Need help identifying vintage ball vise.

[Gordon]

Howdy friends and neighbors. I just posted this request for info on a Facebook engraver forum, I'm also posting here as I'm hoping that someone might be able to identify the maker, (or former owner), of this lovely, vintage ball vise that I just bought. In addition to its ornamentation, (engraved initials, monogram, and textured jaws), it has a rather unusual arrangement of two different sets of ball bearings that it turns on. Another unusualy feature is that it does not have a pin or pinhole to stop rotation, instead, there is a thumb-screw that brings a leather washer into contact with both the upper, and lower hemispheres of the vise. This can be adjusted to either act as a friction brake, or to lock rotation completely. The last photo shows the small bearing that sits in the "well" that the shaft rides it.

 

[monk]

i never saw one with that particular construction. that certainly is a keeper. i'm no expert, but perhaps it was modified by the original owner.
if roger bleile sees this, he would likely know the make

 

[mitch]

what are all the monograms & letters?

 

[Gordon]

what are all the monograms & letters?

Mitch, the letters are: B and G, the monogram is:

 

[mdengraver]

Nice! I would never attempt such beautiful engraving on such an unusual functional object!

 

[JMiller]

So the vise was already engraved when you bought it?

 

[Gordon]

So the vise was already engraved when you bought it?

Yes, Jeff, the vise was already engraved when I bought it, in fact, it was the primary reason that I bought it.

 

[monk]

the closeups really do justice to the engraving. looks like he may have had the bergling book. tyvm for showing.

 

[mitch]

i got nothin.

 

[edgrabow15]

wow what a beautiful vise, did you get it for a good price, I dont want to ask exactly how much, some people dont like that so I just Graze around the question LOL

 

[Gordon]

wow what a beautiful vise, did you get it for a good price, I dont want to ask exactly how much, some people dont like that so I just Graze around the question LOL

Ed: To your question; " Did I get it for a good price", I'd say that I got it for a fair price as a used block. In terms of it's value to me as a wonderful piece of engraving history and a lovely piece of art, I'd say that I just about stole it.

 

[edgrabow15]

I have to agree with that.As a work of art itself it was a true find, Good deal man, Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[monk]

if you never find out who engraved the vise, it's still a precious piece to have.

 

[Gordon]

if you never find out who engraved the vise, it's still a precious piece to have.

I agree, Monk. I love it as a piece of art, the dividend is that it's also a good vise. I don't intend to use it much (if at all)... I simply loved so many aspects about it that I had to bite the bullet and buy it. Whoever the previous owner was that engraved this vise, obviously loved it and took very good care of it. I feel a strong responsibility to do the same thing.