2½” Simmons (Columbian) Vise

My FIRST vise!

Digital Images by Jock Dempsey.
When I was about 4 years old my Dad gave me a small set of real tools to play with. These included a set of bicycle wrenches from my Aunt Mary’s long gone bicycle, an old dressing table for a work bench and this small vise. In 1955 it was already old so it probably came from a catalog similar to the the ad below.

I kept that little vise on my personal work bench all through my teens and then pulled it out again when I studied Locksmithing in the 1970’s. When my son was 4 years old I built small work benches for he and his sister with vises on both. I supplied some tools as well. They still have the benches (they are handy to sit at) and Patrick still has my little vise. I still have the bicycle wrenchs my Dad gave me in 1955.