Thickness Splitters:
Use:
The thickness splitter is used to split down leather to a thinner thickness. A saddler that would buy large quantites of full thickness saddle skirting leather, could use a splitter to make his scrap leather into smaller tack items or cases etc... Most splitters are adjustable to constant thicknesses. Some also have provisions to make lap skives that can create tapered splits.
Toolmaker: C.S. Osborne & Co.
- An 8 inch C.S. Osborne & Co. Number 84, "Keystone" splitter. Complete with the box.
- "C.S. OSBORNE & CO NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A." is cast into the base.
- "C.S. OSBORNE & CO HARRISON, N.J." and an "84" is stamped on the top of the blade.
- The labels from the box are pictured above.
- A late 1880's vintage C.S. Osborne catalogue lists this tool as a, No. 84. Keystone Splitting Machine, 8 inch Blade.
- A version of this tool was also manufactured by H.F. Osborne.
- The fact that Harrison N.J. is stamped on the blade and mentioned on the box label indicates a later manufacture, after 1905.
Toolmaker: C.S. Osborne & Co.
Inventor: John Theodore Krebs
- A number 85, 8 1/2 inch C.S. Osborne & Co. splitter.
- The blade is stamped "85" and "C.S. OSBORNE & CO."
- A late 1880's vintage C.S. Osborne catalogue lists this tool as a, No. 85. Kreb's Splitting and Skiving Machine, 8 1/2 inch Blade.
- The dial on the back moves the roller up and down. The handle on the side moves a guide to hold the leather against the blade.
- I believe this tool to be based on, U.S. Patent No. 00306760, Dated October 21, 1884, "Leather-Splitting Machine", John Theodore Krebs, of Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to William A. King of Cleveland, Ohio.
- I have also seen versions of this splitter made by King and Krebs.
Toolmaker: C.S. Osborne & Co.
- A very clean and well identified number 86, 6 inch C.S. Osborne & Co. splitter.
- The blade is stamped "EST'D 1826" inside a rectangle and "C.S. OSBORNE & CO."
- The base is decaled "C.S. OSBORNE & CO. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY" "ESTABLISHED 1826" and there is a central decal of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition medalion.
- A late 1880's vintage C.S. Osborne catalogue lists this tool as a, No. 86. Iron Frame Splitting Machine, made in sizes 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 inches.
- The 2001, C.S. Osborne & Co. catalog #59 illustrates an almost identical 6 inch splitter design (with modern hardware) on page 27.
Toolmaker: C.S. Osborne & Co.
- A well used, 8 inch C.S. Osborne & Co. number 86 splitter.
- The blade is stamped "EST'D 1826" inside a rectangle and "C.S. OSBORNE & CO."
- The base is decaled "C.S. OSBORNE & CO. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY" "ESTABLISHED 1826" and there is a central decal of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition medalion. However, the decals are quite worn.
- A late 1880's vintage C.S. Osborne catalogue lists this tool as a, No. 86. Iron Frame Splitting Machine, made in sizes 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 inches.
- This splitter does appear to have more modern hardware or possibly replacement parts.
- The 2001 C.S. Osborne & Co. catalog #59, does not have a 8 inch splitter illustrated as a currently avalible item.
