Robley of Geelong bench vice

Hi all,

A few months ago I bought a big old bench vise made by a Geelong engineering company called Robley (I'm guessing that by the only markings is a sticker on the front).
I bought it for about $12, not knowing anything about the brand or the condition of the vice/vise (whatever the spelling is). So I figured hey for $12 it's an awesome deal for old Aussie made and I can't go wrong :U

I was going to use it on my first proper woodwork bench I am about to build along with a really cute little old unknown solid one.

So tonight as I am finally getting around to look at it properly I discovered it doesn't turn around and around and around like a regular vice would. Before I bought it I took note that there wasn't a thread as such, just a rectangular rod with about 30mm of thread at the very end. But I didn't think too much about it.
The handle spins only 1 rotation? huh :? The vice can slide open to 290mm so how come it only turns the thread 1 rotation? Am I missing something (probably really simple) here? And will this type be any good for a bench vise?

Also, does anyone know much about this company Robley? I've tried to search their name but haven't found alot on them. It makes me more intrigued when I come across an old tool from an unknown brand :;

Thanks for looking!

Hi Sliding dovetail, I know nothing of the manufacturer, i'm guessing that it opens to whatever size you require and then it locks to that size when you turn the handle, like i say only a guess though, try it with some different widths of timber and see if it works, Cheers, Richie Rich

That's interesting because I saw one of these last week at the Midland Railway workshops Auction preview.
Paul McGee took some pics of this and even posted it on the forum.
See here https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/l...ml#post1695083

It's known as a Quick Lock Vice or something similar.
Basically you unlock it and then slide it in or out to where you want it and then it will lock and grab with one turn.

It doesn't work so well when you want to clamp something over a wide range of turns

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobL

It's known as a Quick Lock Vice or something similar.
Basically you unlock it and then slide it in or out to where you want it and then it will lock and grab with one turn.

It doesn't work so well when you want to clamp something over a wide range of turns

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Oh I've heard of thoe quick lock type before but I had thought they come with a little lever thingy on the face next to the handle. But now I can see what you mean, I need to slide the vice against the work then clamp with a short turn?
And that'll explain the springs at the end of the guide rods to pop back when handle is turned creating the 'quick-release' action :doh:

It makes sense now, I didn't realise it earlier because it's so dam heavy I couldn't hold it while doing a 'dummy run' with it, I had only realised it slides when I accidently tipped it over!

So now that I know how it works, it's pretty much just what I need :2tsup: I don't think I'll be doing much clamping over a wide range with it as I'll use hand clamps. It's almost identical to the vice on that auction link too, I might investigate more.....

Thanks Bob!