Older form hand vise

[Branson]

Recently Timmon's Tools for the Trades and Crafts was brought up at Sutter's Fort as a source for documentation of tools as acceptable in our programs.  That made me spend some time again looking through my copy.   I happened to look at the pages showing hand vises and noticed
a form that looks more like a tiny smith's leg vise.  Nice look, I thought.  But I'd never seen one in the wild.

But this one came up on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Small-Antique-Hand-Vise-Clamp-Old-Vintage-Tool-Machinist-Jewelers-Gunsmith-/181670004891?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=SaYAhAIzK8xuTSX18vSmMi0%252Bme4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

And now it's mine!

[Chillylulu]

Congratulations Branson!

Chilly

[Plyerman]

Nice! Any idea who made it?

[anglesmith]

Branson. Certainly looks those in the Timmins pattern book. All the ones I have seen around have joints like the two in the corner of that page and the following page. I think you might have snagged a early one. A lot of the very early small "toys" sold from the pattern books didn't have a makers mark
Graeme

[Branson]

The listing didn't mention a maker.  I don't really expect to find a maker's mark, but I will check it carefully when it arrives.  If I find a maker, I'll post it here.  At any rate, it will accompany me to Sutter's Fort!

[Bill Houghton]

I'm surprised you'd never found one in the wild, Branson.  I've found three (older son now owns one of them; can't figure out why I own two...).

They're pretty nifty little tools, quite useful.

[leg17]

I'm surprised you'd never found one in the wild, Branson.  I've found three (older son now owns one of them; can't figure out why I own two...).

There are plenty on eBay.  Quite common.

[Branson]

There are plenty on eBay.  Quite common.

Hand vises are common enough, but ones with the hinge joint like this are not, IME.
I have two or three of the more common form.  If anybody runs across one with the
early hinge joint I'd like to know about it.

[Bill Houghton]

Ah.  I had missed the hinge pattern.  You're right; all three of those I've owned have a center pivot, rather than that pivot-on-straps arrangement.

[Bus]

Here's the photos from ebay. They won't be there forever.

[leg17]

There are plenty on eBay.  Quite common.

Hand vises are common enough, but ones with the hinge joint like this are not, IME.
I have two or three of the more common form.  If anybody runs across one with the
early hinge joint I'd like to know about it.

Thanks Branson.
I overlooked the difference in the joint.

[Branson]

I would probably missed the hinging except that I had recently studied the plates in Timmons.  It arrived yesterday and is a tad under 4 inches long.  No maker's mark at all.  About half way down the bolt, the threads are stripped out, but there's plenty left to hold the thin pieces I am most likely to be working.  No rust, no pitting.

[Plyerman]

Saw this auction while cruising ebay.fr, and it reminded me of this discussion. Ain't that the cutest little vise ever?

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/outils-anciens-art-populaire-etau-dhorloger-etau-pince-a-main-/191527568761?ssPageName=ADME:SS:SS:US:1120

[Bill Houghton]

Plyerman,

that is cute!  I like the tiny little anvil.  I wonder what trade it was for?  Combat/field repairs of jewelry?

[Branson]

Plyerman,
that is cute!  I like the tiny little anvil.  I wonder what trade it was for?  Combat/field repairs of jewelry?

The technical name of this tool is "table vise."   These come in a bewildering variety and have done so for over 200 years that I am aware of.
About all that can be said is that they are for working on small pieces.  This one seems too small for combat/field repairs, although a three pound version (without the anvil) was issued to light artillery artificers.  Good for jewelers, clockmakers, and gunsmiths I reckon.