A Simple - Simplex Vise Restoration

Thanks for watching! This is a cool old Simplex vise. Key feature for them on this model is the steel slide. Since it is steel, I thought I would spend a little extra time to sand and polish it up. Pretty happy with the result. Pretty straight forward restoration and a nice example of the Simplex vise.
I found a catalog page from 1936 showing the 41P model on the Internet Archive website. Appears to be a little different than mine, mostly in the font/casting. This vise would have been prior to 1964 based on the history on the Simplex company taken from Vintage Machinery.org
The Simplex Tool Co. of Woonsocket, RI, was active by mid-1916 and was incorporated in 1917, with president and general manager Thomas Shaw. In 1923, they introduced the Simplex Gray bench vise with an all-steel slide intended to eliminate breakage. The company was taken over in 1931 by Simplex Corp., also of Woonsocket, who continued production of Simplex vises. Later in 1931, the Simplex vise line was sold to Desmond-Stephan Manufacturing Co. They made Simplex steel slide vises until 1964, when they sold the vise division to Ridge Tool Co.
Disclaimer: By clicking on this video, you acknowledge you have read and understand the following statements. This video is intended for entertainment purposes only. Repeating processes seen in this video will be at your own risk.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Excellent job! That slide came out pristine, you can see nobody was using it as an anvil. That’s the first thing I look at now! 😃👍

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks John, glad you tuned in. Had some damage on the top, but overall in great condition. I'm glad the slide was in such great shape, perfect for a polishing project.

[@357magdad]

Wow! The vise turned out spectacular!

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks Magdad!

[@_BigLife_]

Great vice. Very underrated, I have a 33p and love it. I have had two of them and they were both originally green

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks Ryan! I found some black and some yellow on this one, but only trace amounts. I wonder if it even had paint on originally? I won't be using this one, but agree, a well built vise.

[@drivesalot0063]

Well done! What a beautiful vise! I like the paint🙂👍

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks so much. I wasn't sure about the color at first, but I too like the way it came out.

[@themetalninja8102]

Nice work dude.

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thank you very much!

[@jimronchetto8592]

That was a beautiful restoration! I really enjoyed this video. Anyone would be proud to have that beautiful vise on their shop bench!

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thank you Jim, appreciate the kind words!

[@uncleblack7322]

Came out great...enjoyed the video...Looks Great...😍😍😍

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks, really appreciate you watching!

[@Dalesworkshop]

David nice color choice it looks fantastic, great job.

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks so much Dale, I like the color too!

[@choppermike3329]

Must have been satisfying doing that resto. I know it was for us viewers. Nice attention to detail. Great job David!

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks Mike, and yes it was satisfying! I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

[@bigvicsworkshop]

5☆! Love that color and the slide is sweet!!

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks for the 5 stars! 🤣. I knew you would like the “Big Vic Blue”. Thanks for watching brother.

[@Uwannawatch]

Fantastic David! That vise came out perfect, Love the color! That slide is brilliant! If I come across one of those I'm gonna have to do it up all proper like that! Awesome work Brother!

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks George, this one was a lot of fun. Still going to get a naked one done in your honor one of these days.😂

[@SteveZitta]

David this vise looks better than new, incredibly well done 👍

[@westhighlandsshop]

@@SteveZitta thanks Steve! It was a fun one.

[@plainnpretty]

You done a nice job it came out great. You never said what you’re going to do with it ? Thanks David

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thank you very much. This one just goes in the collection. One of these days I will get around to doing a shop tour and show everyone.

[@rollerbald]

Wow, that looks beautiful David. I love the color and the polished slide - well done!

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks Bill. Polishing the slide was a lot of fun and I think the color shows well.

[@KathyHunt-q9j]

Another great restoration!

[@westhighlandsshop]

Awesome, thanks for watching and glad you like the outcome. See ya soon

[@91Z50]

Beautiful Job! Thanks for sharing

[@westhighlandsshop]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the comment and watching!

[@budthomason8890]

Looks good.

[@Bigfoot14000]

Amazing work on that slide David. What bluing compound did you use?

[@westhighlandsshop]

Thanks! It was a fun project, and the metal polishing is always so satisfying. I use G96 Gun Blue on a tip from one of @357Magdad videos. I used to use Oxpho-Blue, but like the G96 better, its a deeper darker color.