August 12, 20223 yr Just wanting some info on clues to when the vises were made. For instance i know that at one time the mounting bracket was held on with a tennon rather than a wedge and collar early on. Not looking for exact date just round about period dates. Like for instance around about when did they go from a rivet holding the movable jaw to a bolt? I am trying to get a round about date for my vise. It has a rivet while most i see have a bolt and you can see hammer marks on the components, uneven bevels, etc., so it definitely had some hand forging done to it when made. Thanks in advance for round about answers. I did do a search for the topic but could not find any thread on it, so if this is a repeat just directions to what i am wondering would be plenty. Think i will say "round about" 1 more time.
August 12, 20223 yr sounds pretty kinky to me, but hey,,, what do I know,,, 1 hour ago, BillyBones said: when did they go from a rivet holding the movable jaw to a bolt? When the rivet wore out?
August 13, 20223 yr I don't recall seeing one riveted; but I've seen and owned several that had a mortise and a wedge. Unfortunately the fellow out here who knew the most about vises was Frank Turley and he died in 2020. (Dated one of mine with a tenon mount and mortise and wedge holding the pivot pin in place as being "pre-1800". Not a bad deal for US$20 at Quad-State one year.)
August 13, 20223 yr One of my post vises has that wedged pivot pin for the movable jaw and I got to looking at it and the body the yesterday when the sun was beeming on it and it looked like that vise was forged welded together using smaller strips to build up the body, i took some pictures but they aren’t great, I’ll have to clean it off and get some better pictures of the lines
August 13, 20223 yr As wrought iron bar stock was made by forge welding pieces together it could also just be the original welds in the merchant bar or higher grade WI too.
August 13, 20223 yr Author A pic of the rivet and you can see how un even the bevels are on the side plate. I ought to clean some of that junk out. On the leg side right above the plate was what i thought was a stamp until i scraped it off.
August 14, 20223 yr I checked one of my post vices yesterday and the rivet had a hole thru the other end of the shaft for a cotter key. Necessity is the mother of
August 14, 20223 yr The pivot in my older Columbian is a pin with a small wedge in the end. Frosty The Lucky.
August 15, 20223 yr I had a joke to follow that one Randy, but no matter how I’d word it I’d get a call from Glenn! Lol
August 15, 20223 yr It wouldn't have anything to do with the threads would it Billy? Frosty The Lucky.
August 16, 20223 yr I can't believe you wrote THAT! Wash your fingers out with soap! Frosty The Lucky.
August 17, 20223 yr Good decision. Go blow a Frosty razzberry on Max's tummy for me please. Nothing like a laughing child to cheer me up. Frosty The Lucky.
August 18, 20223 yr Randy started it! Lol sorry BillyBones, I know my big Trenton post vise is dated 1902, it looks to be barely used and in original condition, and it has the nut and bolt on the pivot, but it also has all the fancy looking bevels on the plates and body, The Peter wrights I’ve seen had bevels on the bodies, but I never paid attention to the pivot pins, fisher just went off on their own design lol all The Arthur O Learys, Columbians, keen cutters, iron city’s and Indian chiefs I’ve had or seen aren’t dated but they didn’t put the bevels on the body’s, and they all used nuts an bolts on the pivots, I know Columbian made various vises all the way up till the 1980s? Till they sold out to Wilton, but I’m not sure when they stopped making post vises I’m sure that probably stopped in the 60s or 70s when smithing tool sales disappeared, so I’m guessing that any post vise that has the wedged pivot pen an decorative bevels has got to be mid to late 1800s, but I don’t know what would identify a post vise made in the 1700s to early 1800S
August 18, 20223 yr 13 hours ago, BillyBones said: Well... this took a weird turn. PLEASE tell me your dog's name isn't Max! Frosty The Lucky.
August 18, 20223 yr The mount being tenoned in is a sign of an earlier vise as is the screwbox being assembled from multiple pieces and forge brazed together---including the screw thread in it!
August 23, 20223 yr This title give me chuckle I can imagine someone siting across table and having some drink with post vise
August 23, 20223 yr What would people think if you drove it around town in a convertable with the top down?
August 23, 20223 yr Anybody who knows me would be more surprised I was driving a convertible. Yeah, the thread subject made a lot of us smile Nat. I'm having to practice restraint myself. Is it dressed up Scott? Wearing lipstick at least I hope! Frosty The Lucky.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.