Ideal No. 3 stencil machine restoration

[Joefriday]

Hello folks,

I know this is not typically the type of tool that is posted here but I figured that it is indeed a tool and someone may have an interest in this sort of thing.

I picked this early Ideal No.3 stencil machine a few weeks ago. It was seized up with rust and totally non-functioning but I like trying to save old items that most would pass by and let continue to rot away.

The guy that I purchased it from is "old school" retired US Navy. He said this was military surplus and he remembers this same type of machine on various ships that he served on. They were of course used for making stencils for numerous things but he remembers using them to make stencils to mark his name on uniforms.

Being a militaria collector the machine was of interest to me on several levels.

I don't try to make items look like new or better when I clean them up. I just try to clean them up and make them useable while still leaving a bit of its original wear, tear, and history shown.

Anyway..it's running like a Swiss watch now and goes nicely with my old Addressograph (dot tag - among other things) machine.

Best,
Rob

 

[Joefriday]

 

[454ragtop]

Nice job on the restore! Can you show a stencil it makes? Does it only make 1 size, or is it somehow adjustable?

 

[Joefriday]

Much thanks Ragtop.. It is a one size only machine, 1/2 inch characters on this one. Ideal made different model machines for different size characters.

I actually meant to post a picture of a stencil I made.

Best,
Rob

(a small business I have repairing military items, making rifle slings, belts, knife sheaths, and a few other small items)

 

[4xdog]

Very nice! I've had access to one of those in two of my past jobs, but none for the last ten or fifteen years. There are sure times when I could use one of those.

 

[Joefriday]

Thank you.. Could be a handy item and I can think of a few ways to use it in my business but mostly I just wanted to save it from rusting away and it gave me a project to work on out in the garage.

Best,
Rob

 

[PETE14]

That turned out great. Thanks for posting - there are definitely people here who love to see the odd ball stuff that they may never see anywhere else. I have never seen one of those. Pretty neat. I am always amazed at how heavy duty and well built a lot of that old stuff is. Any clue when it was made? Or patent dates?

 

[FJ 432]

Super cool. I have one of those that works okay but need cleaning. My dial does not match up with what actually gets stamped.

Yours is fantastic.

 

[Recordus]

Fantastic tool, and restore! I never knew such a tool existed, much less that they would be installed on ships.

Are you interested in making up stencils for sale? I'd love one with the family name, so I could slather our name all over the place like Jimmy Diresta!

 

[Joefriday]

That turned out great. Thanks for posting - there are definitely people here who love to see the odd ball stuff that they may never see anywhere else. I have never seen one of those. Pretty neat. I am always amazed at how heavy duty and well built a lot of that old stuff is. Any clue when it was made? Or patent dates?

Thank you Pete. I had never seen one either but I love the mechanics of it. It's fun to watch the linkage, gears, levers and such all in action when the handle is operated.

When the handle is operated it stamps a letter and advances the carriage one position like a type writer. Pretty neat.

The last patent date on it is 1915 but a patent pending in 1919 so I'm thinking it was made in the 20's or so.

Best,
Rob

 

[Joefriday]

Super cool. I have one of those that works okay but need cleaning. My dial does not match up with what actually gets stamped.

Yours is fantastic.

Thank you. That's a simple fix. The dial (indicator arrow) is on a shaft that runs down to the gears. There is a set screw down there. Loosen the set screw, turn the indicator arrow until it is pointing at the letter that is cutting and then tighten it back up.

Best,
Rob

 

[Joefriday]

Fantastic tool, and restore! I never knew such a tool existed, much less that they would be installed on ships.

Are you interested in making up stencils for sale? I'd love one with the family name, so I could slather our name all over the place like Jimmy Diresta!

A number of my buddies who were in the Navy remember this style machine on their ships.

You can PM me if you would really like a set of stencils.

Best,
Rob

 

[FJ 432]

Thank you. That's a simple fix. The dial (indicator arrow) is on a shaft that runs down to the gears. There is a set screw down there. Loosen the set screw, turn the indicator arrow until it is pointing at the letter that is cutting and then tighten it back up.

Best,
Rob

Thank you!!! I needed this thread to motivate me on fixing this machine.

 

[Joefriday]

Thank you!!! I needed this thread to motivate me on fixing this machine.

Most welcome.

I posted these pictures and this thread mostly for reference for someone else who may be out there with a similar machine looking for pictures or information on it. I know personally that it's nice when I am looking for pictures/information and someone has taken a few moments to post what I'm looking for.

Amazing how the internet has changed our ability to collect, fix things, learn, etc, etc..

Best,
Rob

 

[Bill vonSteuben]

In 1971, U S Army Basic Training, Ft Dix, NJ I saw something similar in the Supply room. Everyone got a stencil to use on their duffle bag. I probably still have the duffle bag in the attic.