the vise that finally did in my back

[PFSchaffner]

Picked up (with some pain, since I was still in recovery from having
manhandled a metal-cut-off bandsaw the week before) this large and
curious vise this weekend. I don't recognize it, and it has no markings I could find,
but it *appears* to be a machine vise with segmented jaws, allowing
it to grip irregular objects (for the second pic, I tossed a shower
head in there, to convey the general idea.) The levers on each
jaw, when pulled up, rotate a shaft the causes the jaw-segments
to protrude about an inch; when the vise is closed on something,
the segments nestle around it like a profile gauge, and maybe
lock there under pressure? Not sure how they lock up, but it
makes sense that they must do so.

[Yadda]

Nice find!

[john k]

That heavy?  Must be beefier than first glance.  Never seen jaws like that, no name or numbers?

[oldgoaly]

nice find! I too am suffering from vise pains nothing special a 7" Columbian wood workers vice and a Wilton patternmaker's vise both have some issues. you should be able to see them here  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1156380581079280.1073741901.187845251266156&type=3

[Plyerman]

Not sure how they lock up, but it
makes sense that they must do so.

Interesting vise. Currently there are "hydraulic compensating" jaws for machine vises, which have a row of small pistons protruding from the jaw face, and a common  reservoir full of oil behind them. When the vise is clamped on an irregular-shaped object, the pistons all seek their own level and each one clamps with the same force. The concept makes sense, although I've personally never used one. But yours doesn't look like it operates that way?

[PFSchaffner]

As to how it works, if I get a minute this weekend, I will take it apart (or at
least try to take one of the steel top-plates off) and see.

As to how heavy, it's about standard for an 8" machine vise
(which it basically is, despite the 6-1/2" strange jaws), i.e.,
just shy of 160 pounds.

The cost, by the way, was $45, from the Ann Arbor
Habitat ReStore. Cheap, if you're looking at the per-pound price :)

[turnnut]

are you going to take the top off to look inside ???

 if it was me, I would take out the top screws,, all but one and slide the top slowly
 until you feel safe after peeking in at it.    good luck.

[PFSchaffner]

Thanks for the warning. And yes, there are still a couple of springs,
bearings, and other small parts SOMEWHERE on the floor from occasions
on which I have failed to be careful enough.

[Northwoods]

Oh, so I see you have taken apart an old Snap-on ratchet, then.  http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/Smileys/popos/grin.gif