Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: Marshman on January 01, 2013, 12:16:21 PM

Title: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: Marshman on January 01, 2013, 12:16:21 PM
Hello, I'm new to this forum but hope someone can assist me with a question.   I have a large old cast iron foot operated vise (about 3 feet tall and mounted on a wood base for support).  I'm trying to acquire some particular information about this item and the only identifying information I can find on it is on the side of one of the cast iron uprights it is imprinted "H.E. Fuller".  I have done internet searches for this manufacturer without success but did recently find a somewhat similar item on eBay made by Wiley and Russell.  By best guess is this vise is from somewhere around the turn of the century or early 1900s but don't know for sure.  Anything anyone can tell me would be very much appreciated.   Thank you in advance for any assistance.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: gibsontool on January 01, 2013, 12:28:59 PM
Never seen one like that before so I can't help, but I sure like it, it's a beauty. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL. Jim
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: OilyRascal on January 01, 2013, 12:48:14 PM
Welcome.  Somewhere there is an introduction section.  I do like it.  Sorry I can't help you identify.  I'd like to have your *problem* though :)

Happy New Year 2013!
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: john k on January 01, 2013, 01:09:31 PM
I have seen several of these.  Sometimes called a caulking vise, clamp in a new shoe, twist in the caulks, move on.   I worked next to a guy that brought one to a demo.   Didn't look as nice as this one, and he couldn't get enough pressure on the treadle to hold much.   Ended up using my post vise.   Still, I'd get one if the price was right. 
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: lazyassforge on January 01, 2013, 01:25:01 PM
The only thing I can find is this:

http://books.google.com/books?id=T7jmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT329&lpg=PT329&dq=fuller+foot+vise&source=bl&ots=fd0sJmIh5r&sig=Mi7WTfXhZ0ffd3LX-GHkB1hG2pY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RjPjUJvpK6mw2gWY5IHICA&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAQ

It is a link to an ad in "American Blacksmith" from about 1915 for an "Improved" Fuller vise which appears different. It gives the manufacturer as C. & E. Manufacturing Company from Marshaltown Iowa. I have some old books I will look through also.

Hope this helps, Bill D.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: Marshman on January 01, 2013, 01:47:21 PM
Thanks everyone for your replies.  John K, I wondered if it was a Farrier's vise and Bill D, thanks for your input, I'll keep researching.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: Branson on January 01, 2013, 02:40:27 PM
Blacksmith's foot vise.  You can find a number of versions through google.  Anybody who's tried to do smithing in a hurry can appreciate these vises.
I thought we had some earlier discussion that touched on these vises.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: Marshman on January 01, 2013, 03:50:58 PM
Branson, thank you for that information.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: wvtools on January 01, 2013, 06:50:44 PM
There is one shown on page 508 of Sellens with a farrier using it.  I have always called them caulking vises.  Sellens lists them as farrier's vise, foot vise, horse shoers' machine, and shoeing vise.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: Branson on January 01, 2013, 07:43:20 PM
I'm envious even when putting a simple twist in a pot hook.  The metal cools so quickly while you're adjusting the leg vise...
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: Billman49 on January 02, 2013, 03:33:26 AM
Try contacting http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/blacksmith-vise.php
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: Marshman on January 02, 2013, 05:38:10 AM
Thank you, Billman49.  All of the responses so far are appreciated.  However I am still unable to find anything on the internet on the H.E. Fuller company or anything providing photos of the same vise I have.   I would like to try to pinpoint the date of production and any other information on this equipment that I can.  I may have to get a copy of Sellens' book.
Thanks again, everybody.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: wvtools on January 02, 2013, 06:59:16 AM
The catalog cut in Sellens will not help you with the maker, although it is interesting.  I would not buy it just for that, but it is a great book/resource to have.  It shows a guy using a caulking vise, but I cannot see your vise well enough in your photo to see if it is the same type.  These vises all have a family resemblance, but most I have seen had differences.

One of the vises in Sellens is marked Green River No. 3.  I wondered who made that won, so I looked in my Sears 1915 reprint blacksmiths tools catalog (another good reference).  It was made by Wiley & Russell.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: Marshman on January 02, 2013, 08:46:36 AM
Thanks for your information wvtools.  I need to do some rearranging in my shed to get the vise out to take some better photos and get a better look at it.  It came from my father-in-law's farm where it had been in his tool shed for many years and may have been his father's.  ONce I can get some better photos, I'll post them to see if that helps any in further identification.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: Marshman on January 02, 2013, 01:49:27 PM
I was able to get the blacksmith's/farrier's foot operated vise out of the corner of my shed today and take some more photos of it.  I also got measurements.  It stands 34 7/8" high, not counting the wood base, 20" deep at the pedal, and the jaws of the vise are 6" wide.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: northkid on January 02, 2013, 09:02:46 PM
Some of the shoeing vises also came with bolt header attachment that the blacksmith used when making his own bolts.
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: Marshman on January 03, 2013, 06:37:37 PM
Additional Photo
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: kdquick on August 22, 2013, 05:02:32 PM
I also have one made by the same company but it looks a bit different.  I found a picture on line of an advertisement saying it's from 1896.  I haven't found any other information on this yet. 
Title: Re: Antique Foot Operated Vise
Post by: rusty on August 22, 2013, 09:03:05 PM
H. E. Fuller - aka Harry Edger Fuller, of Winterset Iowa, Patented 1908