Hand crank embosser

[TomBanwell]

I found this tool at a yard sale several years ago, and have always assumed it was a leather embosser. It works well for that purpose. It appears to be at least 100 years old, and came with a single embossing wheel which is a large zig zag.

Is anyone familiar with this tool? The manufacturer's name can only partially be deciphered and appears to be something like "Schul Sund." I'd love to be able to get other embossing wheels for it.

Thanks for any info.

[greg gomersall]

Tom that is not an embosser but a crank pinker for pinking the edge of leather and other material. Greg

[Bob]

Tom that is not an embosser but a crank pinker for pinking the edge of leather and other material. Greg

Thats exactly the pinker I have, and love it too.

[TomBanwell]

OK, thanks. Now what the heck is a pinker?

[Art]

Hi Tom,

It was used as a decorative edge in the shoe trade, you will see it now occasionally on high dollar ladies shoes. It can also be used when fitting around a curve instead of slitting the edge. A pinker is kind of the leather version of pinking shears which did the same thing for light leather/fabric.

Art

OK, thanks. Now what the heck is a pinker?

[Logans Leather]

There are several blades available for these: straight, pinked, scalloped, pinked scallops, wavy etc. The Chandler Machine Co. in Ayers Massachusetts still makes some, however be warned that the blades cost over $100 each for new ones. fortunately, the blades last for years. There were several companies making similar pinking machines, and they used slightly different diameter spindles and therefore different inside diameters on the blades. you may need to modify the spindle or the blades to get them to fit properly. I have thinned down the spindles on some machines to fit the Chandler blades, as these are the only replacements readily available.

These machines were and are still used in the taxidermy trade to cut fancy edged borders for mounting plaques, bear (and other) skin rugs, etc.