Help to identify a vintage machine please

[PaulineSul]

@fredk thank you.

Is there a gauge or chart for leather as Dad has lots of different thicknesses and its on rolls, maybe 3 meters wide. I can tell that they are different grades but I am absolutely clueless lol  other than the colour. 

The snake skins are also a minefield 

 

[fredk]

21 minutes ago, PaulineSul said:

The snake skins are also a minefield 

In more ways than one. You need to determine if they are really snake skin or cow/goat skin impressed and coloured. Its hard to sell on real snake skin in the UK as most snakes come under UK endangered species lists and the authorities just lump them all in together. You can get into real trouble over them - but sell on the sly to other leather crafters and no one is the wiser.

I'd suggest, for the other hides, if there are that many, contact Le Prevo in Newcastle. Under the previous owner Stu they used to buy in odd leathers from such sources as yourself. They might still do, or sell them on your behalf

[PaulineSul]

Oh I never knew about the snake skins, they are very old, probably from the 60's and 70's but I don't want to fall foul of the authorities. Are there discrete selling places to enable people to purchase said skins rather than bin them?

I know which ones are definitely snake skin as they are the shape of a snake. 

I will contact Le Prevo and ask the question

Once again, Thank you 

[fredk]

29 minutes ago, PaulineSul said:

Oh I never knew about the snake skins, they are very old, probably from the 60's and 70's but I don't want to fall foul of the authorities. Are there discrete selling places to enable people to purchase said skins rather than bin them?

I know which ones are definitely snake skin as they are the shape of a snake. 

1. on here,   . There are quite a few UK leather crafters on here who might buy them. The Ozzies and Cranks, errr, the Yanks can get new snake skins far easier than we can

2. on ebay, as 'antique reptile skins' but not as snake because ebay UK/Europe will ban their sale. I've even seen snake skin listed as fish skin. I've never seen a 4ft long diamond-back 'fish' yet

3. its more than just the shape, its the feel, the scales, the thinness which can tell you if its real snake. But you're probably correct. Snake skin shoes were top-notch and popular in the 1960s - 1970s but dropped out of fashion in the mid-1980s 

be ware of the latest changes in the laws to do with products from exotic species. More have been recently added. Some we, as leather crafters, might not come across, such as ivory from Walrus or Killer Whales, but hides from other animals have been added

 

PS. oh, just remembered, Le Prevo also sells on old leather crafting machines* so talk to them about those as well - but NOT before letting us see them !

* they have or recently had a stainless steel kitchen sink & fittings for sale !

Edited June 10, 2023 by fredk

[PaulineSul]

You are a wonderful font of knowledge, thank you.

I will get them together and take some images and then post them on here to gauge interest. (I will measure the thickness too)

Oh Dad had some amazing snakeskin shoes, he made himself a couple of pairs and I have them in lovely wooden boxes as a memory of him.  

If only I knew how to make leather goods I would be set up, I have everything a leather worker could ever need, Dad kept everything as he saw a use for it all.

 

 

[fredk]

2 hours ago, PaulineSul said:

If only I knew how to make leather goods I would be set up, I have everything a leather worker could ever need, 

Why not give it a go! as you say you're all set up. You don't have to make shoes. A small shoulder bag, belt things like that. And you've joined this forum. If you have time browse the 'How do I . . . ? ' section. There are plenty of other crafters who will help you develop your skills. We are usually very kind on early efforts. 

'How do I do that?' 363 pages. I'm still working through them several years on! I work from both ends, oldest & most recent

https://leatherworker.net/forum/forum/36-how-do-i-do-that/

2 hours ago, PaulineSul said:

Oh Dad had some amazing snakeskin shoes, he made himself a couple of pairs and I have them in lovely wooden boxes as a memory of him.  

Thats really nice

2 hours ago, PaulineSul said:

I will get them together and take some images and then post them on here to gauge interest. (I will measure the thickness too)

you can buy a basic leather thickness gauge for under a tenner on ebay. Be careful, this very same item sells for very many, mucho ££ by other sellers

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224912663552?hash=item345dd6e400:g:6OAAAOSwyq5iRLPy&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4AYF0cZT%2BNEzh%2BlnQFi2fT%2F%2FV7Ps5uGL1qBm1PRca%2FP0cHHkuj6UwdZJjiAQSxrNmrlw3GdjfIAbSnmCgWbJ%2FRTAgWlke58M0lVtkc6WBONUOnTWjzrl602lmoH0UrS5YnZsMWJhFMmjW4LOOrotcsyhEnM77rxi%2B6%2BxO1ntIgFWNUxqduwTGgGj0EvadezqjF%2BLQYSXAa5ninU8hqBdR3dk%2BNcGELKnv%2F9PpepyEkD9tYsW82NhMDKcyhNLQheonOLyi%2FDig7o8lANhkFkfQ3u61nF0hpbb03t7%2Bi4ob9Hq|tkp%3ABk9SR8qtm9qUYg

Currently my orders from China are taking 10 to 15 days to arrive

UK price is about £12. Worth it to me, but to you?

Edited June 10, 2023 by fredk

[PaulineSul]

I will take a look at the gauge. thank you.

I might consider giving something a go 

I think I have just found a crocodile skin! 

I'm going to take pictures of bits and pieces soon 

 

[PaulineSul]

Think this is a shoe press/compressor, has some metal shoe cut things with it?

Worth salvaging or scrap? 

Thank you 

[fredk]

Always worth salvaging. Shoe makers' and cobblers' machines are scarce enough. Someone somewhere will want it and can make use of it

About 6 years ago an old shoemaker/cobbler in a town near me died and his family cleared out his old shop. Machines going back to the 1850s / 1860s were sledgehammered and sent for land-fill. No attempt was made to sell them. afair some of the old machines were very valuable, enough to pay off a mortgage. You never know just what you have there in value

[PaulineSul]

Oh no that is such a shame, why would they destroy the history of the items. I tried to connect with so many people and eventually one lovely chap who repaired singer machines recommended this group.

I have just found some original instruction manuals and shared front covers on here, they are clearly very old and must be hard to come by so they may help someone and I am happy to provide copies.

Thanks to knowledge learned from this group I have identified a small hand operated wrought iron rivet machine, its now cleaned, oiled and fully operational and also a skiver machine which I have taken apart cleaned and it works like a dream. My hands and nails are ruined but I have saved two machines and hopefully Dad is smiling down on me. Now its just trying to find them new homes and about another 40 machines to go.......some will be beyond my abilities but I have enjoyed working with the smaller less complicated ones.

Do you know where the best place is to advertise the big machines?