OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

181098 paul womack <pwomack@p...> 2008‑07‑09 Re: usage of Stanley Alu vises?
paul womack wrote:
> I have a slightly broken Stanley #702, and
> a intact Stanley #7502.
> 
> The #702 appears to be an Al
> version of the #700.
> 
> The #5702 is a little bigger, with an extra guide rail.
> 
> Does anyone have any catalogue (or other)
> photographs or text describing
> the intended customers, and mode
> of use of these things?

Yes - I do!

Rumaging through my newly organised bookshelf, I found
a forgotten Stanley catalogue. Far too American
and early to list the 702 and 5702, but it did list
the 700. This appears to be a direct ancestor.

The catalogue speaks highly of the 700 (obviously...)
but it is clearly NOT a bolt on face vise:

http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10152/s700advert.jpg
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10152/s700usage.jpg

The latter explains the mystery; the vice behaves more
like a clamp that a normal vise, with the bench
or other surface providing much of the support.

With this illustration the use of the #702 becomes clearer:
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10152/s702.jpg

There are two modes - "inboard", where the workpiece
is supported by the surface the vise is clamped
to, and "outboard", where the workpiece is off
the surface.

Note how the screw is lower than the underside of the jaw.

However, and sadly, it appears that customers who didn't
understand this unusual mode of operation requested
a larger and stronger vise, which was duly supplied
as the 5702.

http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10152/s5702.jpg
(with apologies for not putting my ruler in shot).

This is around 20% bigger, and has an extra guide rail.
However, by placing the screw and rail ABOVE
the lowerside of the jaw, this vise can
no longer secure a workpiece on the bench(table...)
top.

This vise is forced to be the sole means of support,
at least in "inboard" mode.

This is an extraordinary mistake IMHO; either
that, or it works in a way I can't fathom, which I guess
was my first question!

    BugBear
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Recent Bios FAQ