Help identifying a workmate (not a man!!)

[gerrymoore]

I inherited this B & D Dual Height Professional workmate from my late father-in-law. It now needs new wooden 'jaws' but I can't find this model anywhere? It is unusual in the the jaws are held from below where all the jaws I can find are screwed from above. There is no model number to be seen anywhere. Have any of you got the same model as I want to order the new parts asap.... see photos....thanks Gerry

 

[skotl]

Any reason you wouldn't just make them yourself? The wood looks good enough to use as a template.

 

[Seadog]

WM 325 I think. I sold one for a friend several years ago.

 

[Cobbler]

I have one of thos, exactly the same. I inherited it from my father as well. No idea of a model number, but I know it was the original one B & D sold, must be at least 40 years old now. I’ll have a look to see if there any numbers on it in a while, not hopeful though.

 

[gerrymoore]

Can't really be bothered making new ones..I did make some for my smaller workmate but these wouldn't be as easy. WM325 isn't listed on the spares sites (might be why I can't find it!!) I'll ring the Liverpool spares tomorrow. Cobbler - great if you can find a number ..... if not I'll have your jaws Thanks as usual for the quick answers guys....

 

[gerrymoore]

Seadog .. they are WM325 ...thanks for that. New jaws on EBAY are £91.00 so I will probably make my own new ones....anyone got any very thick ply offcuts

 

[Agroshield]

WM 325 I think. I sold one for a friend several years ago.

If it is a WM325, jaws here (sit down before clicking on link): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114408116720

Used ones here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Birch-jaws-off-Black-and-Decker-Workmate-Wm325-original-part/333934796641

 

[octo0072000]

that looks like the original workmate as it's cast, all the others are pressed steel i made jaws out of 3x2 hard wood for mine
much better than the original skinny ones mine must be not far off 35 years old dual height but steel

 

[Cobbler]

Just been out & had a look Jerry, there is a number on the board that you can stand on to stabilise it, at least I think that’s what it’s for. Unfortunately it was smudged when put on & unreadable, see the photo. Sorry I can’t help, but it looks like you already have the info.

 

[gerrymoore]

Thanks cobbler...yes pretty sure it's a WM325 ...weighing up options ...the 2nd hand pair on EBAY are very local so I'll keep an eye on them ....

 

[Barking Mat]

Those are the better workmates, I had one but it disappeared sadly.

 

[brightspark]

if you havent the thickness plywood just cut 2 pieces of 3 quarter and glue em together . laminate

 

[Anguz]

Alloy legs makes it 40ish years old.... had one before i left school in 82

 

[4String.]

Typical .

I inherited an identical one from my late FIL that I binned a couple of weeks ago...

 

[Arc Tourist]

I've got one of the Workmate's with the alloy frame which is in pretty good condition. Will have a look tomorrow to see if there is a model number on it.

 

[mart]

Does it match either of these two vintage ones?

Vintage Duel Height Proffesional Black & Decker Workmate for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Vintage Duel Height Proffesional Black & Decker Workmate. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Wedg1e]

I read, or was told, that the guy who came up with the idea of the workmate approached B&D who asked him if he'd patented it and when he said no, they promptly did their own design and had it patented - he got nothing.
I have a 550, one of the later, folded-tin versions, but for most of what I need a folding table to do it was never that beefy, so I made my own, from scrap plywood and 1" square tubing.

 

[badabec]

Ron Hickman, the inventor, got 50p commission on each one sold, they sold 30 million of them. This from Wikipedia

 

[gerrymoore]

Thanks for all the interest guys......I'm sure it's the WM325 but must be slightly later as it has an alloy step rather than (apparently) the original wooden step. I've got eyes on a 2nd hand pair of jaws but if that falls through I'm going to make new jaws from some scaffold board I have. Mainly use this as a portable 'table' not as a vice so all the holes in the top are unnecessary to me. Thanks again...Gerry

 

[Shox Dr]

My mates dad had one of those, it looks brand new. Ive been trying to get it off him for he last 40yrs Its still bright blue, not a speck of paint or drill hole on it