh 75 lbs lol