Thread: Old engineering vice

Hi Bob,

Firstly, I have now idea how it works either but what I might guess at is that the plates you point to might be just a retro fit to hold the half nut up in position since the release arm is missing.

I would have thought that there would be a sleeve for the release arm to rotate in attached to the poit where the screw is, (similar to the front) and a spring in the system to hold the rod twisted clockwise, which holds the half nut up in position.

So I think there is some hardware missing from the back end.

OK. That was all stating the obvious and was no help at all, sorry.

Cheers
Pops

If it's the same Parkinson, they made power hacksaws and 9" lathe like the Hercus . I believe the factory was in Highett, Melbourne . But that vise may be from a previous time. There was also a Park & Son engineering firm, don't know how it relates to this . http://www.lathes.co.uk/parkanson/ I am not sure about the info on that site ????Mike

Parkinson Perfect Vise? I have one of their woodworking vises. Seems fine, though I'm yet to rehab it ad set it up.
I think (and it might even be true, but I haven't cheked it ) Parkinson were taken over by Record, which might explain the QR Record engineering vises.

just taking a stab in the dark here Bob but, kind of looks to me the the fourth photo that the ring lines up with the component in question. could it be a guide for a lever of some description?

Originally Posted by seanz

Parkinson Perfect Vise? I have one of their woodworking vises. Seems fine, though I'm yet to rehab it ad set it up.
I think (and it might even be true, but I haven't cheked it ) Parkinson were taken over by Record, which might explain the QR Record engineering vises.

Hi Seanz, does your vice have a QR?

Originally Posted by kraits

just taking a stab in the dark here Bob but, kind of looks to me the the fourth photo that the ring lines up with the component in question. could it be a guide for a lever of some description?

yep I agree, the circular eyelet near the handle is 1/2" and has a grub screw hole in it probably to hold the lever in place

Hi Seanz, does your vice have a QR?

Certainly does. Looks very similar to the Record system on my other woodwork vises but I didn't drag the vises out from where I had them stored for a proper look. What you really need is someone with a Record QR engineering vise to chime in.

BobL,

My guess would be a bar with a handle on one end and a flat tang to go between the plates at the "working" end. When you move the lever it seperates the plates and (dis)engages the half nut.

Made a quick drawing which may, or may not, help. Obviously, insert dimensions to suit requirement.

Attachment 184909

Cheers,
RossA

Hi everyone, I picked one of these exact vices up yesterday from a friend who had it laying in his garage, it was looking very sorry for itself and I was in need of a decent size vice so managed to beg it off him.

I stripped it down just now and have it a good clean with a wire brush as it was almost seized solid and gave everything a good squirting of motorcycle chain lube.

Like the OP says, this is one of the best vices I have tried, even when fully extended there is minimal play in it.

I did a quick google search and found this page, as mine is complete I thought I'd share a couple of photo's of what it should look like underneath.

EDIT: looks to be older than 1930's too http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fi...s_Perfect).jpg

Hi DM, I only just now saw this post. Thanks for posting the pics and link.

In the meantime I had worked out how it works and here is my simple fix.
Instead of a long spring at the handle end I just used a strip of blued steel (SS in first picture) cut from a floor scraper blade. It's pretty springy and is more than strong enough to hold the half nut in place.
The old Hercus came good to turn the retaining collar and handle stub.
Yes I prefer to turn the QR handle with my left hand and pull the front jaw out with my right hand.
I'm very happy with the way it works.

G'day, Bob.

I purchased a Parkinsons Perfect Vise today at an antiques warehouse. It is a No 8, with wider jaws than yours, and I think a greater opening capacity. It is in a somewhat sorry state, but all the bits are there, and it works quite smoothly. I will take some photos in due course, as I restore it to respectability. I need to get the handle off the screw spindle so that I can straighten it, and clean up that lovely knob properly. Can you tell me whether one of the small knobs on either end of the handle is threaded, or maybe is a push fit? It seems from your photos that it could be one or the other. Incidentally, your repair of the quick release does impress me. Is the spring tension to hold up the half nut generated by the flat steel bar? On mine , there is a coil spring around the shaft at the front end.

Regards, Mike.

Originally Posted by mspil

. . Can you tell me whether one of the small knobs on either end of the handle is threaded, or maybe is a push fit? It seems from your photos that it could be one or the other.

I don't know - next time I'm down the shed I will take a look.

Incidentally, your repair of the quick release does impress me. Is the spring tension to hold up the half nut generated by the flat steel bar?.

Yep.

I have not done anything more on the vice. I want to set up my electrolysis tank and give it a thorough working over - it's on the todo list.

Bob,
Thought it might be of interest to let you know how my vice came up. I decided to scrap the original handle, and made a new, extra long one of 19mm bright steel. I think it will not bend any more. I managed to borrow some lathe time and turned up some push-fit knobs for the ends, each locked with a set screw through the end into the handle. (Probably unnecessary, but I am a belt and braces type).
The vice itself needed little or no other work, apart from cleaning and painting. It is as smooth as silk, with no apparent wear on the screw or nut, although at some stage the end of the slide has been extensively used as an anvil. I have not tried to repair this, as it has no bearing on the usability of the machine.

Hi Bob,
Looks as good as new.
The only thing about making a longer stronger handle is at least on some vices the handle is sized to bend before you break something.

Stuart

G'day Stustoys,

When you are as old and puny as I am, you need as much leverage as you can muster, and the long handle helps a little. As far as breaking the vice is concerned, I am not worried. It is a pretty hefty lump of metal. To give you an idea, I am attaching a photo which shows it side by side with a 4 inch Dawn vice that I used before I got the big one. If I break it, I think I deserve a gold medal!