What is this?

[Bugstruck]

I saw this on Craigslist. They are describing it as an "iorn (iron maybe?) Bubrow & Hearne sewing machine. I may have seen plinkers by them somewhere. Looking at it I'm wondering how it would possibly sew and what. I can think of a few here who could know. We'll see.

 

[Mark842]

I believe it is a strap embossing machine. It looks like it is missing the guide that sits in front of the roller and holds the strap where you want it. Mechanically, it looks like once the strap is in position and you adjust the embossing roll where you want it, turn the machine on and the roller that is sticking up through the slot in the table will feed the strap.

[RockyAussie]

11 hours ago, Mark842 said:

I believe it is a strap embossing machine. It looks like it is missing the guide that sits in front of the roller and holds the strap where you want it. Mechanically, it looks like once the strap is in position and you adjust the embossing roll where you want it, turn the machine on and the roller that is sticking up through the slot in the table will feed the strap.

I believe that would be correct but I think it may also have a heater that transfers up the shaft to get a better embossing as well. Nice if it has a few other wheels as well.

[Matt S]

27 minutes ago, RockyAussie said:

I believe that would be correct but I think it may also have a heater that transfers up the shaft to get a better embossing as well. Nice if it has a few other wheels as well.

I'd probably fabricobble a heat gun to warm the wheel. Something involving a gooseneck lamp and zip ties. Looks like a real good embosser.

[billybopp]

Yup.  Definitely an embossing machine. and an unusual design.  Very handy to have, particularly as mentioned if it comes with additional rolls OR if the shaft is the standard 1 inch with a keyway.

I have the old Tandy embosser with a bunch of rolls, and love it!

- Bill

[Bugstruck]

Okay, what your are all saying was my line of thought as I could not wrap my head around that being a sewing machine. I saw the embossed roller and wandered where that fit in. Makes sense now. They had one that looked just like it with a slightly different setup embossed wheel and shaft arrangement (best recall) listed as a sewing machine on Pinterest too, and that had me at Huh? Not sure if you can still get those embossing wheels/rolls to fit that shaft though, that company has been out of business for ages. I'll check into it a bit and post back up what I can find out. Bob or Gregg were who I was thinking might know something on this and they may come across this topic? Might warrant a call to them. I like some automation and I can think of one other use for this machine, now that everyone got me straight on what this actually is.          

Thanks for all the responses!  

[Bugstruck]

Guy selling responded that the embossing wheel on it is the only he has. I'm not chasing it due to effort and finding the wheels may be impossible. On the Washington DC Craigslist @ $199.00 if someone has a desire.   

[billybopp]

If it's all working, and I had the space, I'd certainly buy at that price!  If it has a 1" shaft with 3/16 keyway, which is pretty standard for embossing rolls, they are available.  The Tandy manual machine that I have is currently asking $300 + $50 shipping on ebay.   Metal rolls are asking in the $100 - $120 range on ebay, but less expensive resin rolls are also available in the $30 range from seller "duckcreektraders".   There are even folks that can make custom rolls on a laser cutter, although I've never checked on pricing.   

They are great for embossed belts, but there are other uses as well, such as the borders on these mug wraps which are a combination of embossed borders with tooled and stamped centers.

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