Monster Athol Vise no. 720

[swervncarz]

I picked up this large Athol Mach Co vise today. It's a monster! 6" jaws, a little over 150lbs! Patent date on bottom of base is 1913. Handle has a clutch.. What's the purpose? Obviously the handle was altered. Marked no. 720, I can't find another like it in any online searches or catalogs, I would think that it doesn't exist! Anyone have anything on the Athol 720? Thanks in advance

[turnnut]

 maybe the clutch is used to reposition the handle if you had something in the vise and a handle was straight up.
 it looks like you could pull the handle outward and reposition.

just a thought.

[Bill Houghton]

maybe the clutch is used to reposition the handle if you had something in the vise and a handle was straight up.
 it looks like you could pull the handle outward and reposition.

just a thought.

My thought, too.

[mikeswrenches]

Take a look at the link below.

http://www.datamp.org/patents/advance.php?pn=1012226&id=19928&set=11

As you can see, there was only a single handle. The clutch, as you correctly pointed out, allowed the operator to move it out of the way.

Mike

[lptools]

Hello, Guys. Good job figuring that out!!!. Mike, does the Patent refer only to the clutch mechanism?

[mikeswrenches]

Hi Lou, yes it does. See link below.

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pdfs/US1012226.pdf

I sold the one I had. Wish I would have kept it. But it went to a good home. I think it had 3 in. jaws. They aren’t real common from what I can tell. A big one like swervncarz found would be rare indeed.

Mike

[swervncarz]

Interesting design. When position was mentioned, I was thinking isn't that what the slide bar is for? I guess it makes sense. I wonder why Athol went with this instead of the norm. Not all Athols have this clutch

[lptools]

Hello, Mike. I read the patent claims, makes sense to be able to position the handle out of the user's way. Must have been costly to manufacture? Regards, Lou