One of my vices is vises, Crawford Vise



I found this vise on Kijiji, from another Ontario foundry I had never heard of. 
The ad mentions the fact that this vise was manufactured in Woodstock On. I did a search and found this on Garage Journal.
"Crawford Machine was in business for a lot of years, and at one time cast parts for the Gould-Shapely-Muir engine company from Brantford Ont. They also made cast dumbells and big cast counter weights for forklifts. They presumably built or cast other items, but I have never found any info on them. Gordon Crawford was the owner." Not much else on Google...

Update, June 2021

From “What’s Woodstock” a Community Service Guide from November 2014.

It states, “Gordon Crawford started and operated a machine shop in the barn behind the family home located on 41 Cedar Street in 1938. In 1942 he moved the business “Crawford Machine and Foundry” to 100 Wilson Street, the current location of Battlefield Rental. At one time the business boasted a workforce of more than 50 workers. 

Many items were manufactured at the shop including manhole covers, some of which can still be found on the city streets in Woodstock today. Crawford sold the business in 1974.”

Thank you to Craig and Ed Crawford for the following contribution;

I am Ed Crawford, eldest son of Gordon Milne Crawford. 

My Dad was born in Woodstock in 1912 and passed away in 1993. 

His father, Frederick Crawford lived on Cedar Street, Woodstock. He operated a cartage business with horse and wagon and then a truck. That business was taken over by my Uncle Tony, Crawford Cartage which was located on Mill Street.

Items that were made by the company are vises, burners for tobacco kilns, wheels for Standard Tube push carts, plow shears, heatilators for fire places, clean out doors for chimneys and a lot more items out of cast iron. Small things that were made were nut crackers in the shape of a squirrel and alligator and even ash trays. 

It was in 1974 when Gordon Crawford got sick and had to retire.  His office manager, Stan Nader bought the business, who unfortunately let it go down the tubes. Very sad!

Far right, Gordon Crawford and the family Great Dane. Far left sitting Gordon's brother Doug.

And one more thing from Progress is Fine... always looking for items from the Crawford foundry!

Now these vises are starting to turn up in various places, I've seen them in 4, 5 and 6" sizes.

And here's an interesting display item sent by a reader. Different font than the ashtray/frying pan...

Thanks, Lee!