Question on 52.5 Record Vice

[texasruan]

Hi there, I acquired one of these over the weekend. Interesting story behind mine is that they were widely used in schools earlier and many of them got thrown out at some point to be replaced with newer types - that we of course all know are not nearly of the same quality..

Anyways, I have the end-bracket but the shaft of the main screw is not drilled, I have seen on many of them the shaft has a hole with a roll pin through it to retain the washer. I can work something like that out, I am more curious as to how this one would have operated - what kept the washer / end-bracket in place? If someone has pic of the original arrangement it would be nice. I attach a pic of my, as I say, clean and un-drilled shaft.

 

[RogerP]

How strange. I've had/done up many 52 1/2 vices over the years but never come across this before.

Could if be a special school edition designed to fall on a pupil's foot if they messed about and unwound it too much?

 

[texasruan]

It is interesting yes Roger, correct me if I'm wrong: it needs a fairly sturdy retainer there and it's only removed to strip the vice for cleaning etc?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I don't think they were designed to be removed, certainly not easily. I knocked one through to get better access to the other parts for cleaning and replaced it with a cotter pin.

 

[Bod]

Has the pin been sheared off?
Leaving part still in the hole, bit of rust and dirt over time would camouflage any colour difference.

Bod

 

[bugbear]

Has the pin been sheared off?
Leaving part still in the hole, bit of rust and dirt over time would camouflage any colour difference.

Bod

Agreed - a good wire brushing of the end of the screw is called for.

If there really is no pin, there (must have) been some other arrangement for opening; some Record
metal work vices have a pin (and washer, and spring) on the screw just in front of the moving jaw.

BugBear

 

[texasruan]

I'm going to scrub that screw and report back, thanks!

 

[texasruan]

Well happy ending to this, when I cleaned it up the pin became just visible and I got it out with a punch. There was no indication of this beforehand, not even a bulge - the shaft was perfectly round. You learn something every day, thanks guys this forum is great!