Evolution of the Record 52 1/2 quick release vice

[dannyr]

Here goes, nabs, three pix, I have more, from when building the bench last year.


I actually think the Syers may be the simplest version of QR - I forget the sequence - could the other patents have been to get round this one? - there is a long fixed rack and the axially rotating bar operated by the lever has a segment of multi-start helicoid thread affixed.
Thus the moving jaw on this bar moves freely back and forth if the lever is vertical (say, this free position can be chosen by a fixing screw) until in clamping position, then rotate clockwise to engage at about 30deg and good pressure by say 60-90deg. This works very well for clamping wood. Something very squashy might compress so much that you'd overshoot and release, likewise trying to use the vice to say, slowly force in an oak dowel over a long distance of travel - I just use it for holding wood or tools and it works very well. It all seems well machined (the slideways aren't to the kind of fine tolerance some US piano-makers metal (non-QR) bench vices seem to have been in the 19thC, but they are long and solid).
two more pix coming
rgds
danny

 

[dannyr]

that was the rack - here's pic two the moving jaw assy

 

[dannyr]

and pic 3 has the two together - no loose nut (unless all is completely disassembled) to get lost over the century and a half (nearly)

let me know if it's not clear -I'm not going to take it all to pieces until needed, but I have a couple of other pix.

hope this adds to the knowledge
danny

 

[nabs]

many thanks for the clear explanation and pictures Danny - I get it now! Would you mind if I used the photos on my blog about the history of QR vices?

 

[dannyr]

absolutely fine by me - your blog is VG
danny

 

[dannyr]

Alert - anyone there live near Colchester?

there's an Entwhistle and Kenyon for sale on eB at a good price - collection only

I'm only telling you so I don't have to drive across the country to get it

on the other hand I should really visit my aunt there

to self --- no stop stop - you already have enough fine C19th vices

but it's a Lightening

please someone else buy

danny -- Sheffield

 

[AndyT]

Here's a belated footnote to this story - Vices of the rich and famous!

I spotted this high grade lump of cast iron recently:

It was attached to this bench:

It belonged to the sculptor, Barbara Hepworth, and is on display in the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield.

Here she is, next to the bench and its Perfect vice, showing the sort of work possible if you have one!

Clearly, it's the one we all need.

 

[dannyr]

great - and a great museum
I'm not so keen on the pieces with 'harp-strings' or too much white paint, but some of Hepworth's purely abstract wood shapes are some of my favourite wooden constructs
(only with a Parky's Perfect, eh?)
Danny

 

[Trevanion]

Also goes to show you don't need the absolute most overkill, built to park a tank on it, Roubo workbench in the world outfitted with Moxon vices, leg vices, dog holes and not a single scratch on it, to produce great work.

Look at that thing! One parky vice, riddled with holes, saw cuts, hammer marks, the top is all out of whack and not flat and is very simply made with no extreme joinery involved. Most hipster woodworkers would look at in disgust and see it only fit for the fire!

 

[mwr]

Hello gents. I have an otherwise very nice circa 1950s Record 53 vice which is missing the end bracket, which locates the tail ends of the rods and screw. It would be easy enough to make something, but ideally I could find the original cast iron part. Unfortunately down here (NZ) they aren't as plentiful as in the UK. Does anyone specialise in old spares for something like this?

Thank you

 

[dannyr]

Looking back at this excellent thread (thanks for all the work NABS and others) there is an agreement here that 'of course' a pair of steel rods/bars was the way to go after about 1920 - much sturdier than cast iron etc etc.

Now I know that woodworking vices open further than most metalworking types, so have greater leverage force. However metalwork bench vices of all sizes, including those by Record et al, which surely take more hammer, largely have a cast slide moving in a cast way (and yes they do fail at this point).

Further - the bars have a definite weak point where they meet the casting. Even the classic period Records much loved here (fixable unless the casting cracks).

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[dannyr]

As you may guess, been re-reading this thread - it's great on the history of QR woodworking vices (but there's more to be discovered).

Is it time to look at the history of non-QR vices? Before Parkys etc? Obviously woodworkers used blacksmith-type vices and wooden vices (first with a wooden screw then a metal acme thread) but I believe there were some early English cast iron non-QR predecessors to Woden and Record. I like my Syers and Parky QRs, and like a large ww vice (8ins plus) but QRs do need a clean and the spring can break. A fully 'manual' acme screw is awfully tough.

Time for a new thread?

 

[Vann]

...A fully 'manual' acme screw is awfully tough.

Time for a new thread?

No pun intended?

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It is the acme of puns.


I'll get my coat ...

 

[Badol]

Hi from New Zealand.
I've just picked up this vice and was wondering if anyone could help with more information about it... I can find references to other Woden vices but not the 189 c/1
Thanks very much

 

[dannyr]

Woden, like Record, adopted the Parkinson 'Perfect' style of quick release when it went out of patent in the early years of the 20th century and applied it to many bench vices and woodworking vices. However, unlike Record, there seems to have been a feeling in the Woden works that another form of quick release would be advantageous.

Without doing any double check to verify details, this one was a variant of the rack and cam/pinion QRs patented for the Syers and the Entwistle and Kenyon w-w vices of the 1870s, also licensed to US companie(s), I believe it was made for a very short while in the 1930s. Then in the 1950s/60s they had further short-lived No. 120 and 130 and X130 vices in the usual sizes this time with a 'wind back' QR (different to your 'hold vertical then 90deg to clamp).

Unlike the 19th cent vices all the Woden w-w vices except for a scarce first model, used twin bars in place of the machined slides.

good find -- I have a Syers from about 1880-- been using it this afternoon with grandson.

 

[Badol]

Woden, like Record, adopted the Parkinson 'Perfect' style of quick release when it went out of patent in the early years of the 20th century and applied it to many bench vices and woodworking vices. However, unlike Record, there seems to have been a feeling in the Woden works that another form of quick release would be advantageous.

Without doing any double check to verify details, this one was a variant of the rack and cam/pinion QRs patented for the Syers and the Entwistle and Kenyon w-w vices of the 1870s, also licensed to US companie(s), I believe it was made for a very short while in the 1930s. Then in the 1950s/60s they had further short-lived No. 120 and 130 and X130 vices in the usual sizes this time with a 'wind back' QR (different to your 'hold vertical then 90deg to clamp).

Unlike the 19th cent vices all the Woden w-w vices except for a scarce first model, used twin bars in place of the machine slides.

good find -- I have a Syers from about 1880-- been using it this afternoon with grandson.

Thanks so much for the history, that's very interesting. Hunting the shop in the label, I think it closed in about 1940 so your dating of the 1930's would fit nicely. I'll give it a clean (I like the battered look and the 'story' in the paint splashes etc so won't repaint), it seems to work OK but jams sometimes... but I think cleaning, oiling and mounting properly will help. Thanks again. Cheers

 

[Badol]

Would any of you have an idea of what's missing from this? the end plate (if that's what it's called) moves and the mechanism jams - I'm guessing whatever should be here is the cause. Thanks once again.

 

[toolsntat]

Would any of you have an idea of what's missing from this? the end plate (if that's what it's called) moves and the mechanism jams - I'm guessing whatever should be here is the cause. Thanks once again.

The bars section seems to be overshooting the casting. Are you saying it's jamming as you try to open from this position?
Could this be because it's being closed up too far without timbers fitted on the jaw faces?
As for the threaded hole, it looks a bit recent and in a position liable to cause weakness in the casting, perhaps it's not original to the design.
Do I see some broken casting on the end of the slides? Is this an issue?
Cheers Andy

 

[Chisteve]

Interesting thread I have a parkinson vice picked it up at a farm sale around 30 years ago have to say it’s a good piece of kit