This cast iron alignment table, bench vises and fork alignment tool I bought from Johnny Berry's widow in 1975. Johnny was a builder that lived and worked in Manchester, England and died in 1974. I consider him the best of the best British builders. I think there is something special about using a vise that was probably bought soon after WWI and has helped make many frames before I got it. Hundreds of my frame building class students got their start learning to braze at that vise. I'm sure these tools will have a long life after I'm gone.
The stainless steel laser cut and etched fixture on the table was inspired by one Johnny made. I've added a lot of bells and whistles. These "sizing boards" were commonly used in the classic era of framebuilding in England. London's F. W. Evans claimed to have invented it in his 1930's advertising. On the cover of his brochure he says "The sure foundation for truth in cycle frames is an accurate jig! Okay then. Inside he said it is superior to doing a full scale drawing. I wouldn't disagree now what he said then.
For a long time I used Johnny's oxyacetylene regulators and torch handle. The handle was made out of aluminum and had a nice light feel to it. Eventually I've gone to using propane with an oxygen concentrator. Propane is a lot easier and cheaper to buy and transport and concentrators provide an endless supply of oxygen at just the cost of electricity. In the old days I always seemed to run out of either at 4:59 Friday afternoon. In some cities acetylene purchase and delivery is very restricted and so propane is a much better choice for my students that want to build frames as a hobby. And the concentrators are way safer. Propane works best with multi-port tips that come from the jewelry trade.
I like teaching my students how to carve a design out of blank lugs. The transportation bicycle in the background is a prototype of the kind we make in Ukraine for pastors to get around. Since 2014 we have been placing them with those that live near the Russian border where everything is a real mess.