Hand crank splitter blade

[Tastech]

4 hours ago, SteveOz said:

@Tastech G'day Tastech, I couldn't help but notice your beautiful work here. Do you sell reconditioned machines at all? Cheers, Stevo

 Hey Steve. Because i spend so much time on the restorations i could never expect to sell them at i price that covers my time and expenses. I can spend between 10 and 20 hours on restoration plus the initial cost of the machine ,I am already about 2 grand in . They would reasonably sell for 1 grand but i am reluctant to take  the hit . Send me a PM with your email and if i see one that i think is a bargain i well send you the details . There was one on EBAY from Tassie a few weeks ago that was going for $450 but i think its gone . It looked like it needed a new blade but the vilh perderson blade is no longer available . I can retro fit a Landis blade but need the machine in my possession to do it  because i have to machine a new shaft and make some mods to the housing . Look for an ESTO or Landis because blades are available still . 

What specifically do you want the machine for ?

This is the tassie one . It says ended not sold so he might still have it 

 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/204480802714

They can be hard to find in Australia but they do turn up . A lot of old cobblers have retired and died so these things are sitting in someones shed somewhere , you just have to find it . Sellers fall into 2 categories they are either asking a ridiculous price for a heap of crap or they go dirt cheap. I know of a RODI skiver ( not a cutter ) in Goulburn  going for $50 but it needs a lot of work . It had a piece of fencing wire where a spring should be .lol. I didn't buy it a few weeks ago but i think i should have just in case i ever need parts . If its still there i might grab it and see what i can do .

Regards 

Tas

[SteveOz]

@Tastech G'day Tas, Thanks for your reply Mate. I fully understand your position here. You've put a lot of work into those machines and it really shows, I'd be reluctant too. Your comment about sellers falling into 2 categories is definitely true and made me laugh. Some sellers of new equipment can be pretty sketchy also. I don't want to buy a new Asian machine, but I may have to. They go for around $1500. I need to start about fossicking a bit I think.

What I'm after, is a small splitter that will take my chrome down to the thickness that I need. I'm only talking 4.5 oz down to 3oz. I can manage to do it hair side up on my pull through splitter but it's a PITA to do so.

I make watch straps out of Chromexcel, veg tan, and roo. I've attached some pics of what I do. I'm not after a project machine at this time. I just need something that works.

Thankyou for the link too, that's kind of you to add that in.

Do you have any pics of the things that you make? I'd sure love to see them.

I'll dm you right now.

Kind regards,

Stevo

[RoToMiMo]

Hi Tastech,

I’m a total newbie to this site and the world of leatherwork, and its specialised tools and machines but I’ve been researching how to find a new home for a beautiful old machine I found. I have an appreciation for the craft , elegance and skill required to restore such machines and after wandering around the InterWeb for a few days I found leatherworker.net and your post of July 31 2023 and saw the small machine on the right side of the pic , an “American St Louis’ “little brother” :). The machine I found looks very much like that, but mine is an Esto, which I believe is an Australian made machine (back in the day when we actually made stuff).

Long story short: I was helping an old bloke clear out his shed after thirty years on a rural property here on the Mid North Coast. He’s 76 and said that his grandad had been a professional boot maker in the early 1900s. He had a lot of crap in his shed , most of which went into the skip bin, but I found this old Esto machine and a few boot lasts. He wanted to bin them (he’s not a sentimental guy, lol), but I refused as I could see it was a quality bit of manufacturing. I’d like to find it a new home, be restored and be used as it was meant to be used.

You look like someone who could do all of the above.

Most of the bits seem to move freely (crank handle, etc,) but all I’ve done is give it a good spray with WD40 and not fiddled with it as I don’t know what I’m doing! Don’t want to force or break anything.

Pics attached for your opinion. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to put phone numbers here, but my email address is rmsisyphus2@gmail.com.

Hope to hear back from you.

Thanks, Ross

[fredk]

Good save

We need to summon Tastech this way @Tastech

[Tastech]

@fredk, Ok ok dont shout .lol

@RoToMiMo It's a beautiful machine . Mechanically it is the same as the American St Louis but has a different body shape , Dare i say more elegant . However it doesn't have the guard over the gears . I don't think they ever came with one . No OH&S back in the day . Not much is known about ESTO but i have asked a few old timers about them and they tell me this . Esto was named after and Estonian who emigrated to Australia in the early 1900's He made shoe repair machines and steel lasts for the cobbler industry . He was based in Woolongong New south wales where the was once a huge steel making plant . ( think Pittsburgh) Esto stopped production some time in the 1980's . I am not sure if it was because he died or it more than likely coincided with the demise of the Australian footwear and textile industry. I have quite a bit of Esto stuff but mainly steel repair lasts and lasting jacks . He also made a long arm trimmer and skiver  known in Australia as a rough rounder . They still exist and are still being used in cobbler shops around Australia . Esto must have had some sort of licencing agreement with Landis because the rough rounder looks identical to the landis 5in1 and blades are compatible with each other . I have often wondered who Esto was and what his background was  but can't find any solid information . Based on what he produced i have come to a couple of conclusions. He must have had a shoe making or cobbler back ground , Either him personally or his father and was exposed to the needs of cobblers . Through what ever circumstances worked in a foundry or was perhaps an engineer  and when he came to Australia realized there was a gap and a demand in the market for his redesigned and improved products  . I would assume he worked at the port Kembla steel works in Woolongong and had a side gig going . His products are not some backyard venture and would have required a blast furnace and sand molds . Therefore because of his background in both shoe making and engineering he combined the knowledge of both As would seem reasonable . His products are still around today and still widely used  . And to Mr Esto i take my hat off to you sir  ,you are a legend .

 Esto hold a place in my heart because i too am an immigrant ( from Greece ) I come from a family of shoe makers and cobblers ( 3 Generations at least ) because my family wanted a better life for me than to be another shoe maker the encouraged me to become an engineer . After 30 years of engineering i have come back to my roots as a shoe maker and cobbler . However because of my engineering career i have a love and appreciation of mechanical and and industrial machinery especially from the shoe making and cobbler trade . I feel a heart felt duty to source and restore old shoe industry machines and restore them to their former glory. 

It would be an honor to have it and restore it 

RoToMimo  I will email you later .

In the meantime some of the other members are expecting my lecture of shoe making making pliers and i can hear them yelling .lol

 

[RoToMiMo]

Hi Tastech,

I’m a total newbie to this site and the world of leatherwork, and its specialised tools and machines but I’ve been researching how to find a new home for a beautiful old machine I found. I have an appreciation for the craft , elegance and skill required to restore such machines and after wandering around the InterWeb for a few days I found leatherworker.net and your post of July 31 2023 and saw the small machine on the right side of the pic , an “American St Louis’ “little brother” :). The machine I found looks very much like that, but mine is an Esto, which I believe is an Australian made machine (back in the day when we actually made stuff).

Long story short: I was helping an old bloke clear out his shed after thirty years on a rural property here on the Mid North Coast. He’s 76 and said that his grandad had been a professional boot maker in the early 1900s. He had a lot of crap in his shed , most of which went into the skip bin, but I found this old Esto machine and a few boot lasts. He wanted to bin them (he’s not a sentimental guy, lol), but I refused as I could see it was a quality bit of manufacturing. I’d like to find it a new home, be restored and be used as it was meant to be used.

You look like someone who could do all of the above.

Pics attached for your opinion. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to put phone numbers here, but my email address is rmsisyphus2@gmail.com.

Thanks, Ross

[RoToMiMo]

Hi @Tastech,

Thanks for summoning him @fredk,

I’m a quick learner. 

I don’t do social media so I don’t know these things.

Thank you for your very comprehensive and fascinating response, Tas. I look forward to your email.

Cheers Ross

(RoToMiMo refers to the first two letters of my complete name. “Ross” had already been taken by some lucky Leatherworker.net fan)

[Northmount]

3 hours ago, RoToMiMo said:

Pics attached for your opinion.

None attached. 

If your files are too large to post here due to file size restrictions, you need to resize your files to fit.  Follow this link for some helps and suggestions.  https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/15122-how-to-post-pictures-on-lw/?do=findComment&comment=551171

There are lots of Apps, software, and online tools available on the web, or even built into your device to enable you to reduce your file sizes.  800 pixels in the longest dimension is quite adequate.  Smart phone screens and many monitors don't display high res files in high resolution.  People that live on the fringes of the internet appreciate smaller file sizes and high res photos may take from 10 minutes to hours to download.