Manufacturer's Supply Company Bell Skiver Project

[mcguyver42]

Hello, I would appreciate some advice on an old Bell Skiver I bought a while back. I am at the point of trying to decide whether this is a viable restoration project or a parts machine for someone else. It's a Manufacturer's Supply Company Model 15ASTN mounted on the original table with exhaust system and waste collection bin.

 

Known Problems before tear-down:

The left door is missing.

I think there is a knob in that door that is a stop or adjustment for something, (knob missing too).

I don't have the correct Spare parts manual, and don't really know much about these machines.

Knife cover is missing

The guide and feet are missing

One of the pulleys has some pieces broken out

If holding the knife still and rocking the pulley, there is almost 1/8" of lash

Of course it will need a new knife, sharpening stone and belts

Motors are 3 phase

 

I want to experiment with some chrome tan projects. If this is beyond repair, a new or good used one will not be in my budget for some time. In that case, I might be looking for a manual alternative. Any recommendations?

 

 

 

 

 

More

[mcguyver42]

[mcguyver42]

You may have noticed that I have 2 right side covers sitting on the table there

[RockyAussie]

It has some similarities to a Fortuna skiver but I can not see from your pictures how the sharpening stone can be driven. Normally there is a belt that feeds inside through the machine and that hooks over the back right pulley set up. Some other machines run off a clutch that is on the right front pulley but I see no front control knob to actuate it. Otherwise I see a fair bit to do but the part that worries me most is that there is no cover over the back gearbox that transfers the motion to the feed roller. If you turn the back right pulley clockwise by hand does the feed stone revolve alright? The bell looks to have plenty of metal left so that's good.  The left cover that is missing should not matter to start with. I will try and load up a pdf file that may be to large as that may help a little. Best of luck.Fortuna 50 p ag.pdf

[Danne]

I found this thread, a similar machine, a post from Nuttish further down in the thread show a machine with the same model number as yours.

 

Edited January 3, 2023 by Danne

[mcguyver42]

You nailed it on the missing cover. I had noticed it missing, but didn't think much of it. There appears to be a missing gearset and transfer shaft arangement that drives the feed roller just as you said. I'll post up some pictures in a bit. This thing was basically free to me. It was thrown in with a sewing machine lot that I bought a few years ago. It is history though, and I hate to see it go to the scrap yard.

 

Thanks Danne, I was able to learn from that thread that my missing knob (in the missing cover), is a sharpening stone dressing tool.

[mcguyver42]

I might be interested in a parts machine if anyone has one.  I don't know how you would go about shipping something like that?  This thing must weigh 100 pounds or more.

[mcguyver42]

There it is, an empty gear box, and missing shaft from the gear box to the material feed assembly. 

[RockyAussie]

That is what I was afraid I might see. Without picking up another head somewhere I think it will be pretty hard to get going but that said ...the vacuum part and table of it could be worth an easy $200+. If here in OZ I would pay that and more. IF you could work in close with one of the dealers and if one is close by then you may be able to find some compatible parts.

[Matt S]

Looks like someone scavenged the feed wheel driver shaft, with its associated worm drive, to supply another machine. Maybe you can track them down and steal them back? 

The other issues aren't so bad -- the presser feet and guide can be ordered if of the standard design or probably wouldn't be too tricky to make. If the slop in the knife-pulley arrangement is in degrees of rotation (i.e. not slopping left and right or up and down) that's normal -- a result of the coupling which allows the knife to be adjusted left and right. The knife guard can be built too if you really want one -- my skiver is too old for a guard so the previous ownerpanelbeat one from brass.

I wonder how close to fitting the "standard" Chinese replacement parts would be? Otherwise again it wouldn't take too much trouble to get a piece of bright shafting of the right size (probably a standard inch size, but if not turn it down on a lathe until it fits) and needs a cross pin at the business end to mate loosely in the slot at the back of the wheel. The gear would be expensive and hard to replace but you could just leave the shaft long hanging out the back of the head driven by a separate motor. Or failing that just replace the feed wheel with something smooth that closely matches the shape of the stone and you may be able to feed the leather manually.

If it's for a hobby and you like tinkering it could be a fun project.