Michael,
The LN --
http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?sku=quick -- is the same mechanism that is on the old Richards Wilcox vises, of which I have 4, and one in use now. It works well. Very quick. LN is spendy, but it will be good hardware I am sure. As to the question on the record metal vise as a tail viase, I am not sure of what you are speaking of. I have now built three traditional tail vises, one with the hardware from Woodcraft, and two from Atlas, in Canada. The Woodcraft was better hardware, I think. Fewer TPI, which is important. Like Frank Klaus, I want an electric winder on my tail vise. The LN tail vise hdw. looks great, from Germany I think, but again is quite expensive.