Here’s that vise. It’s been disassembled, cleaned and repainted.

A long time ago there was ‘The Simplex Tool Company’ of Woonsocket Rhode Island.

I can’t find much about them, but they left a nice little bench vise. Actually it’s a 50 pounder which isn’t really big, but it’s bigger than your average ‘do it yourselfer’ vise.

Latest bench vise saved…

The rust was really stubborn and getting it all off would have finished what little original paint was left.

I could repaint it but then I’d have a vise with chips, dents, drill holes, saw cuts and a brand new paint job. That just wouldn’t look right.

Anyway, it’s a Sears Craftsman vise that looks very similar to this vise by Reed Mfg co..

http://industrialglenn.com/tools/?p=77

That’s because Reed was the original manufacturer.  I estimate the mfg time frame to be 1943 t0 1947.