Photo Index - Offen & Co., Ltd. - Vise with earliest version of Swivelling Ball-joint Workholder Mount

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Offen & Co., Ltd.
Redhill, Surrey, England

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Other
Machine Size:	Watchmakers/Jewellers
Submitted By:	T. Wagler

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Vise with earliest version of Swivelling Ball-joint Workholder Mount
Date of Manufacturer:	1940's
Serial Number:
Last Updated	12/20/2022 11:06:35 PM

Comments:

This is a small vise with the manufacturer's name Offen and Brit. Pat. number 535305 stamped on the nameplate. It is a jewellers or watchmakers vise in the Boley / Leinen style of which knock-offs were fairly commonly manufactured in Britain in the early 20th century by several manufacturers. It has a jaw width of 1.625", opens to about 1.125" and weighs 1.41 lbs. The total weight with both vise and mounting stand included is 4.29 lbs. It has dovetail ways with front jaw stationary and dynamic jaw to the rear in the Boley style, but doesn't have the small hardened anvil "button" on the top, nor is it in the clamp-on style or bench edge-mount style typical to Boley/Leinen. While the vise is beautifully-made, it isn't really the vise that is noteworthy. Rather it is the swivelling ball-joint mount and base that is unusual, in that it appears to be the precursor to the much more commonly seen Wilton Pow-R-Arm swivelling mount. The Offen patent (https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DGB535305A) was applied for in 1939 and accepted in 1941. This predates the Wilton Patent 2,354,937 which was applied for in 1942, titled "Work-holding device having a ball and socket as a means for universal adjustment". I'm not an expert in searching patents, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the Offen vise and mount was the source of inspiration for the Wilton design. Too bad that James Herbert Offen never reaped any fame and fortune for his earlier invention. It would be interesting to know more about him and his vise manufacturing company.

I've only found one other example of this vise posted online (by UK owner), so it appears to be fairly rare. Mine was acquired in Ottawa, Canada from a guitar-maker, who was clearing some unused tools. He believed that this vise came from his Grandpa's workshop, but did not know of any particular link to Britain, or to the jewellery or watchmakering business.

Photo 1:

Comments: Side View
Source: personal photo

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Photo 2:

Comments: Components of swivel ball joint mechanism
Source: personal photo

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Photo 3:

Comments: Front View - prior to cleaning
Source: personal photo

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Photo 4:

Comments: Rear - showing dovetail ways and in swiveled position
Source: personal photo

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