Vise to meet you from Ottawa

[skmbabon]

Hi. My name is John. I'm a woodworker, not a machinist, but have an interest in learning more.
Ended up here because I've been researching the history of Canadian made vises and found pics of an interesting one on this forum.

Currently posting the results of my research on the big Vise Info thread on Garage Journal under the same user name. Didn't know there were Canadian made vises? Yup, dozens of manufacturers and hundreds of models! Unfortunately none of the companies are around today that I know of.

If you have a question (or information and photos!) of a Canadian made vise, I'm happy to answer what I can.

Here's a sample.
3" bench vise made by RAE (OTACO) in Orillia, ON. Claimed at times to be Canada's biggest vise manufacturer, RAE produced a lot in this size.


As the other side shows this isn't the usual RAE however. It was made for and sold by Eaton's under its Tecomaster brand.


Nice of them to use a Canadian manufacturer during Canada's Centennial year - they didn't always, and used other Canadian manufacturers at times.

 

[YYCHM]

Welcome from Calgary.

 

[MashingMetal]

Welcome, it’s definitely interesting to see they Canadian tools. I have a Rae as well, but no other markings. There was quite a thriving industry in the Hamilton area at one time.

 

[skmbabon]

Any pics of your vise, @MashingMetal?

RAE started in Hamilton before moving to Orillia. First vises are about 1921, last ones shortly after 1979. There were a few other vise makers in Hamilton in the early 1900s, including bench, drill press, woodworking and shaper types.

Rae Brothers first product appears to be "The Royal Chuck" in 1913; during the Frist World War they built machine lathes.

 

[slow-poke]

Hello John,

Sorry you missed the BBQ.

 

[skmbabon]

Thanks @slow-poke. Hope the showers went around you!

 

[MashingMetal]

@skmbabon I would have to dig it out of storage.
Here is my Hamilton made pattern makes vise anyway. I also have a Brown and Boggs sheet metal shear made in Hamilton.

 

[Martin w]

Welcome from Niagara Falls
This is my Clark Machine vise. Made in Thorold about 10 minutes from me. Been in business since about 1922

 

[6.5 Fan]

Welcome from SK.

 

[skmbabon]

@skmbabon I would have to dig it out of storage.
Here is my Hamilton made pattern makes vise anyway. I also have a Brown and Boggs sheet metal shear made in Hamilton.

LOL, I recognize that vise from the Canadian Woodworkers forum. Love it, it's a special one.
GM Yost applied for a patent in 1907 for improvements to the Emmert patternmakers vise. Patent was granted Sept 1908, as shown on your vise. Yost advertised them in 1910, manufactured in Meadville, PA.


What is interesting about your vice though, is the name of the Hamilton company that made it: Canadian Yeates Gordon Co. An announcement in The Canadian Manufacturer in Nov 1911 shows the company based in Meadville, PA, same as Yost. It was a review type story which may be why already in 1910 Canadian Machinery ran an ad for a Yost machinist's vise from the Canadian Yeates Gordon Co., Hamilton. Also in 1911, the National Machinery & Supply Co., Hamilton, was incorporated by 5 founders including P. McC. Yeates. Later in 1911 another ad appeared in Canadian Machinery for the Yost machinist's vise, with two key differences: the company running the ad was National, not Yeates Gordon, and the vise is now said to be made in Canada. Then in 1913 an entry in Canadian Machinery makes it clear that National was Yeates Gordon. There are vises around which look like yours except for that name change.
Your vise, while desirable as one of a limited number of patternmakers vises, is also quite rare as it appears to have been produced for only 1 or 2 years.
.

The first print mention I have found of the Yost patternmakers vise being made in Hamilton is from 1915, in an announcement about a National Machinery & Supply Co. Ltd. catalogue (which I would love to see!). National calls the vise the "Universal" woodworkers vise. In 1916, an illustration. Finally, in 1921, the last mention, because months later the company was bankrupt.


Such a coincidence you posted your Yeates Gordon vise in response to me asking about your RAE vise, because it was the renamed Rae Machine and Tool Works who took over National's vise and plane lines. They appear to already have had a relationship with National and their own RAE branded vises. Still trying to sort that out. And why didn't they continue making the Universal vise - have never seen one branded RAE.
At any rate, from Yeates Gordon to National Machinery to Rae in its many iterations, your vise is at the start of the longest lasting Canadian vise manufacturer. As I said, special 🙂

 

[skmbabon]

@skmbabon I would have to dig it out of storage.
Here is my Hamilton made pattern makes vise anyway. I also have a Brown and Boggs sheet metal shear made in Hamilton.

As you said earlier, Hamilton had a thriving industry. Brown-Boggs is known for their bigger machinery, but they also made an oval slide vise (have never seen one), and a very nice iron workers vise with quick release. Great vise, and what really intrigues me is the "1917" marking. I've seen similar style vises with that marking from James Smart in Brockville, and from Rock Island in the USA. Seems to be related to WWI war production but haven't found exactly what the arrangement was as yet.

 

[skmbabon]

Welcome from Niagara Falls
This is my Clark Machine vise. Made in Thorold about 10 minutes from me. Been in business since about 1922View attachment 69394View attachment 69395

Thanks Martin, for the greeting and the pic. I like Clark Machine vises.
They were in Galt before moving to the Niagara area in 1923. No evidence they made vises in Galt. Yours would be an earlier one from Thorold, before they moved to Merritton. Vise production ceased sometime in the 1940s according to a local history article; listed making them as late as 1950 in a manufacturer's directory. Still around today I believe as CMI Heavy Industries.
I've seen a 4M, 5M, and 5M-S with swivel base from Merritton, but the only vise in that style from Thorold that I've seen is marked M6. There should be some other sizes around according to this 1938 catalog.

Does yours have a number on it, or can you tell me the jaw width? Thanks.

 

[whydontu]

Welcome from Vancouver!

 

[Junque]

I've got an incomplete Yost pattern maker's vise here. Needs some careful repair work but could live again if someone wants to try.

The Rae vises seem to have declined in quality of fit and finish toward the end. I have a huge one that supposedly came off HMCS Ontario and opens about 14" IIRC.

 

[Martin w]

Thanks Martin, for the greeting and the pic. I like Clark Machine vises.
They were in Galt before moving to the Niagara area in 1923. No evidence they made vises in Galt. Yours would be an earlier one from Thorold, before they moved to Merritton. Vise production ceased sometime in the 1940s according to a local history article; listed making them as late as 1950 in a manufacturer's directory. Still around today I believe as CMI Heavy Industries.
I've seen a 4M, 5M, and 5M-S with swivel base from Merritton, but the only vise in that style from Thorold that I've seen is marked M6. There should be some other sizes around according to this 1938 catalog.

Does yours have a number on it, or can you tell me the jaw width? Thanks.

My vise is 6x20. I see no numbers, only Clark Mach. Co. Horold They never casted the T in Thorold

 

[Martin w]

My Rae vise has the H missing for Hamilton as well. Not sure why they did that?

 

[Martin w]

Not sure why my response to Skmbabon is part of the original quote? I must have did something wrong… Anyways it is a 6x20
Martin

 

[MashingMetal]

@skmbabon Thank-you very much for giving me such detailed information on my vise. I bought it 30 years ago now from a guy at the tools of the trade show.
I have always enjoyed it more than my 3 Emmert vises.
The development on Hamilton as “steel town” is very interesting, proximity to the lake, railroad and electricity coming up from Niagara area very early on.
I will have to look for a Brown and Boggs vise now. While not a very early example with the wood frame base I was happy my shear came with the rare optional fold down drawing table.

Ford Smith is another interesting company coming out of this area. I have one of their small grinders. Eventually giving up tool production and moving into car lifts.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

Welcome. We all have a lot of vices here. Some of the vises.