The Vise History Thread

[akasrick]

Hi twertsy

Not sure if you saw this link;https://pioneeramericanphotographers.com/2018/05/10/c-s-bonney/comment-page-1/#comment-64


akasrick

 

[drivesitfar]

Twertsy: i'm not as active on the big vise thread as much lately while i'm organizing my stuff, but I heard you were looking for pictures of a Fisher vise.

are you looking for this one that works with a chain?

also one of our members knows of a museum where he's sold and given Fisher vises to that museum so PM me if you'd like more information maybe from that member about Fisher.

thanks again for doing all this research and even though i love REED & ROCK ISLAND & CRAFTSMAN 5197 i like hearing and learning about others.

cheers

 

[Lee Celtic]

Ok OK... here goes

I'm Lee and I'm an addict....

Yup I've turned Vise nerd.. (I think it's a thing..?) I now own six vises of different types and have an eye on another two on ebay..lol

So I'm reading this thread and googleing bits and bobs when I find these..

what do you think..? has anyone seen this before..?

https://archive.org/search.php?query=vises

 

[twertsy]

Ok OK... here goes

I'm Lee and I'm an addict....

Yup I've turned Vise nerd.. (I think it's a thing..?) I now own six vises of different types and have an eye on another two on ebay..lol

So I'm reading this thread and googleing bits and bobs when I find these..

what do you think..? has anyone seen this before..?

https://archive.org/search.php?query=vises

Yes, the vast majority of those cats are linked on my site.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[twertsy]

Gentlemen,
Just an FYI that I ran across an old Railroad Supply Manufacturer list from 1890 today and added a bunch of new vise manufacturers. Easiest way to find them is to look at my "Recent Updates" page on TA. Even found some previously unknown manufacturer patents thanks to researching some of the companies.

 

[twertsy]

Today's vise maker is Alexander Stivens of NYC. Ancestry and Newspapers.com have no information to offer on this gentleman, and I can only find two references to his very existence. Yet, I did find an artist's rendering of his vise and so I'll post it here. I swear I've seen an example somewhere before. Anyone?

Alex. Stiven​ - NYC (58 & 60 Vesey St.) - Listed in the 1848 edition of the Annual Report of the American Institute as receiving a silver medal for "a parallel vice." A description and picture of Stiven's vise can be found in the 5/13/1848 edition of Scientific American.

EDIT: Some more digging produces a likely 1844 British patent for a vice, described as "an improved, simple, and compound parallel vice." It appears that prior to 1844, he was a partner making all manner of tools in the company Dunn & Stivens in Salford, England. This company was dissolved ca. 1840.

THE BELOW RESEARCH LINKS ARE THANKS TO LUGZ!

In 1842 he was awarded a patent for a chuck.

https://books.google.com/books?id=C...AEIODAD#v=onepage&q=Alexander Stivens&f=false

Here's the 1844 parallel vise patent registration info

https://books.google.com/books?id=w...bAhVQmK0KHR8zCKIQ6AEIMzAC#v=onepage&q&f=false

Perhaps not atypical for machinists who spend their time inventing, in 1848 he was in Lancaster jail ("gaol") for insolvency.

https://books.google.com/books?id=Y...AEIUDAH#v=onepage&q=Alexander Stivens&f=false

He must've thought he could better across the pond.

He was advertising a patent pending epicycloidal rotary pump in the Sep 22, 1849 issue of Scientific American.

https://books.google.com/books/cont...uPyePbkCkQmHKyDFxFg&ci=513,807,222,110&edge=0

And it was listed in the 1849 Report from the Commissioner of Patents (granted Dec 4, 1849)(serial # 6297)

https://books.google.com/books?id=y...KHa6VBiUQ6AEIPTAE#v=onepage&q=Stivens&f=false

And a fuller description of it here...

https://books.google.com/books?id=9...#v=onepage&q=Alexander Stivens patent&f=false

Per Documents of the Assembly of the State of NY, Vol 74, Issue 5 (1851) he was issued a diploma for an expanding boring tool, address 58 Vesey Street in NYC

https://books.google.com/books?id=K...#v=onepage&q=Alexander Stivens patent&f=false

EDIT: Mr. Joslin, another fellow researcher, found even more links and references for Alexander Stivens and was kind enough to email them to me:

I saw your image of Stiven’s parallel vise come up in my newsfeed. I hadn’t heard that name before so I did a quick search. This 1845 article has a bigger version of the same image:
https://books.google.com/books?id=lbc5AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA150

Patents:
6,927 (1849 rotary pump patent; Display the USPTO Information for patent 6927).

At first I couldn’t find a vise patent. Turns out the little gobshite had a British patent on the vise, which he got in 1843 before he came to New York.
https://books.google.com/books?id=xFUEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA145 (Feb. 19, 2nd from the bottom of the page)
So the application date was 1843-02-19. I have entered this patent into datamp (I guesstimated the patent number, which resets at the beginning of each year):
GB-184,300,040

Also found a British patent, sealed 1841-01-13, to John Mason of Rochdale and Alexander Stiven of Manchester, for “Certain improvements in machinery or apparatus to be used in turning and boring purposes”. Based on the 1853 item mentioned below, I’d guess this patent is for a scroll screw chuck.
https://books.google.com/books?id=8CNAAAAAYAAJ&pg=400
Entered into datamp:
GB-184,100,020

American Railroad Journal for 1853-08-06 lists exhibits at the Crystal Palace in London, including "John Mason of Rocbdale has one 120 spindle Roving frame, to run 1250 turns per minute ; a 72 spindle Slubbing frame to run 800 turns per minute; also a large scroll screw chuck and an improved vice, of Stiven’s patent.”

So I would infer from the above that John Mason, of Rochdale (a suburb of Manchester, England), was manufacturing the Stiven’s patent vise. And it appears that Stiven was manufacturing his vise in New York City.

 

[wrenchguy]

Gentlemen! @#$%^!@#$%)(*&^%, please, let's stay with the opening of "Todays post".

 

[twertsy]

PVT Lugz must have some free time this morning because he sent me a bunch of info he found on Stivens. I'm editing / updating the Stivens post above.

 

[drivesitfar]

Twertsy: i'm a fan of all vises so love reading about your research. that said I tend to only buy and do my personal research on vises made from 1910 to 1960. I know a few of those companies started either by a relative or another inventor/company maybe back in the 1850's so always interested in reading more on those companies and people as i have time.

keep up the good work.

Wrench: did the boys quit talking about VISES (THIS IS A VISE HISTORY THREAD) or did you just want to hear about a certain guy/company?

 

[twertsy]

All, yet another researcher has provided me with even more information on Alexander Stivens, and I have appended it to my post above. It appears my "research-fu" was a bit off yesterday as I missed a boatload of stuff!!!

Thank you Greg and Jeff for the assist!

 

[twertsy]

Today's vise makers are Alfred and George W. Brady of NYC. I have yet to find a picture or example of their vise/vises but conclude, based on their other business focusing primarily on plumbing, it was probably an early style pipe vise.

Alfred & George W. Brady​ (A. & G. W. Brady) - New York, NY - The Annual Report of the American Institute of the City of New York of 1847 awards this company a "Diploma" for vices. They also received a diploma for vices in 1843 and 1844. In 1843 and 1844 their address was 72 Charles St., while in 1847 they are listed at 39 Green St. The pair are listed in the 1845 City Directory as "Founders."
Here is a link to the company history as laid out in Alfred Brady's obituary from 1883. Alfred Brady was born in 1817 in Sing Sing, NY. Note that this obituary claims the company was started in 1860 whereas the awards linked above provide much earlier evidence. This NYC accounting of expenditures from 1844 confirms a much earlier date for A & G. W. Brady.
From approximately 1843 the company operated as A. & G. W. Brady. In approximately 1860, the name was changed to A. & E. B. Brady. In approximately 1868, after his brothers' passing, the company operated as Alfred Brady. The location on Green Street was also sometimes referred to as the Green Street Foundry.

 

[Jeff Joslin]

Todd, other than an 1860 patent to Alfred Brady for casting iron pipe, I cannot add anything to what you found. There was an 1861 ad in the New York Tribune from A. & E. B. Brady of Greene Street for a sale on iron pipe. I couldn't figure out the name of E. B. Brady, nor did I found any other patents to these Brady Brothers. There was an Elijah Brady of New York who got an 1858 patent on a stone planing machine but I don't think he's our E. B. Brady.

 

[Miller72]

Today's entry attempts to follow the Hyde family. This entity is listed under many names, and is very difficult to follow:

Joseph Hyde & Sons
New London Vise Works
Hyde Vise Works

The first picture below is an advertisement from an 1838 Hartford, CT newspaper. The second picture is from the 1898 New London City Directory. The rest of the pics are from a recent ebay sale of a New London Vise works post leg vise.

New London, CT -
Link to an 1897 Receipt on Toolmera.com - This receipt notes that the proprietors are Joseph Hyde, Sons & Co.

See Image 1 Below where we find an advertisement from the 3/20/1838 edition of the Hartford Courant for Hyde & Sons Vices.

Based on the 1880 census, Joseph Hyde (age 54) is listed as a blacksmith, as is his son Joseph Jr. (age 31). However, Joseph Jr.'s brothers Joshua (age 29), Samuel (age 23) and George (age 14) are all listed as "Vice Makers." In the 1870 census Joseph, Joseph Jr. and Joshua are all listed as "Vice Makers."

Just when we think we've gotten somewhere, the records throw a curve. The 1884 City Directory for New London lists the following (typed below exactly as seen)
Joseph Hyde, vise maker, h Chappell
Joseph Hyde Jr., vise maker, rear of Woodbridge
Joseph Hyde Sr., vise maker, rear of Woodbridge
Joshua Hyde, vise maker, bds Chappell
Joshua Hyde, blacksmith, h Fort Neck
Joshua Hyde, vise maker, bds r Woodbridge
Samuel Hyde, vise maker, bds r Woodbridge
Samuel Hyde, galvanizer, bds 158 Bank
Samuel Hyde Jr., blacksmith, h Fort Neck
William H. Hyde, vise maker, bds Chappell

It would appear to us that we possibly have 3 distinct families/operations making vises in New London, all named Hyde, and mostly having the same names! The family records do seem to support this theory since we find numerous records but they all seem like they are different families/households.

In the 1892 New London City Directory the New London Vise Works is listed as makers of Ship Clamps.

In the 1905 New London City Directory, the following information can be found:
- Robert Chamberlain is listed as an Engineer at Joseph Hyde & Sons;
- Joseph Jr., Samuel and Joshua Hyde are listed as Proprietors of "N. L. Vise Works";
- New London Vise Works (J. Hyde & Sons) are listed as manufacturers of:
- Jack Screws
- Machinists & Machinery
- Vises

We find references to this company, albeit scarce, up to 1925. They appeared to specialize (in terms of vises) in exclusively Post Leg Vises.

Joseph Hyde's obituary confirms that, along with his father and brothers, he founded the company. Mr. Hyde passed away 5/25/1932 at the age of 81. He was an English immigrant.

We are looking into the question as to whether the vise patents of John Lee and Isaac C. Tate, or perhaps Sidney Hubbell were manufactured by this company.

Here is a price list from the December, 1890 edition of Iron Age. The Iron Age advertisement mentions Hyde's Patent Vise on multiple occasions. It's interesting to note the various styles of vises represented in this list. As far as I can tell, we've only ever had post vises come up as examples.

Here is another old advertisement for a foot operated blacksmith's vise.

We also found British Patent #1361, 5/14/1857 by William and Joshua Hyde, vice makers in Dudley, Worcester, England for "Improvements in the construction of vices."

I happen to have recently brought home a NO 60

I hope to get the No 60 cleaned up and set up for use soon.
The spring is a little weak or worn but the screw lines up and the action is smooth

Great information, thank you

 

[Cleave]

Great thread thanks for putting this together.

 

[twertsy]

Todays vise maker, although lacking in documentation and pictures, is the earliest U.S. vise maker I have found to date.

In the 1/19/1789 edition of The Vermont Gazette, there is an advertisement for a new company, The Fairhaven Iron Works of Fairhaven, VT. While this and other advertisements indicate their focus was on the production of nails, this particular publication notes they have employed a vice maker and "will have a number of blacksmith's vices finished for sale in the spring."

The name of the vice maker has not yet been located but the advertisement is by M. Lyon, who I believe is Matthew Lyon, who served as an officer in the Revolutionary War. He also appears to have moved to Kentucky ca. 1800 and was elected to the Senate in 1822. However, he passed away before ever taking his seat.

 

[wrenchguy]

great stuff, thanks 4 the effort.

 

[TailGunner3000]

Bumping for more great info.

 

[drivesitfar]

Twertsy: I hope all is well in your world. yes? any new news in your world to report email or PM me if you like or have any updates to this old thread?

 

[skmbabon]

Jumping back to the subject of a much earlier post, here's an 1830 advertisement for the "E. D. M'Cord's Patent Vice" from the Sandy Hill Vice Company.

SANDY HILL NY Red 1831 Advertisement E D M'Cord's Vice | #536561325

This is an original folded letter that was taken to the post office by the sender and mailed. ONE of the reasons it is collectible is because of the fact that the local postmaster applied postal marki

www.worthpoint.com

 

[skmbabon]

And a Hyde Vice Works No 60. 4-1/4" jaws, 43" tall, 56 pounds.

 

[Beerhippie]

Today's post will highlight multiple early New England vise (and vice) makers. Until approximately 1850, the United States used the English spelling of Vice. It's a good tidbit of information if you're researching very early American Vice/Vise makers.

I recently found several editions of "Mechanics Association" exhibitions, reviews and awards from the 1800s. If I ever get to Boston, the MA Historical Society has all of the Boston Mechanics Association event reports going back to 1795 I think, with pictures! In the meantime, we can say FOR CERTAIN that the below names and companies either manufactured or had examples made of at least one vise.

The following exhibitors - Awards are listed in the 1844 Mechanic's Exhibition in Boston, MA:
- Mark Fisher - Newport, ME - One Parallel Vice **NOTE** In 1847, Mr. Fisher and William Martin Jr. invented a method for welding cast iron to malleable iron or steel. In April of 1852, he teamed up with John H. Norris of Trenton, NJ to patent an improvement in a method of welding cast iron to steel. In 1854, the two invented a machine for polishing anvils. This team formed Fisher & Norris in 1851.
- N. S. Raymond - Utica, N. Y. - One Eccentric Vice. A convenient article for workers in wood.

The following exhibitors - Awards are listed in the 1849 Mechanic's Exhibition in Salem, MA:
- James Massey - Boston - One Anvil and 3 Blacksmith's Vices - Diploma

**NOTE** See attached 1849 Boston City Directory Advertisement

The following exhibitors - Awards are listed in the 1850 Mechanic's Exhibition in Boston:
- John Woolley - Boston - Three Bench Vices: One large Blacksmith Vice; One Finishing Vice. Well made and substantial articles, very credible to the workman.
- James Massey - Boston - Two improved vices. Well made and much improved on the common form. The shoulder of the Female Screw is so curved as to avoid the unfavorable action of a square shoulder where the jaws are widely opened. The shoulder on the Male Screw is formed in the segment of a sphere, and it bears on a corresponding surface. The action of this vice is easy and natural, and there is no tendency to bend or injure the screw or its box, when tightly screwed on large masses, as in the common form of vice. Two Anvils. - Diploma
- M. Fisher, and William Martin Jr. - Newport, ME - One Stand of Parallel Chain Vices. This article has received the highest commendation from mechanics, and is fast coming into use. It is considered in all respects a superior article, and a decided improvement over the common vice. - Silver Medal **NOTE** See above Note on Mark Fisher
- Josiah Cowles - Belchertown - A Wooden Vice. So arranged with gearing, as to keep the moveable jaw parallel with the stationary jaw. A good article. - Diploma.
- Prouty & Mears - Boston - One Vice - Silver Medal (We suspect however the medal was for various plow designs)

The following exhibitors - Awards are listed in the 1853 Mechanic's Exhibition in Boston:
- James Massey - Boston - Vises & Anvils. These appear to be good and substantial articles

The following exhibitors - Awards are listed in the 1860 Mechanic's Exhibition in Boston:
- James Massey - Boston - Improved Vises, 4 Anvils Excellent specimens, one large vise particularly well finished
- William H. Woolley - Boston - Vise, Well made wrought iron vise
- Spence & Company - Boston - Improved Bench Vise. A new modification of a parallel vise, which may answer well for small work
- A. J. Wilkinson & Company, Boston for W. T. Nicholson, Providence, R. I. - Vises, Levels, Egg Beater, etc. - Diploma **NOTE** This is likely the Clark Patent Vise highlighted in post #1 in this thread.

The following exhibitors - Awards are listed in the 1869 Mechanic's Exhibition in Boston:
- Henry M. Johnson - Boston - Vises - Well Made
- James Massey - Boston - Vises and Anvils - Well Made
- L. B. Hunt - Hyde Park - Union Vises - Well Manufactured
- F. L. Walker - Boston - 2 Cabinet Bench Vises - Diploma (At least 2 F. L. Walker patents were used on Parker Vises)
- George Stone - Boston - Parallel and Adjustable Vise - Bronze Medal
- Joseph H. Lewis - West Duxbury - Vise Patented 5/12/1869 - Diploma
- New England Vise Company - Fitchburg - Iron Vises - Good Articles

Some more information on select inventors/makers:

John Woolley - Salutation St., Boston, MA 1842 - 1879 - John Woolley is listed in the 1842 Boston City Directory as a vice maker. Mr. Woolley is listed in the 1844 "4th Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association" as having on display 4 new vices. Also listed as "Visemaker" in the Boston City Directory in 1855, 1860, 1862, 1864, 1865, 1869, 1882, 1883. William H. Woolley is listed in the 1861 & 1862 Boston City Directory as a "Visemaker." Benjamin F. Woolley is listed at 37 Salutation St. in the 1869, 1889, 1890, 1892 Boston City Directory as a "Visemaker."

Update: We found John Woolley listed as a Vice Maker in the Universal British Directory of 1793. We found record of a ship arriving in Boston Harbor in 1836 indicating this to be when John M. Woolley (22 yrs. old) arrived. In the ship's manifest he is listed as a laborer.

We only find 2 patents for John Woolley:
Patent March 16, 1831 - Edging Machine for turning the edges of tin, copper or sheet-iron
Patent #4,184 - Cooking Stove

James Massey - Plymouth St., Boston, MA 1849 - 1875 - In the 1849 Boston Directory, Mr. Massey is listed as a maker of anvils, vises and hammers. Listed as "Visemaker" in the Boston City Directory in 1870, 1880. Mr. Massey is listed in the 1850 (5th) (See Image 3 Below) and 1865 (10th) "Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association" as having on display vises and anvils.

New England Vise Company - Incorporated March 14, 1873 in West Acton, MA. They are also listed in an 1869 exhibition roll call. According to this report, the company was organized on January 25, 1868 by John Sherman Hoar in order to produce his patented "off shot" vise design. See this Acton local blog about the man and his company. Here is another link from the local blog showing a very clean example of Mr. Hoars "off shot" vise. A newspaper article from November of 1868 notes the company employs 20 men in the manufacturing of vises.
According to the Acton Historical Blog referred to above, John Sherman Hoar had two Partners in his patent, Charles Hastings and Nathaniel Cutler. Also according to the referenced blog, they sold the company to a concern in Fitchburg in 1870. This link to the Fitchburg Directory of 1878 may provide a clue as to which company took over for Hoar's patent vise production, C. S. Tolman.
According to this state report, the company was dissolved in 1892.
John Sherman Hoar Patent #55,656
Improvement / Reissue of 55,656 - Patent RE2606
John Sherman Hoar Patent #61,429
John Sherman Hoar Patent #65,081

Joseph H. Lewis -
Patent #65,097 - Vise
Patent #89,671 - Vise

....

And... here's an example of the Joseph H. Lewis 1867 Pat # 65,097:

 

[MShaw]

A bit out of sequence and off topic but Hartford also made a very rugged indexer called a Super Spacer.

 

[is9582]

I have a hefty Post Vise I picked up in 2017, and until yesterday, I could only make out New York on one jaw, but since a previous owner painted it, could not make out much more. Last night I removed the paint and saw “Hyde” on the line above New York.

My searches for further info have led me nowhere. Can anyone provide any data or leads I can follow to possibly find out about where they were and when they made vises?
Cheers
Lee

 

[RTM]

I have a hefty Post Vise I picked up in 2017, and until yesterday, I could only make out New York on one jaw, but since a previous owner painted it, could not make out much more. Last night I removed the paint and saw “Hyde” on the line above New York.

My searches for further info have led me nowhere. Can anyone provide any data or leads I can follow to possibly find out about where they were and when they made vises?
Cheers
Lee

Maybe search this thread for "Hyde"

The Vise History Thread

We have "The Vises of Garage Journal," a monumentally huge thread dedicated to those who chase down and procure all manner of vises. We have the Vise Information Thread, where folks knowledgeable on such things document model numbers, weights, jaw sizes, etc. We have the Vise Repair Thread...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[four.cycle]

from Carl's list:
7/3/2012 Hyde Sons & Co, Joseph - New London CT - see EAIA 1884 188
not New York.
from my list:
Hyde / Hyde Park Iron Works, Brooklyn, NY / auto jack / patent 2156930 May 2 1939 Eugene Wallace & patent 2274794 Mar 3 1942 Jae D. Kitchen / see Auto Specialties Mfg. Co. vs Handler Motor Supply Co. https://www.leagle.com/decision/1954695122fsupp5731558 /


A-Z List: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...YI7UKRpUd3aheAE86KBQRBGb9s/edit#gid=666157805

and finally:

VISE: https://www.vintagevises.com/library/brands

https://www.vintagevises.com/library/ /

 

[is9582]

Maybe search this thread for "Hyde"

The Vise History Thread

We have "The Vises of Garage Journal," a monumentally huge thread dedicated to those who chase down and procure all manner of vises. We have the Vise Information Thread, where folks knowledgeable on such things document model numbers, weights, jaw sizes, etc. We have the Vise Repair Thread...

www.garagejournal.com

Thanks RTM. I did miss some of the “Hyde” info in page one; not sure how I glanced right over it. I’m wondering now if the family Hyde from CT had someone more ventilation NY, or if another Hyde. Very similar attributes comparing my vise to some in the photos.

@four.cycle thanks for the links. I’ll check them out!

Lee