Sadder in training

i have a singer 49k industrial leather sewing machine for sale that i was thinking of putting on ebay when i get chance, these are the proper job and will sew through very thick leather, also great for mending horse rugs! its the same one that david may has at cumbria school of saddlery. might have one or two other spare tools are you looking for anything in particular?
 
I had 2 of these as well as 6 other types and sizes of machines but the 45k's are my favourite, I sold the newer 45k and my current one is an old treadle machine with a leather belt to run it, will punch through leather up to 12mm thick.
My colleague has a No 6 machine, VERY rare and the needle on that looks like a ball point pen and can easily sew through 16mm leather!
 
Does anyone know any places I can go to get some second hand saddlery tools??

I keep looking on ebay but stuff that comes up seems quite expensive. Long story but I trained 20 yrs ago and amassed a good collection of tools, but don't have any of my stuff any more, and I'd love to replace it. But I wince when I see the prices nowadays! Even second hand seems pricey.

I am thinking about trawling car boots. Pot luck but you never know...
 
Steam rallies are a good place as well as boot sales Old Nag, I have seen old tools there and again they don't know what they are for and how much they are worth, just try to contain yourself and not let it show when you find a bargain or they put the price up!!
I found an old type plough gauge for £5 once, already had one so didn't need it.What's the new price now I hear you ask ?
It is approx £400!
My new one cost me £56 when I was still training, how things have gone up!
Oz :)
 
Steam rallies are a good place as well as boot sales Old Nag, I have seen old tools there and again they don't know what they are for and how much they are worth, just try to contain yourself and not let it show when you find a bargain or they put the price up!!
I found an old type plough gauge for £5 once, already had one so didn't need it.What's the new price now I hear you ask ?
It is approx £400!
My new one cost me £56 when I was still training, how things have gone up!
Oz :)

Ooh crikey! I had a beautiful plough gauge that a fellow student at Cordwanglers got for me at a car boot for £20 or so but that was 20 yrs ago.

Thanks for the tip - I'll keep an eye out for steam rallies. I have seen posters for them locally in the past.

I wanted to buy some clams ... I am sure the tech chaps at college used to make them for us for about a tenner. I nearly fell off my stool when I found they are £70 now... and as for pricking irons, how on earth can they be as much as they are now? I'm wondering whether to try and find a metalwork enthusiast locally to make me some! :D
 
the other interesting point is how much better the old tools are compared with the majority of the new ones you buy today. sadly lost my 'favourite' edge shave and have bought several more which are absolute crap in comparison. my splitter was a boot sale find - very rusty with no blade or roller. spent a week in a bucket of coca cola and came out like new ;) friend made me a new roller out of a solid piece of brass or copper and another friend had a spare blade kicking about - total cost £15!!
 
the other interesting point is how much better the old tools are compared with the majority of the new ones you buy today. sadly lost my 'favourite' edge shave and have bought several more which are absolute crap in comparison. my splitter was a boot sale find - very rusty with no blade or roller. spent a week in a bucket of coca cola and came out like new ;) friend made me a new roller out of a solid piece of brass or copper and another friend had a spare blade kicking about - total cost £15!!

Oh I agree. Old tools I collected while I was at college were so much better than the new ones.
 
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