Vintage vise - a one-off?

[John de Rosier]

Found this beauty on eBay quite a few years ago. Thought it was a Stehman & Stehman when I bought it - the photos were grainy. But it wasn't. Instead, got this beautifully machined beauty that spins on a cassette ball bearing. Hand scraped surface on the jaws, too (I believe that's the finish -- looks gently scalloped - chipped). It's so overbuilt that I suspect it might be a one-off by a very talented machinist. It simply strikes me as too complex to be a production unit. Would love to be wrong about that, though.

Attached are a few photos.

I disassemble the vise in greater detail on my blog to show the innards - feel free to go have a look. No identifying markings on it whatsoever, so if anyone can advise make or origin, or any other thoughts, I'd love to hear from you.

[atexascowboy]

John
I have a vise that looks identical. I received mine from a good friend several years ago. Mine came with a circular wooden cache base for the accessories. Haven't looked at it in years, but to my knowledge there are no manufacturers markings on it either.
Jeff

[Fernando Keilty]

Hello:

In the work of Fred Rees "Modern Letter Engraving", pages 79 and 80, is described as MONARCH No. 1 and 2, and on page 81, there is an illustration of a box with accessories.

Fernando K