If you find a patent number or patent date by this manufacturer that is not on this
list, please contact the Site Historian.
Key to Links for Patent Information
USPTO = U.S. Patent Office .
Images of the actual patent can be viewed on the U.S. Patent Office web site but
a special TIFF viewer must be installed with your browser in order properly work.
More information on how to configure your computer to view these patents can be
found at TIFF image Viewers
for Patent Images.
DATAMP = Directory of American Tool And
Machinery Patents . A sister site to VintageMachinery.org with information
on patents related to machinery and tools. A much easier user interface than the
USPTO's for finding information on machinery patents.
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535,305
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Apr. 04, 1941
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Improvements in or relating to vices and other gripping tools
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James Herbert Offen |
, England |
This vise uses a ball-and-socket mechanism to provide flexible positioning. It predates the vastly better-known Wilton Powrarm vise of patent 2,354,937, which uses a very similar mechanism. Examples have been seen of a vise hand-stamped "BRIT. PAT. / OFFEN / 535305". Given The hand stamping it seems most likely that this vise was manufactured in small quantities by the inventor. The Grace's Guide website provides 1949 and 1951 data points on "Offen & Co. Ltd." of Redhill, Surrey, maker of vee blocks. A web search confirmed that this firm was manufacturing a clamp-on vise in 1951. |