Photo Index - National Machinery & Supply Co., Ltd. - Vintage Machinist's/Bench Vise - 5" wide jaws

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
National Machinery & Supply Co., Ltd.
Hamilton, ON

True Manufacturer:
National Machinery & Supply Co., Ltd., Hamilton, ON

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Other
Machine Size:	5" jaw width
Submitted By:	T. Wagler

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Vintage Machinist's/Bench Vise - 5" wide jaws
Date of Manufacturer:	approx. 1915
Serial Number:	n/a
Last Updated	9/24/2024 6:43:31 PM

Comments:

Acquired this vise from a gentleman who was in the process of moving from his family home to a retirement home. He was still as sharp as a tack, so I got the entire back-story for this vise. It had been mounted in same location in his basement workshop since 1973 (shown in first picture below). He had inherited it from his father, who had procured it from his workplace in the 1940s or 1950s which was the Brading Breweries located in LeBreton Flats, Ottawa, Canada; established 1865 and ceased operation at that location in 1956. The manufacturer (National Machinery & Supply Co.) was a rather short-lived company that was first established in 1911 and ceasing operation about 1922 (additional historical research can be found here: https://forum.canadianwoodworking.com/forum/tools/hand-tools/14569-national-bench-planes-canadian-made/page6). The company was more well-known for their line of woodworking planes. The historical record indicates that in 1922 "...Rae Machine & Tool Works, Hamilton, who have taken over the manufacture of the National Machinery & Supply Co's planes and vises...". So there is a linkage between National and Rae, and in fact there is some possibility that Rae was the actual manufacturer.

Photo 1:

Comments: Picture from FB Marketplace listing, mounted in this location for 50+ years.
Source: Sellers photo

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Photo 2:

Comments: After cleaning - rust electrolysis tank worked well to remove grease and old paint in addtion to the rust.
Source: personal photo

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Photo 3:

Comments: Finished with mix of boiled linseed oil, turpentine, and paraffin wax. Also added finely ground up graphite powder for a darker appearance.
Source: personal photo

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Photo 4:

Comments: Model 205 indicates that it is actually a swivel mount vise, but the base is missing. The casting number on the dynamic (70) is the same as that for a Rae 105 that I also own, so that confirms the Rae/National linkage.
Source: personal photo

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Photo 5:

Comments: This 1913 advertisement appears to be a match. Somehow Yost was also involved in the early history of this manufacturer.
Source: personal photo

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Photo 6:

Comments: Linesmans pliers added to the photo for scale. Weight is 74.8 lbs. I'd expect it would weigh 90 lbs if it still had the swivel base.
Source: personal photo

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