Mystery Starrett vice

I bought this vice on ebay, originally thinking it was bigger than it actually is. It's stamped LS Starrett but doesn't appear to have a number anywhere on it, and having been through an old catalogue and many pages of google images I still can't find any info on it. It looks like it could be a miniature version of the toolmakers clamps but wondered if anyone had seen one before? Body is approx 2" x 1/2".

Jamie

I've got three Brown& Sharp but 3 1/4 inches long by 7/8 wide I know them as toolmakers vises rather than clamps

Roy

Thanks Roy, sorry yes I meant toolmakers vice/vise!

I remember a "mrPete222" video where he was waffling on about small Starrett vise/clamps. Possibly a set of videos where he made one similar? I think he showed some old catalogue pics of these items from long expired catalogues he has. Might be something there to compare with yours.

The current version is the model 160, "Toolmaker's Clamp." Very useful!

I have the exact same model.

Ground vee underneath?

Can't remember where i got it from and i doubt i've used it in the last 20 odd years.

Pretty though. Innit.

We used to use them to hold a rule in place when marking off rivet holes onto the edge of sheet metal, very useful when the panel was curved.
BobH

Mine's flat on the bottom, but yes it is a lovely object. I guess it's small enough to use on a rule, but the laws of hoarding mean I now need to find another!

Thanks notdoneyet I will have a look through Mr Petes videos, I had thought about emailing him as he seems to be mad on Starrett.

Jamie

Here's No.160 as shown in my 50th Anniversary Starrett Tools Catalogue № 25 of 1930:

Similar...

Dave

NB Clamps not vices or vises.

The no 160 is also listed in Starrett's catalogue no 28 but only in the 2" size so it seems that the smaller sizes were discontinued.

ega My 1920 Brown & Sharp catalogue gives them as toolmakers vice as does the box one of them came in

Roy

Drew one of those last year never got round to maki one. Also found some interesting novel use of them I’ll have to dig my papers out

Stew

I have one similar. I don't remember if it is Starrett or Brown & Sharpe. Mine has a flat back and a countersunk hole through the back, apparently for mounting the vise to something. I think the main purpose of these vises was to hold small work in a larger vise. The vise I have is nicely color case hardened.

I was comforted to learn this as it goes some way to explain why I could not find the OP's item in my Starrett catalogue until SOD pointed out that Starrett call them clamps.

My impression is that a good deal of the production of both companies was similar and the divergence seems unusual. That said, my 1938 B&S catalogue lists a no 752 "Toolmakers' Vise" and a no 753 "Toolmakers' Vise Clamp". The latter seems closer to the OP's item.

Some time ago I had a fad of searching through old American Machinist magazine on line and spotted the starret clamp with some of the uses it can be put to. I also found a photo of similar giant set of clamp in use at the North British Loco Works clamping together three sets of loco frames whilst they were being drilled on two huge radial drills.

The bottom drawing is my take on the idea, these clamps are more useful if they come in matching sets, I never got round to making them though its just another job on a long list of jobs

Stew

Hi John

Could you tell me the overall size of your vice when I drew it up I was guessing the sizes and I've just started to cut the metal to make a couple and I'm thinking i'm making them too large.

Stew

Thanks for all your comments, indeed the toolmakers clamps appear in my copy of the catalogue № 23.

I realise now this doesn't show up very well in the photos but the moving jaw actually has tiny wings that extend down over the sides to keep itself square. I suppose a previous owner could have made these to replace a missing jaw but it intrigued me because I hadn't seen anything like it. Anyway, must get to cleaning it up and maybe make a copy.

Jamie

Stewart,

Thanks for publishing the reprints. They were very enlightening. They also show that I am severely handicapped by owning only one of them.

I will try to find mine and get some measurements. I moved my shop last May and am still unpacking. I have about 100 square feet of floor covered with stuff in boxes.

Still made. A snip at $186 each...

Stewart,

I found the vise. It is marked LSS Co. Athol MA.

Here are the dimensions:

OAL, body only: 2.000"

OAL, screw full out: 3.110"

Width: .597"

Height: .757"

Depth of jaw" .444"

Minimum grip: .368"

Maximum grip: 1.065"

I am missing the long jaw.

I did a search this morning to find the vise. In the process I found the Mitutoyo digital mike that I since replaced. The replacement arrived yesterday. Great timing.