Growing up, these things always seemed to be the mark of the amateur woodworker or hobbyist, not a serious tool. And they were not cheap. But having had one donated to me a few years ago, I've got to grudgingly admit that they are a very handy thing to own. But does it fit in the category of "one of my vices..."?
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Having been in tool sales for 44 years I always figured they were kind of gimmicky, but after we had an open house at the tool supply I worked for the B&D rep left one behind that he used for demos and never came back to pick it up, I took it home and realized that it does have a use around the house. That was 25 years ago now and it still works fine.
I would say the benchtop version qualifies as one of your vices:
https://images.proxibid.com/AuctionImages/4548/156055/74-1.jpg
It's a mini WorkMate on a ball joint that clamps to a benchtop, kind of like a plastic carver's vise. I have one and get a lot of use out of it; it's good for gluing up small parts and I use it as a stitching pony to quickly stitch together pieces of leather. It's not strong though, by any means but if I ever come across another one I would buy it.
My WorkMate itself sees more use as a work table; I screwed a piece of 1x1 to the bottom of a 3/4 in plywood offcut and clamp it with the WorkMate to make a tabletop. It's probably just that mine is old, but the WorkMate is too wobbly for me. Have you ever folded one and almost lost a fingertip?
Bought the then-girlfriend one for a present when they first came out sometime around 1977(?) I still use it regularly. She be long gone...
They're a really useful thing - not least because, if you have a lathe, you can make things to fit in the holes! D.
In the British ad we see 'Andy' kneeling and sitting on the Workmate, which is as the inventor intended. In the liability lawyer ridden U.S. the instructions specifically warn against such use. I stood on mine as a short scaffold when I installed a tongue and groove ceiling in my kitchen. I own five of them now. Indispensible!
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