Ideal Clicker Machine Model C

[Matt S]

@JJN that cleaned up well. I've had to pass on several clickers of similar vintage due to access problems. As @Constabulary would say, I'm glad to see people keeping vintage iron alive ;-)

[shoepatcher]

  JNN,

  I will look again at another spot where I keep literature.  That cleaned up wonderfully.  That is  an Ideal Model C clicker by USM.  The produced 1000s' of these.  Yours should have about 1" of travel on the head.  I think these were about a 10 ton power in cutting.  I have seen them retro fitted with another switch so that it took two hands to engage the machine.  A lot of guys lost fingers on these things.

glenn

Edited March 6, 2019 by shoepatcher

[JJN]

Glenn, I definitely will add a two-hand lockout mechanism on this thing before I put it into use. I like my hands and fingers. Thanks for looking.

John

 

 

[ljk]

I do have both manuals but could use help from forum members on a easy way to send to you images.

Don't run till lubed.   I suspect flywheel was changed for a reason.  My machine had the

flywheel machined and brake shoes replaced. I did add a second control for safety, since

I had employees running machine. I use 30 wt. oil.  USMC recommend something special else

it's in the manual.

[JJN]

@ljk, I'm sending my phone number in a message to help with sending.

[DavidMillsSaddlery]

I’m following, as I recently picked up a model A, and am clueless on the operation of it! 

 

[George1520]

On 2/25/2019 at 5:19 PM, ljk said:

These are great machines once properly adjusted.  However they have one problem

they will double click or worse after a few hours of use.  The internal

clutch will grab the flywheel and the external brake will not be able to stop the engagement.

This is a small issue once you are used to the machine you either back off the clutch

or increase the brake pressure.  The were designed for cutting shoe soles at a rate of

600 pairs a day.

 

When this happens does the press clicks at random? While setting the die or moving the head to the die or just after pressing the button to click. I would like to own ten fingers.  

Looks like they still sell those presses on http://www.shoesmachines.com/5-ton-clicker-press.html and they say it is a 5 ton press. I'm looking at getting one of those clicker, to use in cutting shoe uppers. Will it have enough power to cut a full upper? 

 

Thanks 

George 

[JJN]

@George1520, thanks for that link. It looks like that is a similar design machine but quite a bit smaller. The cutting board on this model C is 18" x 36" and the machine stands over 6 feet tall. The upper beam is 13" x 20". I don't have any official specs on my press but I've been told it is anywhere from 10 to 15 tons pressure. I'll have my clicker running in a couple weeks and I will post again. I don't have any experience with the double clicking problem.

[George1520]

That is tall. Do you know how much it weights? I guess the force is not that important  because I can click it twice. 

Also, what is a good price for a press like this? 

[Matt S]

George, I don't know if you're aware but that seller appears to be based in China, which could well be the reason they're reproducing vintage industrial machines without safety measures that are mandatory in most Western nations.

It appears that you're in the US. Why not speak with a dealer in-country? They will be better able to answer your questions, their product will conform to all relevant safety standards, they will probably test their machines before sending out and they will have whatever other features that the modern hydraulic machines have over the older mechanical style.