Photo Index - Oliver Machinery Co. - Oliver 56 Vise

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Oliver Machinery Co.
Grand Rapids, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Other
Machine Size:	10" Rapid Action Bench Vise
Submitted By:	Bill Fagnant

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Oliver 56 Vise
Date of Manufacturer:	Early 1900's
Serial Number:	N/A
Last Updated	5/10/2020 8:29:04 PM

Comments:

I was lucky to come across an Oliver vise on CL. The listing mentioned an antique workbench with vise. Curious, I opened up the ad to look at the pictures, and was surprised to see that the vise was an Oliver. I have seen the #1 and the smaller #151, but had never seen one like it this. There was no model number listed, and a search of pictures on the mothership turned up nothing that resembled the picture in the ad. I called the guy, and made an appointment the following morning. He was cleaning out his basement and was eager to sell the bench. He had got it from an old man years before, and moved it to his basement where it sat for years.

After I got it home, I got a closer look at the vise and saw that it was a # 56. Another search on mothership turned up a discussion on Emmert vises where fellow OWWM member Chuck Hess talked about Oliver vises and mentioned that particular vise number in sales literature he had from 1906. There were no pictures or other information I could find. I am hoping another member might be able to share information they have on the vise. A detailed discussion of the vise was published on Vintage Machinery in 2014 a few years after I got the vise. http://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=149836&p=1005367&hilit=oliver+%2356+vise#p1005367

The pictures show what the vise looks like. Except for a missing handle knob, the vise appears to be complete. The front jaw measures 10" X 4" and will open up to 14" with a quick release action that operates off a cam when turning the handle in the closed position. There is a small handle at the bottom of the vise that when turned, moves the inner jaw up and down about 3/4". I presume that when the jaw is in the up position, it functions as a dog for securing wood to the bench. The vise weighs about 48 lb.

Bill

Photo 1:

Comments: Restored
Source: My Camera

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Photo 2:

Comments: As Purchased 1
Source: My Camera

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Photo 3:

Comments: As Purchased 2
Source: My Camera

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Photo 4:

Comments: As Purchased 3
Source: My Camera

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Photo 5:

Comments: As Purchased 4
Source: My Camera

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Photo 6:

Comments: As Purchased 5
Source: My Camera

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