English Workbench Discovery ...Parents Garage

[Erich Weidner]

My folks two years ago moved into a new place (well, not new construction of course). The detached garage is certainly no older vintage than the 1950's or so if it is even that old... on my first visit I never went into the garage (They are in PA, I'm in TX, so visits are short and full of activity, plus with my Father's poor health and very limited mobility we spend most of the time in the house)... I digress, but at any rate this time around while fixing a few things around the house for them I went into the garage to look for some drill bits... very very much to my surprise I discovered, mostly buried underneath junk and paint cans, an English style workbench!

Now I would never have known what this was were it not for Christopher Schwartz's book on workbenches design & theory (I believe was the title). I was rushed for time and just needed to drill a few holes in a board, but right off I ran into problems as the only clamps about were "quick grip" clamps I bought for them on a prior visit. The front apron was too wide to use. :) Anyway, the point of the story was really just how amazed I was to discover what I believed to be extinct style of workbench in the wild.

Anyway, here are the photos I snapped. I'll take better pictures after cleaning it off next visit if anyone is interested. Enjoy.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1633/24700001035_abe6abdcb4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DCDXLP)2015-09-22 13.44.03 (https://flic.kr/p/DCDXLP) by Erich Weidner (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139147617@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1545/24332329119_0235326c4c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/D5axHR)2015-09-22 13.43.55 (https://flic.kr/p/D5axHR) by Erich Weidner (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139147617@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1600/24606492341_69c852710d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DuoGTX)2015-09-22 13.44.21 (https://flic.kr/p/DuoGTX) by Erich Weidner (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139147617@N06/), on Flickr

[Lenore Epstein]

Ohh, a leg vise!

Several woodworkers are teaching and making English workbenches, including The Schwarz. From what I've seen I'd prefer that style to the more trendy Roubo, if I ever get around to making myself a proper workbench.

Too bad I don't have a yahoo or Flickr login so I could admire bigger pictures.

[Michael Peet]

What a cool find. That parallel guide is interesting; how does the sawtooth pattern work?

[Erich Weidner]

What a cool find. That parallel guide is interesting; how does the sawtooth pattern work

Unfortunately I have no idea. I discovered this Sunday late afternoon, I was flying out the next morning and still had to finish up a few repairs and make dinner. Next visit I'll make some inquiries and see if I can figure out the story behind the bench and try out the leg vice.

[Kees Heiden]

That's really cool. I look forward to the rest of the story.

[Tom Vanzant]

How long is it and are there more than four legs?

[Tony Wilkins]

Very cool. Look forward to the root from your next visit.

[Jerry Olexa]

Wow....keep us updated...Thanks

[Bill Houghton]

I realized, when visiting my parents' neighbor across the street some years back, that he had a leg vise on the bench in his post-WWII house. I hadn't realized that they were still on offer that late, or even much known in the 1950s.

[Erich Weidner]

Well, the last time I was home was in 2016 for my Father's memorial service. Since then it has been easier to fly Mom to visit me (as she is retired and I don't have to take vacation), so this week is the first I've been to my hometown since I started this thread.

After much wrangling, I was able to relocate or dispose of the junk all over the bench... Here it is.

Not terribly impressive construction and someone nailed down particleboard to the top. But the leg vice still works and grips like crazy. I guess it shows you don't need amazing joinery to have a functional bench.
Now, I find myself wondering if any woodworking was done on it, because aside from a single dog hole on the front skirt... nothing for work holding besides the leg vice.
442058 442059 442060 442061 I just used a piece of bent metal as the "pin". Worked great.

I was going to pry up the particleboard sheets, but since I'm sure it is more functional for its current use (stacking stuff on) without the gaps between the boards of the bench top. I reluctantly left it be.

[bill epstein]

Ohh, a leg vise!

Several woodworkers are teaching and making English workbenches, including The Schwarz. From what I've seen I'd prefer that style to the more trendy Roubo, if I ever get around to making myself a proper workbench.

Too bad I don't have a yahoo or Flickr login so I could admire bigger pictures.

Use the Schwarz?


https://youtu.be/Avd8u9nWQAU

[Dennis Droege]

Erich, thank you for sharing this with us. I love to find something like this and indulge in trying to imagine its provenance and history.

[Jim Koepke]

Erich, thank you for sharing this with us. I love to find something like this and indulge in trying to imagine its provenance and history.

My guess is this was a homeowner made bench built for everything that might come along in the realm of home maintenance.

It works for woodworking or working on a lawnmower.

jtk

[Tom Bender]

Is the bench built in or free standing? The wear showing implies that it was used for woodworking then rededicated to general use. I'll guess that it was an old man's bench first then a young man's.

[Jason Buresh]

Erich,

This link may interest you. This guy refers to this style as an english joiners bench, and touches a little bit on the history.

https://youtu.be/zcq1LQq08lk

[Erich Weidner]

Tom, hard to say. The front apron and the first piece of the bench are wide and thick (~1-1/2" thick x over 12" wide). I ran out of time in my excavation and never got to see if it was attached to the wall or not. I think it is free standing, as there is about 4" between the wall and the back of the bench.

As usual, I was pretty busy on this visit with family and fixing things for Mom. ("Mom, do we need anything from Lowe's?" (which is 30 minutes away) Later while installing a new controller board for the water softener "Mom, the light won't stay on in the water softener closet"... "oh, we just tie the string or it won't stay on". Another trip to Lowe's, replaced with new $5 pull string light fixture... and so on.