I am losing my mind! Bolt threads etc

[Lasse]

Hi!

I recent got a Astor hand press, the A51, classic grey etc etc And know I want to stock my arsenal with tools and attachments for this fantastic machines. So I bought what I thought was a genuine Astor tool-adapter-thing that I needed for a lot of my old attachments. ***All of this text end my questions is about the upper threads on the machine*** And the tool didn't really fit, you know it that way when the threads are not 100% in the feel when you screw it in the first time. Back and forth for a couple of days, with the official Astor seller in Sweden, and we couldnt figure out what was wrong. So I took the situation in my own hands and started to dig! After a couple of years with working on sewing machines from all over the world and my true passion motorcycles, Harleys, Euros, Japanese doesn't matter, I have had my struggles with bolts and threads before. I have more tools, screws and bolts than the average middle age man, but I don't have everything... apparently... I can't  figure out the true size of the "thread system", if you like. And I didn't have any right bolts that fitted exactly correct so I couldn't use the classic thread gauge tool. Searching the internet didn't really got my any answers that pleased me. Even emailing the company to get hints of; this is a secret...hmmmm!? They didn't want to answer any of my questions haha, I couldnt believe it! Is this true?! Is this an international secret to know what thread sizes Astor uses on their machines?! Will I get "taken out" if I continue? Jokes aside, someone? Please help! It's the Classic grey A51 button press, and a vintage model 5 press (in excellent condition I might say) that I want help to figure out the threads on. I can't seem to solve it by my self, so it's time to ask for help I am losing my mind.... where is my mind...

 

Attaching pics on my two beauties 

Edited 9 hours ago by Lasse

[Constabulary]

I do not know ASTOR but usually the threading for the upper die is either 1/4" (UNC) or M6, at least on the presses I worked with. I once restored two very vintage unknown brand presses with odd threading for a friend and on both I was able to replace the inner part that holds the upper die with a plain round m6 long nut (Gewindemuffe or Verbindungsmutter as it is called in Germany). So he can use standard M6 dies.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/165996998186?

The outer diameter was the exact same as on the die holder it required tinkering but both presses worked w/o problems.

For my own press (I´ll post pictures later) I also needed an adapter but he company I bought from (IIRC it called IX-Trade or so) no longer exists (a way different press anyway) as it seems but there are some CO's . in Germany that sell different adapters, not sure if there is one that suits your needs:

https://www.jstrading.de/de/pressen-oesen-zubehoer/Zubehoer/

or this one, they even mention ASTOR:

https://www.getmore-shop.com/epages/61848837.mobile/de_DE/;ClassicView=1?ObjectPath=/Shops/61848837/Categories/Presswerkzeuge

Edited 7 hours ago by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

Pictures of my lever press - its fairly a beast compared with "plain spindle presses". I needed an M10 (male)  x 1/4 (female) adapter to make it work.

Meanwhile I figured this must have been the manufacturer of my press but back then no data were available.

https://www.loxx-produkte.de/live/Historie-Unternehmensgeschichte/historie.aspx

But I doubt any spare parts are available anymore. Anyway I´have what I need and this thingy will last for ever. I have never seen a 2nd press like this either.

Edited 2 hours ago by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

BTW - what I figured today is that the A51 ex factory is a "button covering machine". Not sure what you want to do with it but the Co. still exist and maybe worth checking with them:

https://www.astor-berning.de/fashion/fashion-maschinen/187/a-51-knopf-ueberziehmaschine