1900s Wallpaper Trimmer [Restoration]

This antique wallpaper trimmer tool restoration was surprisingly complex. This trimmer was made by A. Allen & Co. MFRS. in the early 1900s and is the Eclipse model. I believe there were 2 other models called Keystone and Climax, each with single- or double-cutter options. There is very little information on this tool and the company that made it, but instructions and a parts list can be found here:
mcleodhistory.pastperfectonli...
This is the first viewer-submitted tool that I have made. Thank you very much to the donor! I hope to do more in the future. Contact me if you would like to donate a tool.
Almost every single part was extremely dirty or rusty and needed to be cleaned, stripped, and repainted. I tried to match the colours as close as possible based on what I found while cleaning each part. I chose to braze the broken part that was going to be under the most stress and used steel-reinforced epoxy for parts that would be under less stress. Ideally, brazing would be used for everything, but I thought exploring some other options would be helpful. There was no need to grind a groove out for the brazing to stick to as the gap was already large enough. There are much faster and cleaner ways of brazing, but I wanted to show that you can do it with limited/inexpensive tools.
I really could have used a metal lathe for this project. If I had one, I would have replaced all the rods and turned and taped each one. Maybe one day...
I am not sure what the wood used is, as it's soft and lightweight, but does not seem to look like most softwoods.
I am excited to see the paint fade and dull a bit as it should help make the tool look closer to its age.
Help secure more tools for future videos (if you want): / handtoolrescue
Instagram:
/ handtoolrescue

[@JarlSeamus]

It's so funny to go back and see an older video of yours from before you had a mill, sandblaster, and lathe. It almost seems primitive, but you still did a very thorough job. Nicely done.

[@AnthonyMartinWWS]

Your restorations keep getting better and better! I look forward to every new video

[@HandToolRescue]

+Anthony Martin Well now I have to make them worse and worse! Need to keep the viewers on their toes.

[@edwardhine9224]

My dad was a painter and paper hanger. When I was about 6 or 7 years old, he would take me when he would buy wallpaper. They would take the wallpaper and put it on a cutter like that and trim the edge of the paper. Seeing you restore that paper cutter brought back a lot of memories. I believe the cutter they used had a motor at that time. It amazes me how you can take different machinery apart and remember where everything goes when you put it back to gather. Thanks for the memories.

[@thegamersquid7904]

Finally! A bread crust trimmer that also cuts wallpaper to the right size!

[@davmichhinkley8011]

The man is a legend

[@bigbrassballs]

Honest to god this *has* to be your best restoration to date. I've watched all your videos, and this one by far takes the cake. It looks brand new!

[@rossforeman3156]

This video is the exact reason I am going join your patreon right now. Awesome video and I love seeing you revive great machines like this.

[@HandToolRescue]

+Ross Foreman Thank you! I really appreciate it.

[@michaelcolgan3182]

Where you find these machines is the clue to saving them .I hardly ever come across machines like this anymore. I had to renovate my 40 year old snap on bench grinder made by an ice skate sharpening company . It used 7 inch wheels so it made problems sourcing parts . But in the end I had a machine that will last me for the rest of my life .The new machines are very scary lol

[@NathanOkun]

This trimmer is a rather complex and sophisticated device. Think of it: EVERY SINGLE PART HAD TO HAVE A HAND-DRAWN BLUEPRINT MADE!! There are literally BILLIONS of blueprints of such things out there! Mind boggling...

[@davep7296]

Your videos are fabulous! You are an artist in the truest sense of the word and the videography is outstanding. Please keep up the good work. Nothing beats the aroma of WD-40!

[@OleGeezerCirca1941]

I really enjoy your restoration videos. When I was younger (30-45) I restored Model A Fords. As I aged and I no longer was able "to get down and get under" words from very old song. At ages (45-70) I restored slot machines and gambling equipment. Ar 70 had to quit due to health problems. Now all I can do to re-enjoy those experiences is to get them vicariously through your videos. P.S. You using a screw driver to separate flange parts reminds me of an old joke: Mechanic to helper-Get me a 12" long screw drive, Helper-I only have one 10" long, Mechanic-That's OK I'm going to use it as a hammer. ;o)

[@therealme613]

That joke isn’t funny and has hurt my feelings! 😢

[@maggs131]

Bless you for restoring this old beauty. Poor thing probably was scared and depressed thinking its days were over. Its awful thinking of all the sad and lonely tools out there

[@MrJoeblowe69]

Years ago, wallpaper came with a plain paper edge which needed trimming off. I used to go to the local wallpaper shop on a Saturday when I was a lad and they let me operate their trimmer. BTW I'm 70

[@alimanski7941]

This makes more sense now, I was wondering if this was indeed more efficient than a pair of scissors and a straight edge.

[@gary23jag]

Evad Repooc I to remember those days, my old dad was a decorator, but i seem to recall the edge of the roll only being partially cut and it required striking to knock the waste off, do you remember that?

[@HandToolRescue]

Neat! I've also read this was used to trim the damaged edges off of the paper caused by transporting by train.

[@lwilton]

Trim damaged edges, trim a selvedge edge, trim to size. All those things. Was a very useful tool if you were walpapering a room. Quite a lot faster than a straight-edge and a mat knife, or before the 1960s a hook knife, also known as a roofing knife (used to cut tar paper).

[@majikhat]

I'm guessing it works much better on cloth wallpaper rather than vinyl shelf paper.

[@filmbluff99]

In the 1950s I used a trimmer not too dissimilar to this one in my father's retail shop in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. When a customer purchased rolls of wallpaper they could opt to have it trimmed, or keep untrimmed to protect the edges in further transport or storage. The machine I used trimmed both edges in one pass. I do not know the manufacturer's name on the machine I used. Nice restoration job.

[@srfurley]

I remember these still in use in the ‘60s. There’s also one at the Black Country Museum in Dudley.

[@jss302]

I especially enjoy the format of your videos.. the slight fast forward, sound, but no talking. perfect!!!

[@TRGRESTORATIONS]

How come I never thought to use a dang paint pen to redo raised lettering!! I've been struggling with a tiny paintbrush this whole time! Genius!!

[@HandToolRescue]

Hahaha

[@robertmanley7556]

This was AMAZING to watch.....Locked up, Frozen, and forgotten about to Fabulous !! And look at it cut .....even cuts crust off of bread !!🤣🤣Great job on another wonderful restoration !!!👍👍

[@danbywater6333]

Cutting the crust off the bread was priceless

[@FBsqeddo]

man I really love all these real mechanical actions that make those old machines/tools like this one work..

[@normjacques6853]

My grandfather (1898-1976) was a professional paperhanger. I have, and use, all of his tools, and assisted him from the age of six(!), until he passed away....but I've never seen one of these! Wow! Nice job! One thing that I can tell you is that that machine would have worked flawlessly on real wallpaper, since it doesn't have the slippery self-adhesive backing...which appeared to make it difficult to spool the off cut. Real wallpaper would have been much more cooperative....and I can think of several instances where having one of these would have been very handy! Great video....Thanks!! :-)

[@HandToolRescue]

Thank you!

[@sethbracken]

Paper towel trick to stop etching, top notch. I always pick up a good trick watching these. Thanks, man.

[@garyguay2914]

awesome video! You must have really good memory or have to go back and look at your videos a million times to see how everything goes back together 😂

[@WhiteFeatherify]

I love your videos! And 44 minutes long? Hell yeah! More of that please :) I cannot wait for your next upload! Keep up the good work.

[@risingsun1604]

I really like your channel. So many toys and cigarette lighters getting restored, your stuff is different. I like!! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@sammyjo8109]

I remember every spring helping my Grandmother clean her wallpaper due to the soot from heating with a coal furnace. Us kids did the lower part and the adults on ladders did the top. We used a putty ( similar to Silly Putty) to roll over the wallpaper. The best part was the big pot luck meal when we finished.

[@dappersapper]

Wow! What an intricate bread trimmer!

[@Carnac311]

That's some serious disassembly. Also, I like the mini anvil

[@HandToolRescue]

Was a lot of work! Me too.

[@Carnac311]

I can only imagine! And the camera shots required :) Watching you restore tools is very zen like

[@majdealjmal2640]

Hand Tool Rescue Hi. thanks for this video I learn much about fixing things I am intrested in sewing machines restoration and maintating them So i hope that you can help in some cases thanks again

[@patrickturner7126]

Carnac31平卂歲月

[@drokky1234]

Carnac311 it's a small shoe anvil it would have different types of shoe sizes made out of metal at which the shoe would slip on if you see the square hole it slots into them, I saw a full one with parts on the market other day :)

[@PlanetMojo]

Who the hell watches a Wallpaper Trimmer being restored for 44 minutes? -- I do apparently. New sub., great stuff!

[@HandToolRescue]

Haha, welcome!

[@robleary3353]

Lovely!. My dear old Dad could have done with one of those. He was a very adept 'paper hanger' when it came to home renovations and always had to trim by hand!. Nice one!.

[@TC-bz9dz]

you did an amazing job on this restoration!!☺

[@HandToolRescue]

Thank you!

[@chautran5141]

☺️

[@chautran5141]

26

[@tvacchino]

Just a general comment. Isn't amazing(?) how much pride American manufacturers took in their products back then that not only were they stamped "Made in U.S.A." but more times than not there was a medallion as well stating "who", "when" and "where" in America it was made! Anyway, that is all. Keep up the great work love your channel.

[@Denamic]

@Rammoshe Just want to point out that this was clearly cast with brittle, low quality iron, before you extol the grand virtues of old craftsmanship too much.

[@azynkron]

A "Made in the U.S.A" doesn't mean it's a quality product. To be honest, it's more likely than not inferior to a e.g. Japanese one. Cars in particular.

[@romahoffman8178]

Now Chinas ruling the market!! We need to get it back from them!

[@tbw357]

The complexity of some of these old tools is amazing. Being designed and built without the aid of computers and cad programs. Beautiful end results.

[@maggs131]

Yes and they will be around for another 100 years unlike today's garbage that will be in a landfill 3 years or less after its made

[@greghanlon2235]

Beautiful work. Love that you tested it and made fine adjustments. I'll bet it works even better with fabric covered wallpaper.

[@fede888992]

Maravilloso trabajo cada vez que veo uno de tus video quedo alucinado con el trabajo que realizas.

[@coultermain3801]

I've been watching since you had about 600 subs, still watching every video, keep up these interesting restorations.

[@HandToolRescue]

Awesome! Thank you.

[@Xxazer23]

Your videos really make my day man, the glamour with which you renew these old tools has me awestruck every time, and there is little satisfaction in life quite like the kind that lies at the end of each of your videos. Seeing these tools come back to life and back to beauty is awesome, keep it up!

[@HandToolRescue]

+Xxazer23 Thank you! I hope to keep it up.

[@whisky1975]

Just amazing. I love watching these old items being brought back to life.

[@Big-Wonka]

I like that you use a little old adjustable wrench to disassemble it.

[@What-sh6co]

This wrench isnt old xD he produced it xD he has a video about that

[@picax8398]

What? If it isn't an antique, it's based off of an actual tool called a "fishbelly" wrench

[@bhinkle530]

Ahhh... Utterly sublime. Love this video, have to say its your best yet. There's not many channels I'll watch a 45 minuet long video from but this is definitely one. Love the detail that you put into it, and the near complete disassembly. Very satisfying to watch. Many thanks sir for this fine video. If I might make a suggestion, I think it would have been better to braze all the broken castings back together than JB weld some of them. Not saying that using JB weld detracted from the quality of video, not at all. But using a period correct repair method on the tool would, in my opinion, greatly added to it. What I think would be awesome, and likely a lot of hard work, is that every tool that's restored gets used in the restoration of more tools until your channel is like a window into a turn of the century repair shop. With period correct methods, tools and materials. For example, in a future restoration get a old gasoline blow torch to fix up and then in videos that follow use it to heat up parts that are stuck instead of the propane or map gas torch. Something like this would be super awesome and a youtube first, and would be something like a living, breathing history lesson. Not saying you have to do this, perhaps just as a goal to work towards someday. Regardless, thank you for another fine video and keep up the great work.

[@johnathanfuller1423]

I grinned like an idiot when I saw you looking through your wood pile. That was a good piece of elm for making that replacement handle. You could have saved the old one with some glue and wood stabilizer, but I'm glad I got to see you go the extra mile by making a new one.

[@TheFurriestOne]

Wow, those end-castings were much thinner than I expected! Especially with the size of that cast wheel on the end! Looks great all done-up!

[@alexh3601]

Love the videos! I find each one interesting and relaxing to watch and listen to. A bit of a suggestion (request?): could you upload the full length videos, either here or on a separate channel? I understand they might be long, but I'd really enjoy seeing them in real time and not sped up.

[@HandToolRescue]

I could! You can also slow it down in the KZbin settings. This one would be about 2-3 hours long at normal speed, since some parts are incredibly sped up.

[@javaking1000]

I know some people like the sped up video, but I hate it! I always watch at 0.5 or 0.75 speed and it's great. This was a nice, loooooong, relaxing video to watch and you did an AMAZING JOB on the restore. I was completely laughing my ass off when you trimmed the slice of bread!! What ever made you think of doing that!??

[@musledtyler]

42:15 "well it was a cool restoration but not the most useful tool." 43:05 "this truly is the best thing to happen to bread since the toaster was invented."

[@aeroengineering333]

A bit late, but rather than "The greatest thing since sliced bread," it's "The greatest thing to slice bread"

[@johnburdis5352]

I think your restoration work on the tools you do is great. I wish I had a work shop like yours. Good job! I enjoy any thing to do with metal and metal work. Thanks once again, Mr. hand tool rescue.

[@TheOnespeedbiker]

There are probably some just as good or better restoration channels on KZbin. What sets Eric apart is his amazing videography and editing. Even these earlier restorations have a polished time lapsing and relaxed quality that hides the hundreds of hours spent editing. One of the best KZbin channels period. While many of his later restorations use the addition of a lathe and milling machine, his earlier restorations, with a can a WD-40, needle-nose vise grip pliers, a screw driver, crescent wrench, socket set, hammer, punch, paint stripper, wire wheel (on a drill press) and spray cans are still amazing well done.

[@dimitar4y]

Maybe one day you'll find an antique metal turning lathe and restore it :D Or make one out of all these antique tools. hmmmm.

[@awldune]

Love that adjustable wrench. Tell us about that

[@HandToolRescue]

Me too! I found in an lot of tools I bought at an auction. It's called a fish-bellied wrench. I have no idea who made it, but I cleaned it up and left all the patina on it. It's perfect for the square nuts and bolts on these older tools.

[@Qwertystick]

It is an old British wrench, probably from King Dick but i'm not shure! Welcome from Italy

[@enjoirox1]

Its also called a ford wrench

[@dwarfsbaneironfist2527]

If it was A King Dick it would be in big letters on the side, everyone seemed to have one of these, I have one.Even Rolls Royce had them in the tool kits for their cars, some on Ebay Uk. Made by lots of companies, worth picking up if cheap enough, mine was £0.50.

[@georgeshort9993]

My grandad had one of these wrenches and he told me it came with his really old land rover when he bought it new

[@daniellclary]

I don't know why, but I find it hilarious every time you take the blowtorch to a stubborn bolt. And yes, I know its to expand the metal to make it easy to get out. But its still funny to me when you get to that point.

[@teresagalbreath7452]

I never realized how many parts(screws!) machinery has until I started watching your videos! You are very hard working and talented!! Amazing work!!

[@TheManLab7]

You really need how to weld probably. With any amount of stress on that brassed weld it'll easily crack again

[@ZanRudolfDSM]

43:01 new life hack

[@DoomDodgers]

What kind of a degenerate doesn't eat the crusts?

[@edmarkham2632]

I have watched most of your videos several times and was wondering when new ones would be coming out. Your humor adds a nice touch. Keep up the good entertainment. GOD bless.

[@cecilgore495]

Apparently the solution for rust removal is not harmful to your skin, but the grinding of the metal an the filling of it must get into your fingers, you do excellent work.

[@dwittek]

I have to ask. Did you break the frame or was it broke when you got it? I didn't see any rust on the crack.

[@balazstorok9265]

dwittek looked like a fresh crack to me too

[@francislematt7079]

Fresh crack should be able to take solder if plenty of flax was applied to help flow of bronze /brass solder... without flax the metal surface gets covered by oxidised layer immediately and solder won't stick. It's not just the inadequate temperature....

[@jmg9808]

Ne pas avoir peur de se mettre les mains dans la Polente !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jmg9808]

tout ça pour ça !!!!!!..........................?Avez+vous essayé avec un saucisson ????????............!

[@getin3949]

@@francislematt7079 FLUX

[@baremetalHW]

Can we send you tools to be restored? (You can keep).

[@HandToolRescue]

Of course!

[@user-or9yw5fx7d]

baremetalHW しまってあった機械が綺麗に回復出来て嬉しいね！

[@picax8398]

Hey! Didn't know you watched HTR too! Cool seeing you here!

[@igortoropov658]

Просто

[@debbiesparks7529]

love watching you bring old things back to life. Have a great weekend

[@indie825]

Amazing to see this trimmer brought back to life. Amazing.

[@Cla0016]

1900s Crust Trimmer [Restoration]

[@stevehawley5618]

I'm surprised the magnet didn't fall off from Curie effect.

[@nickPOPmusic]

I believe you mean curry. From the old adage: That curry is so spicy, it could demagnetize a rare earth magnet.

[@NotSure304]

You do amazing work. I love the attention to detail and that you show the use afterwards. Well done man!

[@smorley99]

The bread test was a nice touch.

[@maxpowersam]

You need Kroil as a sponsor of your videos :)

[@ArkansasPilgrim]

He already has Evapo-Rust as a sponsor.

[@maxpowersam]

Kroil (www.kanolabs.com/) is simply the best for penetrating/lubricating frozen/seized metal parts. WD-40 is a good all purpose product, but it's kind of the adjustable spanner (crescent wrench) of spanners; Kroil is specifically for penetrating/lubricating. Kroil is to WD-40 like a socket set is to a crescent wrench.

[@ArkansasPilgrim]

Thanks. I've never heard of it. How does it compare to ATF+acetone? I just learned about that, but haven't had a chance to try it yet.

[@JingleJoe]

1:58 what's in your spray bottle of magic nut releasing fluid?

[@highfructosefun7503]

JingleJoe I think it's just WD-40

[@Menticideable]

WD-40 I believe

[@sheep1ewe]

I think it´s WD 40 or 5-56

[@JingleJoe]

does that come in bottles like that though? I've only ever seen int a pressurized spray can, and personally I prefer AC90

[@squat224]

You can buy it by the 5 gallon bucket if you want. It also comes in jugs and metal tins.

[@markarchila9446]

I love watching you disassemble and reasdemble these tools. It gives me a great apreciation for human ingenuity and craftmanship in these tools. You do a great job, keep up the great work and keep these amazing videos coming.

[@HandToolRescue]

+Mark Archila Thank you!

[@atowning]

A very nice restoration and glad you've found some shellac to seal wood with.

[@HandToolRescue]

Shellac is hands down the best for old rosewood handles on hand planes, so I always have some around.

[@mothman.industries]

Look at how that casting failed after only a century. Disgusting. Doesn't anyone build things to last anymore?

[@jackpshannonsr.1838]

I know right. In my time, we made real tools. I'm 71 😉😉😎

[@squireallenboice3116]

I really enjoyed this one! Old machinery is just so cool. It just has so much character to it.

[@Vader1957]

I really enjoy your videos. The fast motion is brilliant, we get to see the full process, but at a KZbin pace. Thanx !

[@erickcolunga5176]

Amazing, but your damn fine adjustment knob is BACKWARDS! Turn it around please

[@sms61]

I was impressed by you're restoration work and noticed your attention to detail but I was disappointed when I saw you use 10 penny finish nails on the emblem/badge, you should have used brads as the original had but even though using finish nails would work you should have cut them down and then folded the over into the wood, you should never left them the way you did.

[@wayneburchwell1977]

I enjoy your videos. I think I have watched them all. I might have been able to disassemble this thing but there is no way I could have put it back together. Great job on a tool I would not have imagined existed. Who knew wall paper was so important.

[@mtmchenry]

Another great transformation. Love the videos. I could watch a new one each day if they were available. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@krustacean699]

32:02 it's a fidget spinner!

[@venuslightplays8676]

No, no it’s not

[@kentremendous5112]

*turns on lathe* oh that’s cool he has a la- *HE STARTS REMOVING WOOD* “I CAN HEAR THOUSANDS OF TREES SCREAMING”

[@davidwilliams6016]

I watched the Hack Saw restore. I dont know why I didn’t subscribe then. But I am IN. Love it. At the root of what I like to do. Thanks

[@ThatOtherGuyThere]

I love the attention to detail in your videos and the fact your restoring history keep it up

[@ducvu2153]

i'm from VietNam

[@JunkMan13013]

Welcome, from the UK

[@TatsukiHashida]

Gary Matthews I'm Japanese

[@mikelaredo6906]

duc vu welcome from Washington state USA

[@HandToolRescue]

Welcome from Canada!

[@ducvu2153]

Hand Tool Rescue welcome

[@censusgary]

For a paper cutter, this beast has an unbelievable number of parts.

[@zacharyweber5495]

I'm not sure why but when you split that handle in half at 19:23 it was really satisfying

[@iamrichrocker]

bet editing this video took longer than actual restoration....fantastic and a pleasure to watch...

[@brucewoods9377]

I admire your tenacity. That thing was SO broken

[@southernnutcase]

i love watching these old tools come back to life :)

[@philanna38]

I just realized I was grunting as I watched you unscrew those stubborn screws. So I helped!

[@Spoif]

I'm glad you demonstrated how the trimmer worked... I couldn't get my head around it.

[@picax8398]

nothing better than comming inside after mowing to see that HTR has uploaded

[@daddynutz024]

Another great video. Makes the time at work just fly by. Thanks.

[@franksmodels29]

Great job on that restoration 👍🏻👍🏻 it's amazing about the amount of engineering on a simple wallpaper trimmer..

[@aucourant9998]

Really great. I'm glad you showed how it worked at the end.

[@johnphilipburdis3798]

The 1900's wall paper trimmer looks a very difficult restoration, with all those broken parts. I like what you do!😁🇭🇲👍

[@TizonaAmanthia]

that was a big job! good working! glad you showed it working, it does a great job trimming the crust on your sammiches.

[@lunalie6938]

i love your use of the torch to expand the outer metal to loosen the stuck pieces

[@castelian00cs]

Another great video, nice to see you taking on bigger projects. Looking forward to seeing you restore large machines

[@backyardsounds]

I thouroughly enjoyed this one!!! Beautiful machine. Great job!!

[@voiceofreason5916]

Continually amazed at your ability to remember what went where...

[@bobbystanley8580]

I love that you found a use for this in today's world!

[@RRED2]

Absolutely loved this Restore. Thank you so much for sharing. 😉

[@HandToolRescue]

Thanks for watching!

[@komerwest5872]

Very impressive work. It looks amazing.

[@alecjahn]

Finally a tool that allows me to remove the crusty stuff from my bread. Nice restoration!

[@FANG1950]

the perfect crust trimmer.... nice work...my grandparents had one very similar.....

[@jaysonoliveiralemes2457]

I am here from Brazil, and I have a lot of fun watching your videos, especially when playing some games, it is satisfying to see someone repairing and restoring things, sorry if I wrote something wrong, I am not fluent in English, send a hello to us Brazil in your videos please!

[@mrmurphy172]

Amazing job. Every break in the cast iron makes me wince.