Vice Identification

[Windy Miller]

i 'rescued' this old thing from the local tip today.

It has quite small jaws (3.5"), but opens up to a surprising 7". Obviously a little rusty, and the only signs that it's ever been used is the bent Tommy bar and a few light chisel marks on the anvil. The jaws look virtually new! No makers marks on it that I can see at the moment, but maybe something will be revealed once I give it a clean up.

No idea what it's made of, but it's very heavy.

Anyone have any ideas what it might be or its age perhaps?

It all seems to work ok, just a little heavy on the lead screw, but I would think it just wants cleaning and lubricating. A bit of fresh grease will have it working as good as new I'm sure.

if I can get the ends off the Tommy bar, I'll pop it in the forge for a few minutes and straighten it out. Can't stand a bent one!

I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet. I certainly don't need any more vices, but I just couldn't bear to leave it there at the tip. Does it have any value?

 

[tflnemesis]

Looks a solid little vice.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

The Tommy bar ends are normally brazed on. When you clean it up you will see one end with have a blob of brass.
Nip that off and straighten.

 

[Screwdriver]

Nice looking vice. Electrolysis or even a bath in vinegar will sort out the rust. I generally straighten my handles just by taking the lead screw assembly out. Then just dink it straight on the flypress, cold.

Surprisingly, even the twistiest looking handles generally only have two bends in them. Seen that several times now.

 

[Windy Miller]

Nice looking vice. Electrolysis or even a bath in vinegar will sort out the rust. I generally straighten my handles just by taking the lead screw assembly out. Then just dink it straight on the flypress, cold.

Surprisingly, even the twistiest looking handles generally only have two bends in them. Seen that several times now.

That's a good shout actually - I might try that way myself. Oh wait - I've not got a handle for the flypress yet! Might stick this under the bench for a while then. The flypress handle is on the cards within a couple of months, so I'll probably hang on till then.