In 1830 in England the first cast iron vice was produced. Liquid iron could be transformed into any shape easily. When pouring, air pockets often occurred within the cast, so-called cavities. The structure was therefore porous and brittle.

How are the jaws of a vice made?

The Jaws Faces of the vice are made from hardened steel. There are also serrated which is a criss-cross pattern which provides a firmer grip on the workpiece. The Jaws Faces are screwed to the Sliding Jaw and the Fixed Jaw so that if they are damaged they can be replaced.

Do record still make vices?

The current owners of the Record brand (Irvin) continue to make a version of the QR vice, although it is a pale imitation of the versions made in the 30s, 40s and 50s. Countless companies have made copies of the design over the years.