Tool Talk
What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: mikeswrenches on January 08, 2014, 08:19:24 AM
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I've looked at, and have quite a few different hand vises but never one like this. It was apparently made for a very special purpose...unfortunately that purpose eludes me. This is a very high quality device, better than what you usually find in a typical hand vise. It is marked Wm. Wilkinson & Sons.
In addition to the pulley setup on the end, there are also two threaded holes in the jaws. Part of each hole is located in each jaw. It looks like it was made to pull something but what?
Overall length is about 7 1/2 in. Jaw width is 13/8 in. Centerline of holes in the jaws is 1 1/8 in.
Vise it's self is 3 3/4 in. to the center of the pivot.
Opposite the ratchet lock mechanism is a 3/8 in. square drive that appears to have been used to turn the pulley. I don't know if a wrench was included, but if it was it is long gone.
A google of the Wilkinson name finds not much. There was a Wm. Wilkinson & Sons in Sheffield, England around 1790 but not much other information.
Any ideas what it may have been used for?
Mike
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Fence stretcher or wire stretcher my guess.
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> There was a Wm. Wilkinson & Sons in Sheffield, England around 1790
Est 1730, almost exclusively an edge tool maker, sheep/horse/show thatch shears, scissors, kitchen / butchers knives, Razors, other knives(?), scissors, and dressing case instruments etc...also Pruning shears and farriers' knives
Registered mark is their name spelled out, "William, not wm. and with Grimesthorpe (The town near Sheffield), so , unlikely....
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The EAIA Directory of American Toolmakers lists William Wilkinson & Sons, 1894-1900; cutlery and farm tools; they made a range of shears/clippers for sheep, hedges, etc. So, the fence stretcher idea would fit into that.
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My guess was for "wire drawing". Apparently jewelers did this for some of their parts. The pulley is what makes me think that this was for drawing long lengths of wire. A rope could have been threaded thru the hole and the other end made fast. If a crank handle were placed on the 3/8 square, the wire could have been drawn fairly quickly thru the die.
Les, wire stretching would also make sense.
John, I took a look at the listing in the Directory to see where the Company was located, but that information is missing. Also, based on what I found and what Rusty found, I think this entry is in error. The Wm. Wilkinson & Sons that I found, and that Rusty found, were definitely an English manufacturer.
An ad I found says the following: Manufacturers of every description of SHEEP AND GARDEN SHEARS, Farriers', Butchers', & Shoe Knives, &c., &c." But no mention of any type of vise.
They appear to have won a prize at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 that was held in Philadelphia, PA for Sheep and Garden Shears. Maybe this is what led the EAIA astray during their research.
Thanks for the info.
Mike
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My guess was for "wire drawing". Apparently jewelers did this for some of their parts. The pulley is what makes me think that this was for drawing long lengths of wire. A rope could have been threaded thru the hole and the other end made fast. If a crank handle were placed on the 3/8 square, the wire could have been drawn fairly quickly thru the die.
Les, wire stretching would also make sense.
Mike
I don' t think it was for wire drawing. That has pretty much always been done on a draw bench. Wire drawing is how you size wire - basically you pull it through progressively smaller holes in a steel plate until you have the right gauge. The plates can have different shapes in them also.
(http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac6/chillylulu/Mobile%20Uploads/090814re-leggeddrawbench_zpsxysvsac1.jpeg) (http://s880.photobucket.com/user/chillylulu/media/Mobile%20Uploads/090814re-leggeddrawbench_zpsxysvsac1.jpeg.html)
(http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac6/chillylulu/Mobile%20Uploads/ClocksandSilver65_thumb11_zpswfd6swhc.jpeg) (http://s880.photobucket.com/user/chillylulu/media/Mobile%20Uploads/ClocksandSilver65_thumb11_zpswfd6swhc.jpeg.html)
And a close up of wire being drawn:
(http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac6/chillylulu/Mobile%20Uploads/Wire-drawing-bench_zps8cqjb4ul.jpeg) (http://s880.photobucket.com/user/chillylulu/media/Mobile%20Uploads/Wire-drawing-bench_zps8cqjb4ul.jpeg.html)
Chilly
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Chilly, Thanks for the information. I have several hand vises with rings on the bottom, but none ever seemed like they were heavy enough to resist the forces involved in wire drawing, although that is what I was told they were for. I never knew that this work was done on a bench. I like the pictures!
Unfortunately it looks like I'm no closer to figuring out exactly what the purpose was of my vise.
Mike
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The size and style of the vise is a sort generally made for jewelers, so I would hazard a guess that this tool was made for clock makers.
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Telegraph/telephone wire strainer - too small for fencing use - however, similar to the the ratchet type strainer part (without the hand vice) are used in the UK for tensioning the supporting wires on interlocking, or wire mesh, fencing, e.g. as used on tennis courts...
e.g. see http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Telegraph-Draw-Vice-Wire-Strainer-Tensioner-WW1-Field-Kit-Old-Tool-Very-Nice-/321261620039?nma=true&si=BXDGElde4kHOeiX5BKgpzfDio1o%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Unable to post any images, will try again later..
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Here is one with the handle.
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/telegraph-draw-vice-wire-tensioner-245289425
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Mike,
Myself and a friend thought the same as you. However it looks like Billman and HeelSpur are correct.
Thanks to everyone for their help on this, it is certainly appreciated!
Mike
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Image finally loaded... It can be seen that some types of telegraph draw tongs are very similar to those used for wire drawing on a draw bench - hence the possible confusion..
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Mike,
Myself and a friend thought the same as you. However it looks like Billman and HeelSpur are correct.
Mike
Yep. They sewed up the mystery with steel twine.
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Here is one with the handle.
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/telegraph-draw-vice-wire-tensioner-245289425
I thought the handle was added later. The ad seems to confirm it. They added it so it'd sell for $49.50. Worth more than I would have guessed.
Chilly
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Chilly,
The handle looks like it could be correct except why make it from bronze? Bronze was an expensive alloy and you would normally expect to find it in a marine environment not in a kit where it could be easily lost.
Mike
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These were often supplied with a key for tightening, square hole one end for the ratchet, and a slot with a central round hole for the wing nut on the vice, at the other end.
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No pictures, but a description of their use can be found at: http://www.samhallas.co.uk/repository/po_docs/h2_open_line_constn_2.pdf Pages 4 and 5
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This one is still available new - from Jalandar, Punjab, India... The image shows the key...
Link: http://www.tradeindia.com/fp1422142/Draw-Vice.html
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I don't think I'd want to wind that handle very long. I liked the bronze one on the one that was on Worth Point.
Thanks for the info.
Mike
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Archiving some images, I found this
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Just had a look at the Worthpoint image - I was wondering where the talk of a bronze handle came from... IMHO this not original to the vice - the ratchet was used to tension the line (using a different, probably stranded steel, cable) - to get the correct tension it would be necessary to have fine control over a relatively few turns (there is no space for a lot of wire on the ratchet spool). A lever would give better control than a handle of the type shown.. Some of the draw tongs have a spring scale incorportated to measure the tension, but I guess most linesmen could get this pretty right by measuring the sag on the wire....
The one below also availabe from India (Indiamart).... with the more usual type of handle...
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William Wilkinson Shear manufacturer Grimesthorp Baine's 1822
William Wilkinson Shear & Makers Grimesthorpe Pigot's 1828-9
William Wilkinson Manufacturer of sheep, garden, horse and glovers' shears & shoe, cook, draw Grimesthorpe White's 1833
William Wilkinson (& Sons) manufacturers of sheep shears, shoe, bread & drawing knives, steel Spring Works, Grimesthorpe White's 1849
Rev. William Wilkinson (& Sons) sheep shear, shoeknife &c. manufacturers Grimesthorpe White's 1852
William Wilkinson (& Co.) sheep & garden shear &c. manufacturers 17 Backfields White's 1852
William Wilkinson (&Sons) manufacturers of sheep shears, shoe, bread & drawing knives, steels Spring Works, Grimesthorpe White's 1852
William Wilkinson (& Sons Ltd.) manufacturers of sheep shears &c Grimesthorpe Road Kelly's 1893
(also Frederick William Wilkinson Electro-plate manufacturer 57 Trafalgar Street Kelly's 1893)
William George Wilkinson Sheep shear manufacturer (W. W. & Son) h. 25 the Dale, Norton Woodseats White's 1911
William George Wilkinson Sheep shear maker (Wilkinson Walter & Son) h. 25 The Dale, Norton Woodseats White's 1919
William George Wilkinson Sheep shear manufacturer (W Wilkinson & Son) h. 25 The Dale, Norton Woodseats Kelly's 1925
William George jun. Wilkinson Sheep shear manufacturer (W Wilkinson & Son) h. 59 Hackthorn Road, Norton Woodseats Kelly's 1925
source: http://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic/5460-william-wilkinson-sons/
plus another adverising image
see also:
Printed notices of the formation of Burgon and Wilkinson, Sheffield as a limited company B & B 43 1895
List of plant and machinery at Burgon and Wilkinson's Spring works in Grimesthorpe, Sheffield and valuation by Arthur M. Wild of Sheffield B & B 44 1898
Draft valuation of fittings and plant B & B 45 1898
Draft valuation of finished and partly finished goods at Burgon and Wilkinson, Sheffield B & B 46 1898
Draft valuation of stock, mostly hammers B & B 47 1899
Assignment of Burgon and Wilkinson's trade-marks and goodwill to Burgon and Ball, with some other relevant deeds and copies of deeds B & B 48 1899
Bundle of accounts in connection with the liquidation of Burgon and Wilkinson, Sheffield including a petty cash book and bundle of vouchers B & B 49 1899
Printed particulars of sale with plan for Spring Works, Grimesthorpe, Sheffield former premises of Burgon and Wilkinson Ltd B & B 50 1899
source: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=199-bb&cid=6-1#6-1
Note: Burgon & Ball (makers of sheep shears), and successors to William Wilkinson, are still in existence in Sheffield
see: http://www.burgonandball.com/