Woodworking Vise?? Please Help Identify

[JessEm]

So it was only a few weeks ago when I posted pictures of the large vise I finally acquired, and now this. I'm posting it in the woodworking section because that's what I believe it's for, but I stand to be corrected... It seems too girthy to be a wood vise, but the style, as I understand, is for woodworking. (Mods, feel free to move this if this belongs in a different section).

I found this at a buddy's cabin, neglected under the deck, whilst deer hunting. His dad said I could have it, so into my truck it went. Out of sight, out of mind...

I'm wondering if someone can help me identify it. Not only it's purpose, but perhaps the maker and its general age as well. Any info at all would be great.

The only writing or markings I see are the numbers "10 B" and "3 B." The paint is thick in some areas so it's possible something else is covered up... It opens about 10.5" and the jaws are 7-1/8" wide. This thing is HEAVY, as I said earlier. Much heavier than the woodworking vises I'm familiar with. The bar with the handles has notches, and can be slid back and forth, then locked into position. Those are its most distinguishing features. It also has a raised square on the back area that attaches under a workbench. It doesn't make sense to me because it's seems like it would prevent it from sitting tight when mounted... The front jaw has a 'key hole', presumably for removal, but I haven't tinkered with it enough yet to figure out it's purpose.

Here's a few pictures.







I should also mention that the crank screw is about a 1" thick! And I should also mention that that's my wife's tape measure in the picture... It was the closest thing nearby.

[rusty]

It is of the style that would be for a wood workers vise, but it is unusually heavy duty. Plus the weird mount as you pointed out wouldn't fit well under a bench.

I suspect that it is supposed to be mounted on some woodworking machine rather than a bench....

[fliffy42]

The raised part but house the quick release feature you talked about (slide back and forth then lock).

here's is another on ebay that has some other marking that you might find when it is cleaned up....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Woodworking-Bench-Vise-7-1-4-Wide-Jaws-and-Opens-Up-8-1-4-/200663747307?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb87dcaeb

good looking beast you have there!

[Branson]

That's one great, stout woodworker's vise!  As for the raised area, it only requires a mortise to accept it -- about as much trouble as mounting the screw box for a leg vise.  The handles -- I've never seen handles like this -- they're really distinctive and ought to help identify the maker eventually.  Might check patents for the quick release, since that looks a little novel.

Great find!

[rusty]

Good catch Fliffy, so now, who's mark is this?

[JessEm]

Yes, nice work, Fliffy! Thanks everyone for all your thoughts on this. If the picture of that hallmark dead-ends here, I will try posting it in the metalworking forum and see if they know.

Mortising my bench for that bump on the back won't be a problem. It just seems odd. ... The only thing I can think of is what rusty said; that's it meant to be compatible with another piece of machinery.

[fliffy42]

different in that most of the other woodworking vises ride on two round rails either side of the screw and this one rides on the sides of the bottom cover piece. I seem to remember seeing similar on a bench vise somewhere. I will have to check the basement.

[scottg]

That is a really nice little vise!!
 The sliding/locking handle is for quick spinning. Set it close and spin it in and out quick. Set it wide for really putting on the pressure.
This handle, and the very coarse screw,  are to make up for the lack of quick release mechanism.
  You don't need one!!
  When this vise is clean and lubed up and the crank handle set right, it will spin like a dervish, making quick release and all its inherent frailty, unimportant. 

 I like this vise!! The one on ebay is smaller.
 I wonder if they made a full sized 14" jaw (opens to 16" or so? ) model!! 
 Man would that be nice!!

 And a tiny 4", opens to 6", for carving?? I need one just like this right now.
 Anybody got a small heavy woodworkers vise out behind the shed??   
    yours Scott

[JessEm]

Thanks, scottg! I really like it too! It's seems to me like a cross between a woodworking vise and a heavy bench vise, therefore lending itself to a broader range of applications! :)

On a side note, I came across this on Craigslist just now. He's calling it a patternmakers vise. It's clearly not MY vise, but the heavy duty-ness is a striking similarity. What do you guys think? I think it's overpriced, but then that's just a hunch:

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/tls/2719682365.html

[scottg]

Thanks, scottg! I really like it too! It's seems to me like a cross between a woodworking vise and a heavy bench vise, therefore lending itself to a broader range of applications! :)

On a side note, I came across this on Craigslist just now. He's calling it a patternmakers vise. It's clearly not MY vise, but the heavy duty-ness is a striking similarity. What do you guys think? I think it's overpriced, but then that's just a hunch:

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/tls/2719682365.html

That is an Emmert! With the bracket!
How overpriced?
 Over $700?
  yours Scott

[JessEm]

That is an Emmert! With the bracket!
How overpriced?
 Over $700?
  yours Scott

Well, I DID say it's just a hunch... And a wrong one at that! I stand corrected. Thanks. :)

[rusty]

For another $700 you can get one with a fresh coat of paint...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Emmert-1-Universal-Patternmakers-Vise-/110650392424?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c346ff68

[scottg]

For another $700 you can get one with a fresh coat of paint...


I didn't see a bracket (very hard to find), harder than the vise.
 Plus it looks like the handle socket is cracked.
  yike

 They don't really go $1100 in -good- shape, more like 8-9.
 Repros are $250, or at least they were last I looked. 
 Not that I watch these things everyday. Just ballpark seat-o-pants.
 
 But yeah an original is about the most desirable vise ever made.
 yours Scott

[Branson]

If you can afford the Emmert, buy it!  Now they seem to have collector value as well as use value.  They even have their own website:

http://mprime.com/Emmert/index.htm

A good story with lots of pictures of restoring an Emmert:

http://www.brasscityrecords.com/toolworks/emmert_vice/emmert_vice.html

Five years ago, an Emmert sold on eBay for $766.56

[Branson]

I wonder if they made a full sized 14" jaw (opens to 16" or so? ) model!! 
 Man would that be nice!!
 yours Scott

Scott, what you need is an old Oliver vise:

http://mprime.com/Emmert/oliver.htm