Mystery Boot Making Machine

[LizDrew]

Hi all,

First off I just wanted to say thank you for all the amazing information I have found on this forum, it's been invaluable to me and my leatherworking! Right, onto the question...

I was wondering if you could help me identify an old machine I found in my Stepfathers shed? The machine was discovered in the old Shoemakers Cottage in Astcote, UK about 20 years ago. The logo stamped on the top reads "Salmon & Co, Victoria Works, Kettering".

There is a large handle to the machine as well but it is unfortunately in a box that we can't currently get to right now! I would love to know what this piece of equipment was used for, when it was made and anything about Salmon & Co you might know. So far all I have managed to find out was that Salmon & Co were in the Boot machinery business in 1877 - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/24532/page/7284/data.pdf

I would really appreciate any help! Thanks so much,

Liz

[Matt T]

I'd guess either a leather splitter or embossing machine. Do you have a picture from the front view?

[LizDrew]

Unfortunately they are the only photos I have at the moment. I was thinking that but the knife seems to be verticle so maybe a stap cutter? You can see it in the third image although it's all rusted together!

[celticleather]

This is almost certainly a sole channelling machine. It was used for cutting a channel around the edge of a shoe sole, into which the welt stitches were sewn. Somewhere towards the top it should have a L-shaped blade which can be raised and lowered by a lever. Turning the crank caused the blade to bite into the shoe sole, and rotated the shoe to make the channel around the sole. After stitching, the channel was glued and closed, hiding and protecting the stitches.

The picture below shows the sequence:
1 The channel is cut
2 Channel opened up
3 Stitch holes made with awl
4 Sole stitched to welt of shoe
5 Channel glued and closed

We have a similar machine in our shop, still working!

[TinkerTailor]

I don't see it in here, and this catalog is era and location correct: (and really cool)
https://archive.org/details/machineryforsadd00brit

[electrathon]

It looks like a Briggs and Stratton lawn mower to me.

It is hard to say without seeing the rollers, but I have a sole press (used to laminate stacks of leather) that looks very similar. If it is the rollers will not be straight, but look more like smile.

[SantaFeMarie]

I don't see it in here, and this catalog is era and location correct: (and really cool)

https://archive.org/details/machineryforsadd00brit

Very cool indeed! Thanks for posting.

[Terence]

Hallo Liz,

 I’ve just come across your post concerning the old machine found in your stepfather’s shed and am interested to know a bit more about where it was found.  We live in Astcote and have a converted shoemaking factory as part of the property.  I am just starting some research into the history of shoemaking in the village.

 Graeme