Does anyone know what this is for?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Blowing it up large it looks like that may be a slotted R/H screw holding the upper wheel in place

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Another daft idea, but could it be a heavy duty sewing machine, for edging canvas or leather?

There is a gap marked in red where cloth could pass underneath as in a sewing machine. Possibly the pulley feeds thread (something hefty like sisal, not cotton.)

The two wheels just grip the material and pull it through the head. One side is plain to minimise damaging the material, but whatever it is, it's tough heavy stuff.

Alternatively it's a punch or pricker, used to make eyelet holes along the edge of leather, or thick canvas sheet for big tents, sails or large tarpaulins.

The small pulley supports the edge as it passes through. Maybe there is a twin on the other side, and perhaps they were connected by a belt to improve support, but it's just a roller. Mode of operation:

• The gap between gripping wheels and the head is set to suit the material with adjuster A
• The punch depth is set by adjuster B
• Turning Crank-handle C pulls the material through the head and under the punch as far as wanted
• Holes are punched by pulling handle D.

Used in a factory rather than by an individual skilled sailmaker doing repairs or making small items.

Dave

PS One of my uncles trained briefly as a sailmaker after joining the Navy during WW2. I was surprised, but he explained warships require hundreds of bespoke canvas covers to protect guns, aerials, and anything else delicate and exposed to the weather. Highly skilled work. Didn't last – he spent most of the war in Canada as a trainee pilot. Wish I'd asked – from what little he said almost certainly Coastal Command Liberators.

 

 

 

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 27/04/2021 15:08:41

[MichaelRParticipant @michaelr]

I still don't know what this item is but trawling the internet for similar looking machines with plain and serrated rollers I still think it is connected with leather work and it could be what is called a Leather Skiver/Splitter or maybe not.

It's certainly caught my interest.

MichaelR

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Perhaps your good lady's friend could be persuaded to provide some more pictures of the other side of the machine, each end and the lower portion where the lever etc are, and maybe some close ups of the "business end" where the serrated roller is?

Otherwise, it's a bit of a case of

It certainly has the overall look of a sheet metal jenny used for beading and crimping etc but the extra gizmos, levers etc and the size of the rollers does not fit that ilk. Rope or canvas or leather working seems more likely. But more pics definitely needed to guess any further.

[George JervisParticipant @georgejervis86082]

We both sent him a message yesterday, asking if he could provide more pictures for us but haven't heard anything back yet? As soon as I get a reply I'll post more

George

[George JervisParticipant @georgejervis86082]

Hi everyone,

I have recieved some more pictures their in my album but I am unable to insert them into this thread?(if admin could assist would be appreciated) sadly there is no more information on what this item is and there not as clear as I would of hoped,

George

[George JervisParticipant @georgejervis86082]

[George JervisParticipant @georgejervis86082]

[George JervisParticipant @georgejervis86082]

[George JervisParticipant @georgejervis86082]

[George JervisParticipant @georgejervis86082]

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Look for the letters BSM (British shoe machinery) It looks like a leather crimper used to form the edge on a shoe upper where it stitches to the sole.

Phil

[Mike E.Participant @mikee-85511]

Looks to me like a sheet metal machine for reducing the ends of stove pipes so that sections can fit into one another.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I suggested that (as one of its uses) right back as the second reply to the OP.

It does look like a heavy-duty and rather complicated form of sheet-metal "jenny" as you suggest, and that was my first thought' but between us we've pretty well discounted it and leather-work or heavy-duty textile work seems the most likely lines of enquiry.

Given Phil's suggestion, and as there is a shoe-repairers in town, when things permit I am tempted to take a print of the photo there to ask. If it is a footwear making / repairing tool there should be modern equivalents about.

[Robert DoddsParticipant @robertdodds43397]

I think I can see two rollers, one at the handle side and another at the opposite side. Both have semi circular profiles and in one picture there may be a third roller which looks to be horizontally mounted in the same plane as the other two. I ask if this could indicate some form of wire bead folder similar to that which was used in auto construction in the 1930s.
Looking at images of bead forming machines highlights functional similarities between our mystery tool and some of the more recent designs of bead roller.

One maker has a video of making a bead rolled edge on a vintage Ford body panel that's well worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOcZwr-1Y1E

I can't explain the purpose of the outboard rollers but I think the primary tooling is hiding inside the head somewhere and that the hand lever is used to relieve pressure (from the big spring underneath) whist loading the part to start whatever.

Hope my musing makes sense to others

Bob D

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

It 's a subject-piece for a "who can take the worst photos" competition. Honestly you couldn't take less useful photos if you tried.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

That was uncalled-for, Peter.

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

Well, I don't think the author is a member here but if he is and he feels offended then I apologise for that.

[George JervisParticipant @georgejervis86082]

Hi

No I don't own this item, I saw it on Face poke where someone else had asked the question "what is this item" his dad had brought it from an antique shop as a curiosity and didn't know what it was, so I thought I put it on here to see if anyone could help? I'm still in contact with the gent, I will ask the question when he next sees his dad if you would kindly take a video for me

George

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

Some better angle shots would be most helpful George, for example face-on with the camera about 4 feet away at a height between the top and bottom shaft. Handle end and working end. That would show the relationship of the various workings quite well. Your first view of the extra pics would be pretty good if the camera wasn't held so high.

You know, until the pic with the guy's hand on the top adjuster even the scale was difficult to tell. I thought it was a floor-standing item.

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Hold the bus!! It is BUSM, British United Shoe Machinery, sorry to lead you astray! I am linking my brother Mike in on this as he is a leather worker!

Phil

[Author]

Posts