Looking For Help With Finding More Information On Two Old Leather Machines - Skiver And Cutter

[Syms]

Hey everyone,

I came across a local shoe repair shop that was closing down after 50 years of business in my neighbourhood and he was looking at selling all his machinery. I came across two things that peaked my interest...an old Skiver as well as an old leather cutter.

I bought the skiver, but left the leather cutter for now as I wanted to find out more about it before buying it.

The skiver is a Frobana skiver. Does anyone have anymore information on this thing? When year this thing might have been from, if there are owners/instruction manuals that may be found somewhere, and more importantly, whether parts are still available for this? The blade is cracked where the screw points are, but looks to still function. The wheel still turns smoothly and thicker leather seems to still glide through quite easily. Although it does leave teeth mark on the top side which i may have to find a way to work around.

This second machine is a really old leather cutter. It seems to still function quite well, the wheel turns quite easily, but the blade itself is chipped. Not sure if this is really that useful but interested in finding out more about it.

I can not find any identifying marks determining the brand or model so i'm hoping someone may recognize it and can tell me more about it?

Would also be interested in what people who do know more about these feel they are worth?

Thanks in advance!

[oltoot]

Other than Proleptic who advertises on this forum, I don't have a clue as to info and parts for German stuff? I have an American skiver that except for the gear shroud looks just like yours. Primary use was to make shoe/boot welts. I have a few uses for it in making fitted rifle scabbards and similar things. I have resigned myself that I would have to have a blade made if I ever needed one. The other thing looks, except for the deep throat like a pad cutter used by farriers (I was one in my younger days) to cut sole pads. As pad material and shoe sole material used to be the same, you could often find horseshoeing pads in shoe/boot shops. I would measure the size of the wheel, including the hole and take that to a full service shoe repair shop and see if I could match it in any of their parts supplies. If you don't have a use for the cutter, it is worth tinkering costs if that appeals to you. The other thing would not be worth much unless to a collector who was looking for just that. If such a person even exists.