Show us your bench vice(s)

[dannysheff]

That's very interesting, in all the images etc i've been pouring over looking at Vices, I don't recall seeing an Iron Fortis, i just assumed they were all steel.

me too, but there it is -- maybe it was 'all change' after a buyout in later years

like Record's brand Leader for steel fabricated vices and some large tools, but I have a small cast iron vice -- branded 'Leader'

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Just been going back through this thread.

Cool image !

Is CwazyWabbit able to say what sizes these are, as i'm curious to know if they're all the same no'.

Cheers

I believe the bottom is a number 8 and the rest are number 7's

 

[Vono]

I believe the bottom is a number 8 and the rest are number 7's

Cool, ta for the info'

 

[Vono]

Herbert Ajax Fortis Coventry 1917

Looking at a Herbert catalogue I see Ajax, Fortis and Parkinsons vices all are listed as 'factored' ie not made in-house.

Things might have changed later, but this means that Herbert considered both the Fortis and the Ajax to be not their own product (I had always thought Ajax was their brand, even if the castings were made elsewhere). The Ajax (sizes 1-8) is listed as a 'steel casting' and the Fortis (1-6) has 'Iron' clearly cast in to the side, both are quick release of the Parkinson patented type.

So can you tell me what company(/ies?) made the Ajax and Fortis -- Coventry, I believe, or?

Hello Danny

I don't suppose there's any chance of you posting a scan of the vices in that catalogue is there? Not just the Fortis but the Parkinsons too? It sounds interesting.

If it's a real pain to do no problem don't worry about it

Cheers

 

[dannysheff]

Here's the pages with bench vices from the 1917 Herbert of Coventry catalogue the intro explains that if the page is headed 'Factored' then these are not made by the company.

Quite different to the later Herbert catalogue on rabbit's cloud pages - both the Ajax and Fortis are to the Parkinson's QR design overall shape and the woodwork one is a Parky as, is the one on the stand --- by the way, I lucked on one of these vice stands (just the same as this but no handle) which has no maker mark but I have now seen it in two catalogues with Parkinsons vices so assume it is a Parky - perfect for my really big one (a no. 9, but not the largest listed 9a or the near mythical 10 that an American collector has).

I like the offer in the text to send a sample for inspection - I'll have a no6 Fortis with swivel base and stand to try out please.

this is my catalogue and I give anyone permission to copy or upload

 

[Vono]

That's brill, thanks very much for posting the pics
That Fortis is most definitely IRON, odd i've not seen an example anywhere, nice to know they're out there.
The vice stands are fabulous things well done for getting one,it's a great idea. I'd like one but I wouldn't fancy trying to shift it/ get it into our tiny car.
The offer to send a sample for inspection is just so cool, nobody would do that now.
A Parkinson No10.. really !? Wow i've never heard of or seen that beast, is it listed anywhere? I've looked through CwazyWabbit's B&H catalogues but haven't seen it. Flipping heck having spent the afternoon moving my No8 (i'm fixing it to the bench), I wouldn't fancy my chances of moving a No10 ! What the heck does one of those weigh ???

 

[Arc Tourist]

I only have 2 record vices, but here's something for you diehard vice collectors. I just saw this Cast Iron advertising Shop Display Sign on the bay of evil. 14" high by 10" wide. The bid ends in about 3 1/2 hours. Here is a screen shot. Item # 2338 2553 7726 (It didn't show up under the usual listings.)
Disclaimer, not related to me.

 

[dannysheff]

That's brill, thanks very much for posting the pics

A Parkinson No10.. really !? Wow i've never heard of or seen that beast, is it listed anywhere? I've looked through CwazyWabbit's B&H catalogues but haven't seen it. Flipping heck having spent the afternoon moving my No8 (i'm fixing it to the bench), I wouldn't fancy my chances of moving a No10 ! What the heck does one of those weigh ???

It's just me calling it a 10 or maybe 10a, but if you look on the US garagejournal website at the 'vises of garage journal' thread - on p 4094 the correspondent 'Vise' shows the 276lbs, 8 3/4in wide jaw vise he just shipped from this country. It doesn't have the usual cast-in markings, but I'd agree with Vise that it's a very early Parky Perfect (F type. mark 1, with the two casting static - mark 2 having the one part and mark 3 having the jaws bolted from behind - again, just my designation -- plus further sub-types with wording variants?).

I had to pump iron for days before lifting my no9 and as for the vice stand (2 cwt - remember them?)------- each carried in my poor old skoda fab

Vise must love 'our' Parkys - good for him

Get posting folks - we've got a way to go for 4000+ pages

 

[Vono]

Hello

That's great ta for that i'll have a look over on there.

2 cwt, flipping heck I reckon our little KIA would snap in half if I put that in it

It's good that the big Parky has gone to somebody who really appreciates it, he must really have wanted it to go to all that effort (i'm assuming he's in the U.S.), must have cost a fortune to get it there.

Yep we definitely need 4000+ pages of Vices on here, i'm all for that

 

[Milkybars]

I only have 2 record vices, but here's something for you diehard vice collectors. I just saw this Cast Iron advertising Shop Display Sign on the bay of evil. 14" high by 10" wide. The bid ends in about 3 1/2 hours. Here is a screen shot. Item # 2338 2553 7726 (It didn't show up under the usual listings.)
Disclaimer, not related to me.View attachment 266405

Quite a nice sign ..it went for £156 !!

 

[Arc Tourist]

…………………….. Yep we definitely need 4000+ pages of Vices on here, i'm all for that

Here's a 1 Post contribution to getting there. Did anyone here win the bid on the cast iron advertising sign for Record vices ?

 

[Arc Tourist]

Quite a nice sign ..it went for £156 !!

Nice indeed. It would be icing on the cake for a serious collector.

 

[Slowcoach]

Got this a while ago. Needs a bit of work and the leadscrew just clicks when undoing. I’ll give it a clean and see how it is.

 

[dannysheff]

Fine -- 1st gen Parkinson perfect (2 casting static) in pieces?

got everything?

 

[Slowcoach]

Fine -- 1st gen Parkinson perfect (2 casting static) in pieces?

got everything?

Yep.

Hopefully got everything, be a sod if not.

 

[Vono]

That looks cool.

Any chance of any more pic's, what size/no is it ?

 

[dannysheff]

in today's FT -- as Sabina Kormylo here will doubtless testify, every good hurdy-gurdy maker needs at minimum a Record Auto 74 another vice and a carving clamp/vice and that's only one end of the bench - nice workshop ma'am craftswoman, and fantastic h-g making.

picture credit from today's papers to Francesca jones - no commercial use, please

happy new year

 

[redlig]

My 2nd favorite vice .

 

[MattF]

Got this a while ago. Needs a bit of work and the leadscrew just clicks when undoing. I’ll give it a clean and see how it is.

View attachment 266869

That's usually just due to lack of tension on the spring.

 

[dannysheff]

My 2nd favorite vice .

nice - dovetailed ways etc - german? - tiny?

and your 1st?