Tools Of A Swiss Sattler

[Leather Guru]

Hello Ralph.

I am unfortunately no French, but would surely find someone who can translate.

English unfortunately too little, but the problem would dissipate safely. I would sure find which helps us and speaks perfect English.

St. Gallen is approximately 280 kilometres from Geneva.

If you are willing to look past but surely and we stir us even through the tools, leather-splitting machines, etc.

End of August would be no problem.

Well the tools by Blanchard, who were very nice.

But about 8 years ago, I was once in the Poursin, there, I've seen many old boards with horse harness fittings of various world exhibitions.

Gold plate coated, and beautifully engraved stuff.

Unfortunately the Camera in Paris was stolen from me, about 200 photos of the old fittings are no longer available.

These were part of the Time from Napoleon the third.

http://www.poursin-P...-Affiche-fr.php

http://www.poursin-Paris.fr/

What you can see of it still on the website is the same issue as with the tool by Blanchard.

Louis Vuitton but still gets its fittings of Poursin.

Steel for tools.

I have tested my good Half Moon once, the good have 64 Rockwell hardness.

These are to grind the very good and they are almost always made ​​from geschmideten plates, ie forged under the big machine hammer.

Unfortunately, this long no longer made​​.

If you're with me, I'll show you time how do I loop it.

I make them by hand or by machine, but have a special grinding paste from England.

http://www.Lea.co.UK...sive/comps3.htm

Lea Compounds is a fatless grinding paste themselves to the work of grinding very well is ideal.

She so much material takes away that sparks spray, but it is a paste that to a normal slice of sewn fabric.

The half moons get not an ever darker angle, they remain thin and easy to grind.

As a second step I take a polishing paste and finally a strop as at the razor.

I think the good hard Arkansas unfortunately little more I mean the grey to anthracite dark that seem almost transparent.

I use Lea compund for croppers, etc.

So, now, but enough for today.

Walter

"Hello Walter , We have a lot to talk about ! They have been making saw blades from "tungsten carbide " and tools for lathes from the same material & they come sharpend ! You can buy knife blades sharpened so why not leather tools ????

[walter roth]

Hi Ralph

It is true what you say..................

But if over 40 harness by Hand has been cut to like me, then you learn that it not just on the hard and high-alloyed material arrives.

Today, it is a completely different approach to the knife making.

The today's knives are as hard as possible, with the idea that they by hardness of less quickly in sharpness lose...

Earlier made a steel represented a middle ground.

The blades should do well and be good to raise.

Today, there are many knife for sharpening a brow get which is difficult to remove.

The brow is machine grinding removes the fatty polishing paste with, the paste sticks a little and it pulls away the brow.

The old blades were just an unsurpassable steel, but not just a so hard, brittle. The manufacturer could do so only with experience because customers said that they are just good knife.

Technique you still wasn't able to examine the steel metallurgical exactly and to establish exactly how today it may be.

It's like with the samurai swords, you can a steel today who make wonderful is, nevertheless, swords out of it are not really good.

I have spent probably 200 hours to sharpen my knife, and I met with the differences.

Perfect for sand crescents by hand takes each knife 20 minutes. only the hand-ground get a perfect shape, but they are not so nice at the loop point, they look slightly scratched.

But they are unbeatable and perfect silhouette of the blade.

By the way, I cut since my training only on plates made of plastic as they use the butcher.

Limewood or Poplarwood are less well to the knife, and their structure is the arch tailor not suitable.

So, the modern things are often very good.

Greeting

Walter

[walter roth]

Hello together.

I have a whole Blanchard catalog as a PDF and as photos.

Even a different dealer of these tools, also from paris, who had wei this same tools but so good.

If this interests you, please is it tells me I can set the images here.

Here are a few sample photos.

Walter

[Trox]

Hello Walter,

I have been looking for this catalog for a long time, it is a great find. I have seen some of it in the in the "Dictionary of leather-working tools, 1700-1950" by R.A. Salaman. The G. Krempp`s who was the successor of Georges Lutz, (according to the book) had the exact same tools in his catalog as Simonin Blanchard had. And the catalogs have the same date too, perhaps they used the same print to save money (as many leather tool seller still do). A other reason was that every French tool makers made tool from the same patterns, as even German makers did.

I have tools from several French makers:

Mayer Flamery A Paris * Fernand Mayer, Paris (who may be the one half of the latter) * Ullathorne & cie, Paris * Dumay, A Paris * Depose * SNCF (and a vertical) B. Even some with maker names I cannot read any more. However, they all seems to be made of the exactly same patters. You can see some difference in choice of material and shape of wooden shafts sometimes. Apart from that they are all alike. According to history there where toolmakers in every backyard in the old times, perhaps the big companies bought unmarked tools from them and put their own mark on them. I do not think thats far from the truth, and then later producing them their self. Perhaps also employed some of these backyard makers in their own firm. That history might be out there somewhere to be found, I hope its not lost for ever.

Anyway,

I am very interested in the PDF copy of course, that would help many tool freaks like me to identify old tools. I would be very pleased if you posted it, and perhaps I also could ask you for an PDF copy too. I will be bold enough to send you an PM (personal message), because its not wise to publish any emails online (spammers will bombard our email in boxes and steal our valuable time and perhaps info too).

In advance thanks.

I am always on lookout for nice old leather tools, some time ago I found an old Blanchard saddler hammer with a strange bone shaft. The steel did not look very good, but it had the right shape of a good saddler's hammer. (when your name is "Tor" you got to love hammers).

After several hours of restoring on my band grinder and polishing wheel it is usable again. Have you seen this kind of handle on any Blanchard hammer before?, its black, brown and white bone and not Ivory. Could it be from a mammoth? It is bone but not as hard as whale or walrus teeth's (and it do not smell like a horn). If you have seen something like it, please let me know.

Thank you

Tor

[walter roth]

Hi Tor ..........

Well, the stories of Tor with the hammer I have ever read as a child, along with Connan the Barbarian ..... ((((-: .... and Prince Ironheart .......................

Norway is an unknown country for Swiss Sattler, like they had a unique culture in the harnesses for work.

So I gladly give you the PDF, send me your email address.

The price lists are also included.

This type of H, the so-called Saddle-Maker-Hammer, which I also have some with wooden handle, horn handle and there were also those with bone handles, with the bones I saw only once in an auction catalog.

It is quite possible, that was the one knife making as a repair like this.

In Blanchard, there were also workers, after they have retired, still continued to work privately at home.

I have such a tool with the Brand ......."Portrait of Paris,"....... has made super fine tools, but it is very rare to find. that was the Worker from Blanchard, told me an old Saddler from France.

Here's what to look at.

https://sites.google.com/site/ifojoss/outils-bourrelier-sellier/galerie-1

You can buy anything from him that all things are sold. In addition, the prices had ..... Wow.

Then there was the even of the most beautiful things ever made, the company "Strolz Paris" had only very fine ebony handles with inlaid shield made ........nickel silver........... or as the French say, ............."Argentan"..............

Blanchard was indeed famous, but by far not the best.

Even in Switzerland there was a tool making, the ......."Niggli Aarburg"............ has worked very clean.

Then the best knives from the company .............."Backaus"............. a Knivemaker in Bern.

They were better than that of Blanchard.

Backaus made the Half Moon Knife for the Swiss Army Sattler.

So now I've visited.

Yes here is the second of August, yesterday was National Day with us.

Greeting

Walter

[walter roth]

Hi Tor and hallo Bruce

I have emailed you the files by "Lutz Kremp" and "Blanchard".

And here again the link to some good pictures.

I hope it works with the large attachments.

https://sites.google.com/site/ifojoss/outils-bourrelier-sellier/galerie-1

Walter

[Trox]

Hi Tor and hallo Bruce

I have emailed you the files by "Lutz Kremp" and "Blanchard".

And here again the link to some good pictures.

I hope it works with the large attachments.

https://sites.google...llier/galerie-1

Walter

Hi Walter,

thanks for the pdf`s, very nice "tool pornographic`s". I saw some tools there I never seen before, like the Machine à parer # La parfaite rapide" Seems to be a splitting machine that can to skiving too?. Are you familiar with this tool? Among the four splitting machine in the Blanchard catalog there is a well known Osborn #86. Then two others I never seen, one of them looks like the one Dixon offers. I know Blanchard made (or sold) that model too.

Back to your post #1,

In the picture # 6 first row (Werkzeuge 012.jpg) there is a black cast iron clock, beside the pyrograpic tool I been wondering about for some time now. Looks like some kind of heating clock or something, what are you using this tool for.

Finally,

back to our bellowed round knife. In your opinion are the Blanchard knifes with one (or several) medailles any better that the ones with out.

I am getting my eyes opened for American round knifes now; more every day. I have several good CS. Osborne's with Newark stamping. My favorite user now adays is a little 4 inch HF. Osborn, very sturdy and superb steel quality. Apart from one of my Mayer Flamery knifes, the Us made knifes seems to have a bit thicker steel than the French. I just scored a 5 1/2" William Rose and a small 3" star marked CS. Osborne on the Ebay. I heard many good things about the rose knife, I see they sell for top dollar too.

There aren't many old leather tools to be found in my country, I have to use the web to get what I need. I bought allot from French ebay and of course I buy from our friend Bruce here, he offers very nice tools and is a pleasure to deal with. And he is a walking dictionary on leather tools and splitting machines. For those who do not know him I recommend him highly.

Walter, all your tools look completly spot less; did you buy them all new? They look very well cared for every one of them. That brass plough looks like it was made yesterday, and it has to be old since the maker is the Rossler.

Thank you

Tor

[walter roth]

Hi Tor

Back to your post #1,

In the picture # 6 first row (Werkzeuge 012.jpg) there is a black cast iron clock, beside the pyrograpic tool I been wondering about for some time now. Looks like some kind of heating clock or something, what are you using this tool for.

This is quite simple, it is a "thread cage" in French .... "Dividoir a fiscelle"

They laid the cord or thread roll into it tightened down through the hole and hung the whole of the workshop ceiling. Whenever they needed a piece of thread they simply left out, so there were no knots or something ...... (((-:

they used these parts not only for saddlers, they also pack cord was handy.

When you consider what such a casting cost ....... ((-:

Among the four splitting machine in the Blanchard catalog there is a well known Osborn #86. Then two others I never seen, one of them looks like the one Dixon offers. I know Blanchard made (or sold) that model too.

The model looks like dfas Blanchard, I did, but it differs from the type of 86 Osborne and Dixon on the model, but is otherwise very similar.

However, the large model with the pull lever, which is a model fpr belt manufacturer, so for the big belt on the machine earlier.

Therefore it was particularly important that the tightening was very accurate, otherwise the belt was not calm and even jumped off the drive wheel of the machine.

Leg Saddlers you found the model rarely, because the big companies had always hired a propellant Maschine-Strap-Sattler, and the saddler has these splitter.

Rose Knives............

As for the Half-Moon Knife, I used up to now none of Rose, Osborne, etc. Gomph

Here are the little known in Europe, and they are much too small.

If Bruce once has a 7 inch, I'll buy it.

II use the knife liked when they have 8-9 inches, including they are small for me .........

I have Half-Moon with 12 Inches......((((((-:

But I have no doubt that there was in the U.S. toolmaker, or .... still, make good knives.

I find the wide French edger of Gomph indeed better than anything made ​​Blanchard.

Very handy, fine and good to grind.

Greeting

Walter

[walter roth]

Splitter 2............

Incidentally, I have a splitter such as this.

http://brucejohnsonl...rn-splitter.jpg

the ........... but of "Meyer and Flammery Paris" and has a metal plate on it.

Which also differs from the models from which one finds in the U.S..

I'm going to take pictures, but it takes a few days.

I think these chips were copied each other and used as popular.

The old one simple model is a guy like him Randall also produced, as they are seen on Bruce's website.

Here in Europe we use the splitter with hand crank from German production, which were then sold by Blanchard.

These are the best there is, the only set of knives is very delicate.

http://brucejohnsonl...rs-and-skivers/

I have bought all old gate, my tools, new ngab it only little.

When the sattlöern was some things never used, then they were some very beautiful in the State.

But for me there are no rist, no patches, no, the finer the surface, the less they will rust.

I have by the plough gouges 10.00 piece models.

These models the Roessler are the most beautiful that exists.

Ihave the paste in any of my posts I described to the grind use, sih you that again.

Lea Compound / http://www.lea.co.uk/abrasive/comps3.htm

Greetings Walter

Edited August 3, 2013 by walter roth

[Trox]

Hi Walter,

that was a very exclusive thread rack, but very very clever. I have seen one for sale at Ebay not many days ago, but now I cannot find anymore (it was cheap because no one knew what it was). Most be very good if you want to make your own hand sewing thread out of sinew or similar.

Thank you for the explanation of the La parfaite rapide splitter. If I understand you correctly these machines was hired in by the big companies with their operator; an heavy belt maker/saddler ( or a driving belt maker in English, who made big industrial leather driving belts for machines)

From what I can understand from the French explanation on the tool site you posted a link for.(It is a picture of it there) It can do a lap skive and both a left and right skive too, Is this correct?

The splitter # 2 you have a Mayer Flamery version of is called the # 83 Spitler`s combination splitter; it does both lap skiving and splitting (see article from Campbell Bosworth about splitting machines) http://campbell-bosworth.com/articles/Splitting-Machines.pdf

This is a smart little machine similar to the # 84 Keystone. I have a Heritage copy of this splitter and it works fine.

The # 86 is made buy many companies, I have a eight inch with out maker name and a ten inch CS. Osb. ( both purchased from Bruce). However, I have seen them in European versions too, green color. And a strange looking model with a top frame over the roller, I cannot see the purpose of this frame because it only have one roller and apart from it looks exactly like the CS. Osb. model 86. Yes the best ones are hand cranked or motor driven, I have been looking for one for a long time now. No luck so far.

So you like those huge round/half moon knifes, 12 inch, thats 30 cm thats some knife. Thats the "Crocodile Dundee" of round knifes .

I have a couple which I regards as big: an Blanchard 19 cm and an Fernand Mayer 21 cm. Those are small compared to yours. I seldom use them for other than long roll cuts, I find them a bit hard to control on smaller jobs.

Yes, I use a similar grinding paste like your of German origin. I keep my tools polished with it and have no need to resharpen any of them, I am only polishing them on the leather strop board or a buffing wheel.

Thank you

Tor