I bought ( AND OVERPAID) this little hand vise because I and the seller alike thought it might be H D Smith. Turns out it is not. Marked Stevens N Y and Perfect.
Question is, is the spring correct? There are holes for the spring to fit in, and it it seems to be installed correctly, but the spring is out of place as I see it.
I have also been unsure of how to used this little hand vise. Any one know anything?

The spring looks out of place to me, as it is blocking the jaws for any work you want to insert, and clamp down on? Could be a special purpose clamp, instead of a hand vise?

Wayne

It looks remarkably like those early spoke nipple wrenches, there was a thread on the old site! (We are going to get sick of hearing and saying that!) The lower end near adjusting screw doesn't show any signs of being cut off?
Graeme

Quote...signs of being cut off?

Now that you mention it, there are rough filing marks there.

And now I am even more upset with myself! Guess my mind isn't working like it should!
Look-

I'm sure 64longstep of phake fame could make it look like it had never been altered.
Graeme

Well, it looks as though the spring does belong in between the jaws after all.

Wayne

 yes spring is in right position. Bicycle spoke vise;picture shows Rollfast and Stevens. same design

Quote from: jimwrench on May 22, 2011, 10:51:34 PM
yes spring is in right position. Bicycle spoke vise;picture shows Rollfast and Stevens. same design

So the working, or buisness end of this tool is on the left side, near the thumb screw, is that correct?

Wayne

  Never used one but with wrench mounted on bicycle spoke it seems that using hook on thumbscrew end over a spoke and the spoke nut in the vise  end you could very handily use wrench to tighten a spoke. Looks like a useful little wrench

I have a number of spoke wrenches like yours*. They are from the early days of bicycling, when bicycles were a new invention, ca 1880 -1900. Tuning the spokes to where they are resonating at the same pitch became a mania. Demonstrating tuned wheels was a big deal, apparently because they made a lot of spoke wrenches. 

*Wald
*Rollfast Perfect
*Dudly
*Stevens

Quote from: lzenglish on May 23, 2011, 12:53:31 PM

Quote from: jimwrench on May 22, 2011, 10:51:34 PM
yes spring is in right position. Bicycle spoke vise;picture shows Rollfast and Stevens. same design

So the working, or buisness end of this tool is on the left side, near the thumb screw, is that correct?

Wayne

With a spoke in place.

Another view.

That is it exactly, Donny!

Quote from: Donny B. on June 04, 2011, 07:15:33 PM

Quote from: lzenglish on May 23, 2011, 12:53:31 PM

Quote from: jimwrench on May 22, 2011, 10:51:34 PM
yes spring is in right position. Bicycle spoke vise;picture shows Rollfast and Stevens. same design

So the working, or buisness end of this tool is on the left side, near the thumb screw, is that correct?

Wayne

With a spoke in place.

Thanks for the Demo "Donny B".! A picture is worth a Thousand Words!

Wayne