I recently picked up this little vise there is no marking on it except the number 145 on the bottom of the body and the bottom of the sliding jaw. It works flawlessly from completely closed to completely open. It has an unusual anvil surface a small square relative to the body and raised high relative to the surface area and is part of the casting. The jaws ope to 2 1/2". Anyone recognize this or have a guess as to manufacturer or era?

The odd feet and the ledge over the leadscrew seem to be a Prentiss thing...
hard to say tho, I suspect it s fairly old....
It is in really nice shape :)

I wonder if it will fit in amertrac's 4" and under club?
it is a "two inch" vise after all...;P

 I like that small vise !!

Brian L.

Very nice well made vise.  The anvil block doesn't look like it should be solid (sharp corners where it joins the main casting), may be it was an after thought!
Graeme

I had thought perhaps Athol but no real reason.

The anvil block may have been an afterthought but it was cast with the rest of the body. It does look like it was just stuck on there I agree. It has definitely been used. I plan a light cleaning and  some oil to the lead screw but no more than that.

Quote from: anglesmith on May 20, 2012, 10:17:32 PM
Very nice well made vise.  The anvil block doesn't look like it should be solid (sharp corners where it joins the main casting), may be it was an after thought!
Graeme

It *is* a well made vise, especially for one so small.  The anvil block was a common feature of "table vises" in the 1700s and 1800s.  I've never been sure what their utility would be, but one does find them.