Mystery Starrett vice

[Jamie WoodParticipant @jamiewood67138]

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

[Jamie WoodParticipant @jamiewood67138]

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

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

[Jamie WoodParticipant @jamiewood67138]

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

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

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.

[Bob MurrayParticipant @bobmurray]

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

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by Jamie Wood on 19/03/2019 20:23:22:

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 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.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

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

[Jamie WoodParticipant @jamiewood67138]

Posted by thaiguzzi on 20/03/2019 04:15:40:

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.

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

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Bob Murray on 20/03/2019 01:31:38:

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

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

Similar…

Dave

[egaParticipant @ega]

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.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

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

Roy

[Stewart HartParticipant @stewarthart90345]

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

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

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.

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by roy entwistle on 20/03/2019 21:20:23:

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

Roy

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.

[Stewart HartParticipant @stewarthart90345]

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

[Stewart HartParticipant @stewarthart90345]

Posted by John Reese on 20/03/2019 23:10:47:

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.

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

[Jamie WoodParticipant @jamiewood67138]

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

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

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.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Still made. A snip at $186 each…

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

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.

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

Jamie,

After examining my LSS vise it looks like yours has a shop made replacement jaw. The original jaws are flush with the body.

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

Posted by John Haine on 21/03/2019 17:32:31:

Still made. A snip at $186 each…

Latest Fleabay price is $205

[Stewart HartParticipant @stewarthart90345]

Posted by John Reese on 22/03/2019 21:37:54:

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.

Thanks for looking the vice out and posting the sizes John, I have drawn it up 3" long so 1 1/2 times its real size, I'll draw it up again closer to the actual size, but on the plus side being smaller will make them easier to make.

The only draw back with them is the fact that the jaw is not on a slide so they will tend to tip the work out of square especially if the part is thin. The illustrations of them in use show parts that are being gripped by the full length of the jaws so this won't be a problem, perhaps they should be called clamps rather than vices. But having said that I still think they would be a useful addition to the tool box.

Stew

[MC Black 2Participant @mcblack2]

Posted by Stewart Hart on 23/03/2019 08:48:22:

The only draw back with them is the fact that the jaw is not on a slide so they will tend to tip the work out of square especially if the part is thin.

I found this tool on Starrett's web site: **LINK**

Toolmakers' clamps are useful in layout work or for holding work securely in drilling and other similar operations. Each clamp is furnished with two take-up blocks that slip on the end of the screw. The blocks are held to allow a slight swivel action that conforms the angle of the block to the shape of the work being held.

So it seems that they are NOT intended to keep the work square!

I have inherited one so I'm very tempted to make a second.

MCB

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