Good morning,
I had a complete Antique Harness Maker's Bench Vice and the legs and treadle finally gave out. (My fault).
I saved the bench seat and vice and the hardware.
Going to sell them and would like to accurately describe what I call the Treadle Latch Lock.
Is there a proper name for it?
Thanks.
Sorry, I'm no help with that one.
I was so excited there was one reply lol (and then the frown came :)
Let me give a visual of this thing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360658966171?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Mine was a bit different.
On the far front leg was the zig zag piece (and now you know why I need your help :)
on the end of cross piece on the treadle to which the leather attaches was the rectangle piece I have pictured.
That piece catched into the zig zag piece to hold the vice in position.
Is that any help?
Thanks.
Okay, that makes sense now. I'd never seen one before, but now after a bit of googling and youtubing, I can see how useful they could be to folks doing leatherwork.
So anyhow, what I found out was that these benches are often called Stitching Horses, or even sometimes Stitching Ponies.
Back in 1864 there was a patent issued for a "Saddler's Stitching-Horse", and in the patent text the little zigzag piece as you call it was referred to as a "catch plate." (Read the paragraph about 3/4 of the way down)
Link = https://www.google.com/patents/US42020
Close up picture of another style catch plate in use:
""catch plate." " Awesome!
A+ for all the research you did, and many thanks, Bob aka Plyerman.