Joseph Dixon Tools

[jcuk]

6 hours ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

1993 seems just fine to me.  The machine in your picture looks pretty good.   But the price is excessive.  That's $700 US!   
I'd not pay that for a Dixon splitter.  

Why not buy a Heritage 8" splitter from Weaver Leather?  They're made in the US and well built and can also do lap skiving.  If you sign up for a dealer/wholesale account with Weaver the wholesale price is about $260 lower than the Dixon you're looking at.   They also seem to be made/machined much more precisely than the Dixon Splitter.

Maybe postage and UK import tax is a bit high....Just an idea.   

With all those long bust/defunct leatherworking shops in the UK, I'd be inclined to believe every flea market in England would be awash with surplus tools...

I keep an eye out for Dixons tools and have to say that price unfortunately seems about the going rate this side of the pond for the 8'' splitter. About six weeks ago i saw one which i think was a 6'' marked as some kind of leather cutter they did not realise what they had it was £120 so i kept an eye on thinking no one would see it even told my other half i was interested in this up to £250 - it just needed a bit of a clean up, the blade looked good.But one day before it was due to end  someone bid i thought thats ok, then someone else and so on  - i think in the end it went for around £480 and it was not in as good nick as the one for sale the moment. 
Along with the Osborne 86 splitter i also have a 84 which i got from ebay they said it was lightly used which it was, sure i paid £399 which against a new one here it was a steal for me - it was buy now it was its first day on there,  so snapped it up but have to say it not as well made as my old 86 but it does the job and to be fair to Osborne stand by their life time guarantee (which they did for a old round knife that got damaged not a fault of the knife contacted the people i got it from here 25 years before they ask what was wrong told i ask if they could get another handle so i could fit it they said send back they will send another one which they did unfortunately not as good of my old one which was a great knife). I know what you mean about getting one from Weaver but the import and customs and vat will make it lot more expensive, i had to order some things from Aaron Martin out of Canada and was i stung with extra payment but had no choice could not source them closer to home, they are a  good company to deal with. As for flea markets car boot sales yes sometimes there are bargains to be had but since covid hit there seemed to be a lot of new interest in leather work this side of the pond ( think its on the decline now ) now things have opened up, but it did make people more savvy about the things they were selling. Its not only Dixons there are other old British makes i keep an eye out for even though i don't think i need to much else but i am a sucker for old tools.

 

 

 

Edited October 21, 2021 by jcuk

[jcuk]

7 hours ago, KathrynHD said:

Yes I feel it may be a bit high, I have offered lower but he has counter offered...in a bit of a dilemma.  I love the old machines but I just want something to do a decent job and often the forums say the old tools are the best...but is 1993 counted as old school??  It doesn't seem the Osborne's come up used very often, unless I have missed them.  I do have an alert on ebay but sounds like I have missed some mentioned here.

Sometimes change your search criteria you may get lucky thats how i lucked upon the Osborne 84. As for maintaining the blade if you know of someone with a buffing/polishing machine ask them from time to time give it polish, a good polished blade/edge work better but if you do have you do know of someone who can do it for you tell them to be careful of the blade and also not to get it to hot. You do know there are places that sell Osborne splitters in the UK.

Edited October 21, 2021 by jcuk

[KathrynHD]

On 10/21/2021 at 7:21 PM, jcuk said:

I keep an eye out for Dixons tools and have to say that price unfortunately seems about the going rate this side of the pond for the 8'' splitter. About six weeks ago i saw one which i think was a 6'' marked as some kind of leather cutter they did not realise what they had it was £120 so i kept an eye on thinking no one would see it even told my other half i was interested in this up to £250 - it just needed a bit of a clean up, the blade looked good.But one day before it was due to end  someone bid i thought thats ok, then someone else and so on  - i think in the end it went for around £480 and it was not in as good nick as the one for sale the moment. 
Along with the Osborne 86 splitter i also have a 84 which i got from ebay they said it was lightly used which it was, sure i paid £399 which against a new one here it was a steal for me - it was buy now it was its first day on there,  so snapped it up but have to say it not as well made as my old 86 but it does the job and to be fair to Osborne stand by their life time guarantee (which they did for a old round knife that got damaged not a fault of the knife contacted the people i got it from here 25 years before they ask what was wrong told i ask if they could get another handle so i could fit it they said send back they will send another one which they did unfortunately not as good of my old one which was a great knife). I know what you mean about getting one from Weaver but the import and customs and vat will make it lot more expensive, i had to order some things from Aaron Martin out of Canada and was i stung with extra payment but had no choice could not source them closer to home, they are a  good company to deal with. As for flea markets car boot sales yes sometimes there are bargains to be had but since covid hit there seemed to be a lot of new interest in leather work this side of the pond ( think its on the decline now ) now things have opened up, but it did make people more savvy about the things they were selling. Its not only Dixons there are other old British makes i keep an eye out for even though i don't think i need to much else but i am a sucker for old tools.

 

 

 

I was too indecisive....I asked for a photo of the blade and he didn't send one and my option to counter-offer ran out.  It's sold now to someone else for £400. Think I may have missed a good one, but maybe I don't need one quite yet which gives me plenty more time to look.

I didn't see your above message til now....wish I had !! , think I would have bought it!   I got a Rodi splitter  off ebay with a wheel a while back, got it cleaned up and it just didn't seem to work, don't think it's the right thing at all ...it looks lovely now it's cleaned up and makes a good ornament!!, but I wished I hadn't bought it.  So made me a little hesitant!  I have wasted money on a few tools this last few months as you don't really understand until you start making things and use them.  Have found it is better to spend more and have less good tools. It's all a learning curve and I am enjoying the learning.  I will need a splitter at some point so will keep looking.  The new Osborne ones seem very expensive to me.  

Really appreciate your comments, they have been so helpful....thank you..I don't get any notification of any posts and should have checked again!

 

[KathrynHD]

On 10/21/2021 at 7:54 PM, jcuk said:

Sometimes change your search criteria you may get lucky thats how i lucked upon the Osborne 84. As for maintaining the blade if you know of someone with a buffing/polishing machine ask them from time to time give it polish, a good polished blade/edge work better but if you do have you do know of someone who can do it for you tell them to be careful of the blade and also not to get it to hot. You do know there are places that sell Osborne splitters in the UK.

I will try that.....a friend of mine may know someone...Yes I have googled where to get the new Osborne's  from.  Artisan leather have an 'Ivan' one....not sure if you have come across those?

[fredk]

I think the splitter sold by Le Prevo is by 'Ivan' 

Check their price before you buy

[Spyros]

All those old tools look pretty cool and I get it, on the other hand I bought a cheap 6" splitter from ebay and that's also great, so...

It's just a blade and a roller, there's not much to it.  I find the main thing with all cutters is your sharpening skill.  How do you guys sharpen a 6" blade?  mine has a secondary bevel which makes it hard.

[KathrynHD]

10 hours ago, fredk said:

I think the splitter sold by Le Prevo is by 'Ivan' 

Check their price before you buy

I have ordered some leather from them and it was good...I will check it out, thank you...

[KathrynHD]

10 hours ago, Spyros said:

All those old tools look pretty cool and I get it, on the other hand I bought a cheap 6" splitter from ebay and that's also great, so...

It's just a blade and a roller, there's not much to it.  I find the main thing with all cutters is your sharpening skill.  How do you guys sharpen a 6" blade?  mine has a secondary bevel which makes it hard.

Thanks for the post......I have wondered if they work, there are a multitude on ebay of different types.   Sometimes simple is best!  Just having read reviews generally, it's getting an even split. I have watched videos on a few different ones but you don't know if they sharpen the blade particularly for that one ??  I think one of the many skills required with leatherwork is knowing how to sharpen tools....and not wrecking them in the process !!!  

[KathrynHD]

I probably missed a good machine.  I do like the thought of a good old machine but I will look into the Ivan one....I saw a new one ages ago which I thought looked good while on a site looking for leather stamps....but I can't find it again.  It may have been the Ivan one.

 

[jcuk]

10 hours ago, KathrynHD said:

I will try that.....a friend of mine may know someone...Yes I have googled where to get the new Osborne's  from.  Artisan leather have an 'Ivan' one....not sure if you have come across those?

Yes i got one when my tools were in storage while i was working abroad  still have it somewhere don't know where they ok for lighter and small work not a patch on Dixon or Osborne they more for a hobbyist really i think.  Here are some links for Osborne tools in the UK.

https://www.metropolitanleather.com/Buy-Tools/Buy-CS-Osborne-Co-Tools

https://www.abbeyengland.com/workshop-materials/tools/osborne-tools.html

https://hwebber.co.uk/product-category/c-s-osborne-leather-working-tools/

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/handtoolsuk?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

All good companies to work with i have and still do business with them the prices vary from each of them, it seems Metropolitan are the cheapest Abbey also carry another splitter looks a bit like the Ivan one, check among all the saddlery tools you will see it there don't know how good it is. I think H webber and son and Hand tools UK are the same people could be wrong though. It has been said by some people how they feel some of the tools from Osborne that the quality has dropped off which is a shame, i have some older Osborne tools which are great. Metropolitan also carry some George Barnsley tools which are good no nonsense tools. I see on the Artisan site they carry two Ivan splitters one deluxe splitter which i think is discontinued the other one is the the one i have some where and Fredk is right if you are interested in it check Le Prevo first cheaper but not sure if VAT has been added on the Le Prevo one even if it has not should still be cheaper.

h

Hope this helps

JCUK