Had this vice since I was probably 16 or 17. My neighbor next door gave it to me when I lived at my parents house. It was old then. Never saw one quite like it. After years of use and abuse, I decided to give the old girl a makeover. Its a Desmond Stephan model 41P. Says made in Urbana, Ohio. It was always a dark red color, but on closer examination, I think the original color was a light green hammer tone finish. I took it apart and had it powder coated in the closest color they had to snap on red. Came out a little brighter than I expected but happy. Good for another 50 years. Here she is in her glory freshly mounted on my new workbench
This is why none of these companies are in business anymore. They sold a vice and that was it. It lasted for the rest of the customers life!
Interesting looking vice great job on the restoration. I notice it doesn't have the typical crank handle in front not sure how the handle on the side works.
That is what makes it so unique. So basically the big thumb wheel in the front is what opens and close the jaws. It's the course adjustment. You keep the lever at a 45 degree angle. Once the jaws are cinched up to your work, you press the lever down and that clamps it the rest of the way. The harder you press down on the lever, the tighter it gets
So in doing some internet research. The desmond stephan company made vices from 1931 to 1964 when they were bought by Ridge tool. So it cant be any newer than 1964. Although it's cast 41P, it looks nothing like a 41P. If you Google 41FS, a similar one comes up on a thread on garage journal, aka the rabbit hole! Lol
Nice Resto , I’m thinking that nice vice - work bench combo is attached to the garage floor with 2”long 3/8” lag screws sunk into lead anchors
