Old leg vise buy at auction.

[jrkorman]

One of the Antique stores in the area was up for auction yesterday so of course spent most of the day there. Didn't get too much but did get this old vise for $20. Got it out today and started taking it apart to see where to start and what might be needing repair, replacement.

Here I've got the screw and handle out. The pin holding the movable jaw was held in with a wedge. But that came out fairly well using a light hammer and punch.


Taking my time (and making sure I didn't lose anything in the grass) I finally got the whole thing apart and could start looking everything over.
After cleaning the screw I found little or no wear; it has a square thread. With so little wear I'm wondering if it is original. There are no cracks
but are quite a number of hammer marks over the top around the jaws as I would expect.


If anyone has seen one similar to this I'd be greatful for any information. Seems like all the important parts are there but just doesn't seem to match up with very many I've found online in several searches. In any case, for the money, it'll keep me busy for a while.

 

[RJSakowski]

One of the Antique stores in the area was up for auction yesterday so of course spent most of the day there. Didn't get too much but did get this old vise for $20. Got it out today and started taking it apart to see where to start and what might be needing repair, replacement.
View attachment 298411
Here I've got the screw and handle out. The pin holding the movable jaw was held in with a wedge. But that came out fairly well using a light hammer and punch.
View attachment 298412

Taking my time (and making sure I didn't lose anything in the grass) I finally got the whole thing apart and could start looking everything over.
After cleaning the screw I found little or no wear; it has a square thread. With so little wear I'm wondering if it is original. There are no cracks
but are quite a number of hammer marks over the top around the jaws as I would expect.
View attachment 298413

If anyone has seen one similar to this I'd be greatful for any information. Seems like all the important parts are there but just doesn't seem to match up with very many I've found online in several searches. In any case, for the money, it'll keep me busy for a while.

This is a great deal for $20. From what I have seen, they start at around $1/lb. and go up from there. I looked at the four leg vises that I have and none are identical to yours but are very similar. The mounting bracket is normally curved on both sides. It looks like someone reworked the left side to fit in a tight space. The assembly with the long bolts in the lower right of the photo was probably used to hold the vise to the bench. What I don't see in your photos is the nut for the screw. This would be a tubular part with a key to prevent rotation and a boss on the end. It fits inside the eye on the fixed jaw.

It is possible to make one. I have seen it done by wrapping the appropriate square stock around the screw to make the thread and welding strips across the threads formed. It also could be cut on a lathe of course. It will be a bit of work to make the nut but you will find the vise is a very handy addition to your shop. They were designed to take a beating. The leg gives you great leverage for bending either hot or cold.

 

[pdentrem]

Sold ours for $75.

 

[jrkorman]

... What I don't see in your photos is the nut for the screw. This would be a tubular part with a key to prevent rotation and a boss on the end. It fits inside the eye on the fixed jaw.

The nut that came with it is sitting at the "top" end of the screw in the picture and it fits the screw with very little play. The "nut/collar" that is sitting to the right of the screw in the picture appears to have had threads at one time, but nothing left now but a faint trace of where they may have been.

Your observation about the mounting bracket is probably correct as it does show signs of being straightened with heat and a hammer.

The only identification I can find anywhere on the vise is "No 60" stamped on the fixed jaw which are 4-1/2"

Thanks for the reply!

 

[RJSakowski]

The nut that came with it is sitting at the "top" end of the screw in the picture and it fits the screw with very little play. The "nut/collar" that is sitting to the right of the screw in the picture appears to have had threads at one time, but nothing left now but a faint trace of where they may have been.
View attachment 298448
Your observation about the mounting bracket is probably correct as it does show signs of being straightened with heat and a hammer.

The only identification I can find anywhere on the vise is "No 60" stamped on the fixed jaw which are 4-1/2"

Thanks for the reply!

I wasn't able to make out the nut in your original photo. The whole screw assembly is unusual for a leg vise. The hex cap on the end of the handle would have been a ball and the screw is usually terminated in a ball shaped boss. It looks like the original ball may have failed and was replaced by a pipe tee. Some modification would have been done where the screw is inserted and if you look closely, you will probably see evidence of welding. The nut, commonly called the box, is also different. I think that your observation that the screw was replaced is correct. The screw assembly was most likely fabricated from a different tool, maybe a woodworker's vise. The vise will probably be OK as is but if you google leg vise, you will get a good idea as to what the original configuration was.
The 60 may well refer to the weight of the vise. The Sears & Roebuck Tools Machinery Blacksmiths Supplies catalog, c.a. 1915 shows a 60 lb. 5" vise. The price then was $5.05.

 

[jrkorman]

The 60 may well refer to the weight of the vise. The Sears & Roebuck Tools Machinery Blacksmiths Supplies catalog, c.a. 1915 shows a 60 lb. 5" vise. The price then was $5.05.

I've got a catalog "Zork Hardware Co; 1950" that lists its Blacksmith's vises with the number being the weight also.

Anyway, for $20, this vise will keep me busy for a while.