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  1. #1
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    Default Brass drop candy rollers

    Hi all,

    These brass rollers were made in the late 1800's to make drop candy. They are pretty rare these days and I was curious as to how they were made and what it would take to replicate or make something similar.

    Thanks,
    Jon

    s-l16002.jpgs-l1600.jpg

  2. #2
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    G'day Jon
    Welcome to the forum. Interesting little job. These days doing something like that on a CNC machine would be (relatively) easy using a 4th axis. I suspect that there was a special mill (or attachment) used back in the day to do those and if I were doing them I'd make up a jig to do them something like the set up used on a shaper to cut gears such that cranking the axis perpendicular to the roll axis would cause the roll to rotate keeping it perpendicular to the cutter axis.

    Michael

  3. #3
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    Default

    The round or dimpled ones could be done I'd say on a mill with an indexing head and a round nose cutter. Can we see some more photos of the machine?
    What is your interest in producing them?
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  4. #4
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DSEL74 View Post
    The round or dimpled ones could be done I'd say on a mill with an indexing head and a round nose cutter. Can we see some more photos of the machine?
    What is your interest in producing them?
    Thanks for the guidance. I'm just a serial hobbyist and I was making hard candies for awhile which led me to these old confectionary tools and the garage (where I'm more comfortable than the kitchen. ) I've dabbled with a aluminum in a small foundry and I've been itching to build a CNC machine, but this may be a bit more advanced than I'm ready for . Apparently, there weren't a lot of these made and most were sold for scrap as they had a lot of brass over the years. There are still a few confectioners that have them and collect the rollers. Here are some more pics of this rare model that sold on ebay recently...

    s-l16001.jpgs-l16003.jpgs-l16008.jpgs-l16006.jpgs-l16009.jpgs-l160011.jpgs-l160010.jpgs-l160012.jpgs-l16004.jpg

  5. #5
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    G'day Jon,
    I suspect these were made using a lost wax or investment casting technique. The steel gear and shaft would be made conventionally then the bronze cast onto it.
    If you wanted to reproduce them you could carve the design you desired into wax which is then used to produce a mould. If producing more than one, a silicon mould can be made from the original carving which can then be used to produce many wax patterns. You could probably use the originals to produce a silicone mould but shrinkage in the final casting may be an issue particularly if using aluminium.
    Cheers,
    Greg.

  6. #6
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    South Australia
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    Default

    My great grand father had a business in Kadina making boiled sweets and similar his rollers were rough cast then hand finished,these days it would be done all on one CNC machine

  7. #7
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    My pick is lost wax casting, in the late 1800's casting had become really good, an art form that we have lost somewhat. Although it wouldnt necessarily have the shaft incorporated in the casting, it would make replacement easier.

  8. #8
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    Seeing these rollers reminds me of the ones that I've seen in a couple of biscuiteries that I have visited in France. Those were enormous things compared to yours, maybe four feet long and eighteen inches in diameter and probably an inch thick. They appear to be made from brass or a similar metal. I would guess that they were made as a flat sheet and rolled to form a cylinder.

    I had no idea that they were used to make candy. They look great and would make interesting conversation pieces.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  9. #9
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    Soveriegn Hill still have these type of things in operation. Last time I was there with my daughter on a school camp and one of the tours invloved a display on boiled sweets and candy making. Found it really interesting. Since I have gotten into this metal working caper, I tend to look at stuff in a whole new light and usually find myself wondering how it was made!

    Simon
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  10. #10
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    Default

    Thanks for all the insights. If you're curious, here is a video of one in operation at Lofty Pursuits...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd90XCvpO1k

    -Jon

  11. #11
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    Hi Jon,

    Well I've learnt something new ! Fascinating video.

    Thanks:
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  12. #12
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    Apr 2013
    Location
    Bunbury WA
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    Default

    Thanks for the link. We have a shop in Bunbury that makes Taffy using vintage machinery, the wrapping is pretty clever.

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