Samsonia Model J Antique Vice Restoration Review and Information

Parkinsons were a brand of vice from Joseph Parkinson and Son, Shipley Iron Works, West Yorkshire.

Samsonia appears to be the brand used for Parkinsons cast steel line of vices, and in various marketing materials the vices are referred to as being constructed from Samsonia Steel, which Parkinson claimed to be unbreakable in use.

Their 1937 catalogue advertised that they had been making vices for 55 years! Joseph Parkinson patented his “Perfect” vice in 1884. The jaws were hardened and removable and the main screw thread was an undercut buttress type. The jaws were held on by hex headed bolts from the outside, rather than the inside.

The “Model F” vices were cast iron, and the “Model J” were cast steel – like the one I am looking at today.

Both the 1913 and 1937/1940 catalogues list four variants of Model J with quick release:

Size No.Width of JawDepth of JawOpensWeightPrice
374 1/2″3″5 1/2″41lb1913: £2 0 0
1940: £3 s 14 0
385 1/4″3 1/2″6 1/2″49lb1913: £2 7s 0
£4 s 9 0
38a6″4″7 3/4″60lb1913: £2 14s 0
£5 s 11 0
397″4 1/2″8″81lb1913: £3 0 0
£6 s 9 0

There were also Model J vices available with a regular square-threaded screw and nut (same castings used as the QR) which are listed in the 1937/1940 catalogue:

Size No.Width of JawDepth of JawOpensWeightPrice
37P4 1/2″3″5 1/2″41lb£3 12s 6d
38P5 1/4″3 1/2″6 1/2″49lb£4 9s 0
38aP6″4″7 3/4″60lb£5 8s 0
39P7″4 1/2″8″81lb£6 6s 0

The Model J vices had the option of a swivelling base – made out of cast iron, and were an expanding ring type. The vices were offset on the swivelling plate so as to permit long articles held vertically to be swivelled through a longer arc than would otherwise be possible.

So what age are these vices? How do you date a Samsonia Model J?

The 1913 drawing looks like so:

Here's a drawing of the 1913 variant of Parkinson's Samsonia Model J cast steel quick release bench vise or vice, made in Britain.

1923:

Here's a drawing of the 1923 variant of Parkinson's Samsonia Model J cast steel quick release bench vise or vice, made in Britain.

From 1930 onwards it seems the same image has been re-used across a variety of catalogues (figure 3853 in Buck and Hickman)- 1930:

Here's a drawing of the 1930 variant of Parkinson's Samsonia Model J cast steel quick release bench vise or vice, made in Britain.

1935:

Here's a drawing of the 1935 variant of Parkinson's Samsonia Model J cast steel quick release bench vise or vice, made in Britain.

1937-1940:

Here's a drawing of the 1937-1940 variant of Parkinson's Samsonia Model J cast steel quick release bench vise or vice, made in Britain.

1953:

Here's a drawing of the 1953 variant of Parkinson's Samsonia Model J cast steel quick release bench vise or vice, made in Britain.

In 1954 the company was apparently acquired by Crofts (Engineers) Holdings Ltd. – I can’t find anything other than Grace’s which mentions this, though.

1958:

Here's a drawing of the 1953 variant of Parkinson's Samsonia Model J cast steel quick release bench vise or vice, made in Britain.

The 1964 Buck and Hickman catalogue lists a Model J 35, which I can’t find in earlier catalogues – it has 3 1/2 or 1/4″ wide jaws, 2 1/2 or 1/4″ depth of jaws, a 5″ opening and no stated weight. The 1964 Buck and Hickman drawing:

Here's a drawing of the 1953 variant of Parkinson's Samsonia Model J cast steel quick release bench vise or vice, made in Britain.

The vices have disappeared from the Buck and Hickman catalogue by 1971.

So, that gives us a pretty broad range of dates when it comes to the shape of the vice. Did it not change at all from the 30s to the 60s, or was the same image near enough that it didn’t matter?

The quick release mechanism may also have changed over the years – the original looks like this:

Here is the original bench vice or vise quick release patent from 1887, by Joseph Parkinson of the UK

Taken from the US Patent listing of April 19, 1887 – download the PDF of that here. The Canadian patent was issued on the 6th May 1886 (here and here).

If anyone has a vice with a QR mechanism that functions differently to this one please drop me a line!

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