blackoak Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I picked this vise up at a local auction. It is a very quality built vise. It has Wilton quality. The only marking is what is in the picture which looks like a backwards F and a normal facing P. This vise is unlike any I have seen or used . The back jaws are the ones that move in and out unlike most vises where the front jaws move. Has anybody ever seen this marking on anything. I have did some research , but have came up with nothing. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstermetal Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 All I know is I want it.... That is a very cool unit.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 That looks like a "Ooh giveme giveme" Vice, real nice :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhblacksmith Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 FP, isn't that Fisher Price? Seriously though, looks like this was made by a Polish company. I have copied part of a discussion from Practical Machinist.com below. The original discussion can be found at http://www.practical...il-vise-200007/ FPU is the Polish company that makes Bison chucks. Around 1970, there was a discount department store here that sold several sizes of those Polish vises. I believe they are copied from a design I associate with Leinen and G. Boley in Germany. Tony mentions the vise in his pages and says Leinen invented it. The G. Boley vises with 1.75" jaws were very popular with watch repairmen and copies were made by other makers. On the Bison website, the company name in Polish has the initials FPU, and some pre-Bison brand chucks have the FPU trademark stamped on them.http://www.bison-bial.pl/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I have seen that shape many times before. Most of them are forged steel. If that one is indeed forged steel it should last a vary long time! And if it is forged steel then it is much much nicer than a Wilton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackoak Posted June 22, 2011 Author Share Posted June 22, 2011 FP, isn't that Fisher Price? Seriously though, looks like this was made by a Polish company. I have copied part of a discussion from Practical Machinist.com below. The original discussion can be found at http://www.practical...il-vise-200007/ FPU is the Polish company that makes Bison chucks. Around 1970, there was a discount department store here that sold several sizes of those Polish vises. I believe they are copied from a design I associate with Leinen and G. Boley in Germany. Tony mentions the vise in his pages and says Leinen invented it. The G. Boley vises with 1.75" jaws were very popular with watch repairmen and copies were made by other makers. On the Bison website, the company name in Polish has the initials FPU, and some pre-Bison brand chucks have the FPU trademark stamped on them.http://www.bison-bial.pl/ Thank you for this information. I believe you are spot on correct about this, This vise does slide on dove tails and has 3 tension adjustment bolts with locking nuts. It is one of the tightest yet smoothest operating vise I have ever seen. I have 3 bullet style Wiltons that I thought were smooth but this vise I believe is tops them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackoak Posted June 22, 2011 Author Share Posted June 22, 2011 I have seen that shape many times before. Most of them are forged steel. If that one is indeed forged steel it should last a vary long time! And if it is forged steel then it is much much nicer than a Wilton. It does appear to be forged and not cast. I'm going to remove the paint tomorrow and check it out closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackoak Posted June 22, 2011 Author Share Posted June 22, 2011 I also got this Erie PA vise at the same auction. It is in fine condition after I cleaned it up. It is a solid vise built I believe in the late 1940's from what I have found searching the net. It is a shame that the USA is not producing the quality tools it once produced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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