Unusual Leather Rolling Machine

Hi All,

Just got this lovely machine at auction, could not believe that we were the only bidder. Very heavy item at 70cm tall but complete and undamaged.

Not sure of its exact use but saddlery comes to mind, perhaps rolling the leather wet to set into the correct curvature when dry?

All thoughts welcome.

Regards, Martin

Bump

Sorry, Martin … I still don’t know

One thought though : If you don’t know its function; what makes you assume that it is a ‘Leather Rolling Machine’

MichaelG.’

Hi Michael,

the same German company made a machine brand called Rodi which was a leather roller for thin sections, also the auction description was leather machine, though that may not be a good thing to go by!

I am comfortable with it being that but have no idea of how it would be used in anger so to speak. Lots of heavier leather work is done wet and the work takes a ‘set’ wHen it dries out.

will post the name in a moment.

cheers Martin

Auction description

An antique cobblers leather roller mangle by Gustav Rafflenbeul Schwelm, W 53cm x H 70cm x D 48cm.

eg Brooks leather bicycle saddles.

Googling Shoemakers leather rolling machine threw up quite a few hits.

Hi All,

just stripped this down completely and sent the rollers and some other parts to be polished. Found some remnants of the original green finish so will match that colour for the restoration.

Fortunately all the pins securing the gears etc all came out easily and there are no damaged parts. Will need me to turn up a new handle in greenheart that I have loads of.

Chees, Martin

Hello Martin,

Hope the restoration goes well. Watch working with Greenheart though, I'm told slinters can easily go septic.

Hi All,

Here are some pics of the restored machine, now ready to go.

Quite enjoyable to do but the parts were very heavy.

Cheers, Martin

Hi Martin, well that's scrubbed up very nicely.

Regards Nick.

Well Martin bought it and if I had been at the auction I may well have bid.

Andrew.

P.S. In my neck of the woods, there are quite a few saddlers. They may have been interested too.

We both work on the general basis of “if we like it, perhaps someone else will too”

We really enjoy finding nice odd items and bringing them back to life, the fact that they often make a it of profit helps too!

often things like this just end up at the scrapyard which I think is a great shame.

Now listed so we will wait and see….

Cheers, Martin