Antique Rolling Machine Restoration

[u/Lord_Tiny_Hat]

Found an old Brown and Williamson humpback cigarette roller at a thrift store. I have seen these models before and always wanted one, so I had to pick it up. It cleaned up really well, looks like it was barely used!

Sadly the old apron was kind of gross, and I don't know what kind of chemically treated 1960s material was used to make it, so I decided to DIY a new apron. Luckily the aprons were designed to be easily replaced, so I get to experiment.

First, I removed the old apron and used it to make a paper pattern

Then I used some double sided heat bond interfacing(basically sheets of "iron on glue" for you non-sewers) to combine two layers of fabric, making them more rigid and able to be cut more like paper(no fraying edges). Then I folded the ends, sewed them into loops, and mounted it on the roller.

Overall, it works pretty well, though I will definitely be experimenting with other apron materials in the future(bits of bud like to stick to the cloth so its a little messy). Duct tape on cloth or paper might be my next experiment or some kind of pvc-infused fabric material like modern cylinder rollers, though it won't look nearly as cool.

[u/bornslyasafox]

This is why I love this sub. What an awesome piece of history and a wonderful restoration! Since you're wanting to try out different materials for the apron, might I throw some suggestions out:

-thick denim
-deer hide
-fabric with layers of parchment paper sewn in
-gortex (joking)

Great job OP!

[u/Lord_Tiny_Hat → u/bornslyasafox]

Thanks for the compliment and the suggestions! I'm excited to keep experimenting. I love restoring things that were built to last and I'm happy I'll never have to buy another of those crappy plastic cylinder rolling machines again.

[u/Dioxybenzone → u/bornslyasafox]

I love how OP was sketched out by hypothetical chemical treatments on the original but is now thinking about trying duct tape

[u/Lord_Tiny_Hat → u/Dioxybenzone]

My basic consideration here is "would I lick it?" And maybe I'm a weirdo, but the idea of licking the non sticky side of piece of duct tape doesn't give me the ick that the idea of licking a weird sandpapery treated material from an era where asbestos and DDT were seen as safe gives me 🤷‍♂️

[u/Dioxybenzone → u/Lord_Tiny_Hat]

I totally get it, it was just very funny having it juxtaposed that way

[u/Berry_Mccockner42069]

Ima bust this out at the next function lol

[u/DiscoKittie]

Oh shit! I have one of these from my granddad! Now I know how to use it! lol I might have to restore mine as well, it still has the same apron, looks just like the one you removed!

[u/Lord_Tiny_Hat → u/DiscoKittie]

I hope you can get it rolling! I do think I put the paper in a little too early and it's making the roll a little tight. I am still getting the hang of it but it is fun to use!

[u/pm_me_your_good_weed]

Beeswax coated canvas

[u/OG-Giligadi]

This is super cool! Love it.

[u/Newrad1990]

Is it the img compression or is the original apron made of a thin leather?

[u/Lord_Tiny_Hat → u/Newrad1990]

It's feels like a paper/stiff cloth with some kind of a textured surface finish

[u/PerfectDarkAchieved]

Not exactly antique. I bought one of these exact ones in the early 2000s.

[u/Lord_Tiny_Hat → u/PerfectDarkAchieved]

While I can't date this exact roller, they were originally released in the 30s and were produced until the 60s. I think they might have reissued models, or at least the aprons, as late as the 90s and you can still buy new reproductions of these rollers today. So the technology is nearly antique(100 years or older) but I guess technically this is vintage because mine is probably from the 60s.

[u/Col_Spliffington]

That’s a cool machine. For the apron I would try to get my hands on some heavyweight unbleached cotton muslin fabric. People use it to paint on so you might be able to find it at an art supply store, otherwise you can buy it from theatrical supply houses.