A metal leg vice

[ColeyS1]

I was searching on ebay a while ago and spotted an old bench for sale. The auctions ended now but one thing I did notice was the metal leg vice.

I've seen masses of wooden versions but never a metal one before. Any ideas how old it could have been, or if there's a modern equivalent ?
I'm happy with my bench but always keep an eye out for a possible mk2 version one day :lol:

Coley

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[JohnPW]

I think that vice works like a F cramp, which is different to the usual wooden leg vice. It looks like there's nothing between the vice "cheek" and the bench, whereas on the usual leg vice there's a screw. And it's has built-in quick release as well. Plus there's no pin (found on some leg vices) so it should be really quick to use.

I've thought about using a f-cramp as a makeshift vice but this is the first time I've seen a vice that works in the same way.

 

[ED65]

The original of that type of vice is from the 19th century as might be guessed from the look of it, not sure if production would have extended much into the 20th century.

The bench it's attached to looks very low, I wonder if it was a child's bench?

 

[ColeyS1]

The bench it's attached to looks very low, I wonder if it was a child's bench?

Could have been. I was tempted to buy it just for the vice but £150 was a bit steep.
I was trying to figure out how you tighten it. Do you think you just keep spinning the handle around ? At my first workplace they had a vice that was very quick release- just not very good. You'd move the handle to the vertical position and then the vice was free to slide in and out. Lowering the handle some how engaged the threads somehow tightening it.
I was wondering if this leg vice may have been similar ?
It's a quirky looking thing but I'd have had to test it worked well before considering a bid. Too late now though [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH]

Coley

 

[ED65]

Assuming it works like the single-arm vices of more conventional type, like the one you used, it would be that you lift the arm to release the mechanism and drop it to lock. Certainly looks like that would be the way this one would work too but it also looks like it doesn't have scope to open very far :?

The single-arm vices at their best were apparently excellent, with easy one-handed operation and of course they open very quickly. Given how well the mechanism could work I wonder if it was its high weight that killed them and opened the door for the screw to become the default for almost all vices.