All worthwhile keeping. Van Dorn was taken over by B&D donkeys years ago, which is why old Van Dorn and some B&D grinders look the same. Woden vice, if it's in usable or restorable nick, definitely a good vice. The oil pump is handy to have if you need one.
I think you'll find that vice is cast steel rather than cast iron, so more resilient to a sound thrashing. Still not advisable to inflict such upon it though. Looks like the QR needs setting up properly too. That lever is 180 degrees out.
I think you'll find that vice is cast steel rather than cast iron, so more resilient to a sound thrashing. Still not advisable to inflict such upon it though. Looks like the QR needs setting up properly too. That lever is 180 degrees out.
Probably somebody bent the original whilst using a length of pipe. That vice seems to be in pretty good nick, judging from the available photo's. You've done extremely well with that one, if the top, slide and QR mechanism are all as sound as the rest appears to be? 4-1/2" or so on the jaw width, is that one?