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THE FLY VISE
Thompson Original A Vise
Pictured is the Thompson A vise. These were sold in the the 60s -70s for about $6.00. There were many vise manufacturing companies, most of them sold flies. There were copies of the Thompson A vise from India called "Sunrise India AA Vise" All vises at the time were lever cammed or knob turned in the same design. A rotary head was best to examine the fly.
I have been tying flies since 1970, I use a Veniard Salmo rotating vise. I've tied 1000s of flies.
A radical change in fly vise design came about with a radical hike in price.
Thompson Cobra Vise
Although I'm sticking to Thompson, who invented the cam lever vise there are so many in this inverted design.The question whether either is easier to use cannot be answered since both will do the job. Old tyers will stick with the original design or may upgrade to a new design but it's the tyer and not the vise that produces the art.
The price is what gets me, up to 40 times today for the inverted vise with the Thompson A still being made at $40.00 price? An expensive vise won't make a pro tyer, only experience does that.
If you are starting out, buy a cheap vise with good hardened jaws.
Buy a used Thompson or other vintage vise.
Search ebay for "FLY VICE" as many sellers misspell the item.
You'll need a base because tables have an edge today, bases are for sale alone.
If you are loaded buy the most expensive vise.
Guide created: 04/30/08 (updated 06/09/08)
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