This vintage Meat slicer, a steal?

[Diesel Mercedes]

Vintage Berkel Slicer Restoration

I already have a Hobart 410, so I'm in a way addicted to these things. Ever since I've used a vertical slicer I've loathed "gravity fed" slanted slicers.

Anyway there's this Berkal for sale going for $50 and it has sharpening stones!
https://richmond.craigslist.org/atq/d/anitque-vintage-berkel-heavy/6338277974.html


The stones assembly alone a worth hundreds. Working food service I know a pos slicer from a well oiled machine. Hopefully everything works etc.

 

[Jazz1]

I'd take that!

 

[Swingpress]

Uh, I have 3 old Berkel slicers. I just replaced a blade and it was $600..... if you don't, I will....

My two 910's (nothing comes close when slicing prosciutto, corned beef, brisket, etc.)


The model 70 flywheel.

I'm addicted also!! Got any pics of that 410?

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

Uh, I have 3 old Berkel slicers. I just replaced a blade and it was $600..... if you don't, I will....

My two 910's (nothing comes close when slicing prosciutto, corned beef, brisket, etc.)


The model 70 flywheel.

I'm addicted also!! Got any pics of that 410?

Wow, those are some amazing machines! One day I'll get there.

Yes I do have pics of it, from what the previous owner told me, he acquired it from a Jewish deli and bakery from an elderly woman years ago. It was their back up slicer when the main 12" one went down for maintenance.

Once he got a hold of it, he realized he only used it a every other year or so.

it's barely used from the looks of it,

The PO also "lubricated" it with pam,,, so I had to degrease every moving part to remove the varnish and applied food grade machine oil and the difference was night and day!

The Hobart 410 is light, small and portable, albeit at 70lbs.

Btw, any stories behind your slicers?

 

[Swingpress]

Wow, those are some amazing machines! One day I'll get there.

Yes I do have pics of it, from what the previous owner told me, he acquired it from a Jewish deli and bakery from an elderly woman years ago. It was their back up slicer when the main 12" one went down for maintenance.

Once he got a hold of it, he realized he only used it a every other year or so.

it's barely used from the looks of it,

The PO also "lubricated" it with pam,,, so I had to degrease every moving part to remove the varnish and applied food grade machine oil and the difference was night and day!

The Hobart 410 is light, small and portable, albeit at 70lbs.

Btw, any stories behind your slicers?

You got a nice one! Looks hardly used!
On the pair of twin 910's, the left one I got from a gentleman's estate whom I knew from auctions and similar events. He was well known for going to Europe and bringing back full shipping containers of antiques, etc. That slicer, came back from Europe where he had bought a whole deli that was closing and shipped it back. I think I gave $40 for it and slowly started cleaning it up. There was more grease and **** in the thing than I imagined was possible. But, it works and has the stones!

The second one came up a week after I bought the first and is a US version so I just couldn't leave it alone lol.

The flywheel is from the same place as the first one and was also brought home from Europe. It was still in the crate and the family was opening it when I walked by. Everyone scratched their heads and asked what it was. I jokingly said ,"looks like a hundred bucks to me!" and the daughter said "sold!"
[emoji15]
I tried telling her what it was and she told me to take it since, in her opinion, what were the odds someone else would know what to do with it.
It is getting shipped BACK to Italy in January to be restored by the a company who deals strictly in old Berkel slicers.

Want a crazy eye full? Search google for a restored Berkel slicer. Search: "Valano Berkel Slicer" and check out the restored flywheel prices! Some bring upwards of $25k if they have the stand.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

You got a nice one! Looks hardly used!
On the pair of twin 910's, the left one I got from a gentleman's estate whom I knew from auctions and similar events. He was well known for going to Europe and bringing back full shipping containers of antiques, etc. That slicer, came back from Europe where he had bought a whole deli that was closing and shipped it back. I think I gave $40 for it and slowly started cleaning it up. There was more grease and **** in the thing than I imagined was possible. But, it works and has the stones!

The second one came up a week after I bought the first and is a US version so I just couldn't leave it alone lol.

The flywheel is from the same place as the first one and was also brought home from Europe. It was still in the crate and the family was opening it when I walked by. Everyone scratched their heads and asked what it was. I jokingly said ,"looks like a hundred bucks to me!" and the daughter said "sold!"
[emoji15]
I tried telling her what it was and she told me to take it since, in her opinion, what were the odds someone else would know what to do with it.
It is getting shipped BACK to Italy in January to be restored by the a company who deals strictly in old Berkel slicers.

Want a crazy eye full? Search google for a restored Berkel slicer. Search: "Valano Berkel Slicer" and check out the restored flywheel prices! Some bring upwards of $25k if they have the stand.

Thank's! Btw, got my 410 for $250 which imo deal. I'm gonna look at it tomorrow morning.

Side not: Also do you know of any reputable places that sharpen slicer blades?

 

[L.Cheapo]

I have a story about a meat slicer.

Several years ago, a coworker and I were working in a place out west. Small town, not a huge population. This was at the height of the Pawn Stars craze. One morning, my coworker walked down the road to a pawn shop. He was just in there to see if they had any obscure guitar stuff, and was looking around when a man who appeared to like illicit substances came in carrying a meat slicer. The guy set it on the counter, the shop owner looked at it, and the conversation went like this:
"its a meat slicer. I'll give you $50."
"I need at least $200."
"I'm a small pawn shop in the middle of nowhere. How many people do you think I have coming in here looking for meat slicers? None!"
"I'll take $100"
"$50 or take your meat slicer and get out."

The man left with the meat slicer and my coworker left shortly after.

He told me about this event later at lunch. The next morning, I drove over to that pawn shop, and was looking around. After a couple minutes, the exchange with the owner went like this:
"Looking for something?"
"I need a meat slicer, you got one?"
*blank stare*
"I guess not. Thanks anyway."

And I left.

 

[Swingpress]

I have a story about a meat slicer.



Several years ago, a coworker and I were working in a place out west. Small town, not a huge population. This was at the height of the Pawn Stars craze. One morning, my coworker walked down the road to a pawn shop. He was just in there to see if they had any obscure guitar stuff, and was looking around when a man who appeared to like illicit substances came in carrying a meat slicer. The guy set it on the counter, the shop owner looked at it, and the conversation went like this:

"its a meat slicer. I'll give you $50."

"I need at least $200."

"I'm a small pawn shop in the middle of nowhere. How many people do you think I have coming in here looking for meat slicers? None!"

"I'll take $100"

"$50 or take your meat slicer and get out."



The man left with the meat slicer and my coworker left shortly after.



He told me about this event later at lunch. The next morning, I drove over to that pawn shop, and was looking around. After a couple minutes, the exchange with the owner went like this:

"Looking for something?"

"I need a meat slicer, you got one?"

*blank stare*

"I guess not. Thanks anyway."



And I left.

You, sir, are what we like to call, winning!

 

[3baygarage]

I have a story about a meat slicer.

Several years ago, a coworker and I were working in a place out west. Small town, not a huge population. This was at the height of the Pawn Stars craze. One morning, my coworker walked down the road to a pawn shop. He was just in there to see if they had any obscure guitar stuff, and was looking around when a man who appeared to like illicit substances came in carrying a meat slicer. The guy set it on the counter, the shop owner looked at it, and the conversation went like this:
"its a meat slicer. I'll give you $50."
"I need at least $200."
"I'm a small pawn shop in the middle of nowhere. How many people do you think I have coming in here looking for meat slicers? None!"
"I'll take $100"
"$50 or take your meat slicer and get out."

The man left with the meat slicer and my coworker left shortly after.

He told me about this event later at lunch. The next morning, I drove over to that pawn shop, and was looking around. After a couple minutes, the exchange with the owner went like this:
"Looking for something?"
"I need a meat slicer, you got one?"
*blank stare*
"I guess not. Thanks anyway."

And I left.

 

[Swingpress]

Thank's! Btw, got my 410 for $250 which imo deal. I'm gonna look at it tomorrow morning.



Side not: Also do you know of any reputable places that sharpen slicer blades?

I haven't ever had any of mine professionally sharpened. I have had one that I gave to a buddy to repair some edge damage and he did some measuring (and whatever other voodoo machinists do) and he cleaned it up an a large lathe and matched the bevel/ angle and balanced it. He did one hell of a job! Other than that on I have always used the stones or if one was too far gone I replaced.

 

[3baygarage]

My father had a store decades ago and his Hobart slicer was stolen. He always thought his friend stole it. If he did, the secret went to the grave with the guy.

 

[06switchback]

I have an old American Slicing Machine don't know a lot about it other than its old and still works great I sees a couple hundred pounds of meat a year it is pretty handy to have around I don't have a pic right now it's disassembled and put away right now

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

 

[Stuart in MN]

I worked in a kitchen when I was a teenager that had a Hobart slicer like the one in the picture above. It was cool to use, but then it took a lot of time to get all the meat residue and fat cleaned out of every nook and cranny, to keep it sanitary.

 

[Swingpress]

The biggest downside to the old Berkel slicers is information. When Hobart bought out Berkel they kept none of Berkels records and so finding parts, or even figuring out the name of a part so you can find one becomes a very large challenge. That, and these thing weigh a ton! My 910 slicers weigh in at 250lbs each.

Here is a cool clip on the manual flywheel slicers.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

Finally got, the blade runs true but that's the only good thing.

Blade is hard to turn but not seized.
It smokes, probably because of the excessive load or drag. (it was immediately unpluged)
All movements and mechanisms are rough (duh it's rusty)

I'm guessing bearings are fried and the bearing grease is now wax.
Going to completely rebuild it.
It's still in the trunk, I can't get out alone.

 

[Grabber70Mach]

May not be too old but I picked this one up for 100 at springtime.

 

[zak77]

Here's a pic of the Globe i have before restoration. It looks much better now but i lost the new pic when i dumped photobucket. It's one of those things that takes up space and you really dont use it that often but when i do need it, it's worth it's weight in gold, which would make me a rich man since that weights at least 100lbs. It has the original motor and blade, from what i can tell and the sharpening stones make it razor sharp in seconds.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

Here's a pic of the Globe i have before restoration. It looks much better now but i lost the new pic when i dumped photobucket. It's one of those things that takes up space and you really dont use it that often but when i do need it, it's worth it's weight in gold, which would make me a rich man since that weights at least 100lbs. It has the original motor and blade, from what i can tell and the sharpening stones make it razor sharp in seconds.

Wow, I thInk yours is older than mine! I plan on using this beast for Christmas roast beef sandwiches.

May not be too old but I picked this one up for 100 at springtime.

$100 very well spent. How much does it weigh?

 

[jeffmoss26]

This reminds me of a Seinfeld episode

 

[Swingpress]

This reminds me of a Seinfeld episode

My inner fat guy loves this thread!!!

 

[Rileysan]

Well, I guess I better post a picture of the new blade I was going to make a stall mat cutter out of.
I'd rather someone who needed it, had it.

I had no idea anyone cared much about slicing their own meat.
Pictures tomorrow. I'll say it's ten inch plus diameter....

I don't need one but have always wanted one. However, if I had one, I would find a reason to use it.

Brian

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

Unfortunately i'm about to call it quits. I can't for the life of me remove the blade. I removed the center screw and it's still sitting there.

Also accessing the belt drive seems impossible, and to top it off I need a puller to remove the motor because the end pulley is too big to slip through.

 

[trekgod3]

The grocery store I work at recently switched from Hobart to Bizerba slicers. Hi-tech German technology.

 

[PBCampbell]

Unfortunately i'm about to call it quits. I can't for the life of me remove the blade. I removed the center screw and it's still sitting there.

Also accessing the belt drive seems impossible, and to top it off I need a puller to remove the motor because the end pulley is too big to slip through.

Is it threaded on? Post pictures of where you're at and I'd be surprised if someone doesn't know how to do it or at least can't figure out how to get it off. It could just be decades of meat fat acting as glue. Try some solvents and be patient.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

Is it threaded on? Post pictures of where you're at and I'd be surprised if someone doesn't know how to do it or at least can't figure out how to get it off. It could just be decades of meat fat acting as glue. Try some solvents and be patient.

Here's a video.

I will post pictures soon

 

[PBCampbell]

I'm largely just spit balling, but the first part of the video seemed to be the motor pulley and that looks threaded. I'd look carefully over that end of the motor to find some way to hold the motor shaft still (Pin Spanner possibly) so that pulley could be threaded off by way of what looks like a coupler. The blade looks like it takes a pin spanner as well. Look to the back of that housing carefully and you may have to reattach it to get a workable shaft stop. I think that watching the face of the blade it turns counter clockwise and the inner set of holes will be key to turning it off. I'm thinking the inner most pair of holes and there is a stop on the backside of he housing(?). I'll admit to to confusion over the the second pair of holes, but I think that last lonely hole at the outside has something to do with belt replacement(?). I'm probably not much help but
I hope you get better help with bumping this thread.

 

[mattblast]

There should be some recessed Allen set screws holding the pulley on. Maybe the recessed holes are full of grease and you cannot see them. Poke around and you should find them then loosen the set screws and it will pop off.


The blade is held on with the ring with two holes that look like a thick washer. It needs a spanner wrench to remove or you may be able to unscrew it using he tips of a needle nose pliers.

 

[Grabber70Mach]

Wow, I thInk yours is older than mine! I plan on using this beast for Christmas roast beef sandwiches.


$100 very well spent. How much does it weigh?

Thanks, never really weighed it but if I had to guess I'd say 60-75lbs.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

I've taken all into consideration, thanks a lot. Dumb question, which spanner wrench do I need? I see they come in all shapes and sizes.

Took off the recessed set screw, so pulley is loosened.
I'll take another look at the motor too.

 

[Swingpress]

The wrench you need is similar to what is used on angle grinders to hold cut-off wheels in place. Take a measurement between pin holes and let me know what it is. I have a few tools specific to slicers and have a few wrenches for blade drive pins around here and if I have the one you need I'll over-night it to you (provided I get it back when you are done [emoji41]of course). Just let me know! As for cleaning, most degreasers should work. I have had to use piranha solution on extremely stubborn stuff before and it works great [emoji106].

The outer most set of hole on the blade can be used with a set of steel pins to make installing a blade less dangerous. My new blade has the same holes. Imagine dropping a 35lb circular blade, so sharp it makes the finest straight razor want to give up, from table height!! Toes, fingers, lower finger, or anything else that gets in its way you will suddenly have 2 of......

(Disclaimer: Im just sharing an experience. Piranha solution is dangerous, poisonous, highly corrosive and I don't recommend you use it unless you are trained in its use. I am trained, lazy, and don't use it on anything I'm not willing to have to replace entirely. Also, when in contact with organic material it is highly exothermic, it gets hot.)

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

The wrench you need is similar to what is used on angle grinders to hold cut-off wheels in place. Take a measurement between pin holes and let me know what it is. I have a few tools specific to slicers and have a few wrenches for blade drive pins around here and if I have the one you need I'll over-night it to you (provided I get it back when you are done [emoji41]of course). Just let me know! As for cleaning, most degreasers should work. I have had to use piranha solution on extremely stubborn stuff before and it works great [emoji106].

The outer most set of hole on the blade can be used with a set of steel pins to make installing a blade less dangerous. My new blade has the same holes. Imagine dropping a 35lb circular blade, so sharp it makes the finest straight razor want to give up, from table height!! Toes, fingers, lower finger, or anything else that gets in its way you will suddenly have 2 of......

(Disclaimer: Im just sharing an experience. Piranha solution is dangerous, poisonous, highly corrosive and I don't recommend you use it unless you are trained in its use. I am trained, lazy, and don't use it on anything I'm not willing to have to replace entirely. Also, when in contact with organic material it is highly exothermic, it gets hot.)

Alright then, i'll give it a measure a few hours from today and report back.

 

[RPH]

DM I sent you a pm. Please read it as it may help you.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

Alright, blade is finally off! Hats off to everyone who helped!

Now, there are two issues left, well two more that I'm aware of. The blade bearing is attached to a pulley, I've never seen this kind of bearing before I need a vice to pull it but I don't have one unfortunately.

There is a tiny space at the bottom, I'd imagine a puller would slip right down inside there.

The other is is the motor issue I addressed earlier. After these two bumps are smoothed out, I can fully clean it and start ordering parts.

I heard you can grab belts at auto parts stores but thes3 are tiny.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

This might as well be a restoration thread. Anyway got the motor out too.


Like I said earlier the motor smokes but I'm not sure why.
Here are some pics of the internals. Does this look normal to you?

Btw this is my first time ever trying to restore something so this a learning experience for me.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

I have an electric motor repair shop in my city, I'll take it over there in the far future.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

Good news, the motor was simply gunked up, there was crud just behind the stator, cleaned it uo and no smoke.

All that's left mechanical wise are new bushings, bearings and belts.
Honestly where can I buy these parts from? I have no idea how to cross reference parts.

 

[Swingpress]

Outlawmws will probably be the go-to guy about finding bearings. I believe he sources/cross references oddball bearings fairly often.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

Outlawmws will probably be the go-to guy about finding bearings. I believe he sources/cross references oddball bearings fairly often.

I'll check him out, but I still can't get the bearing out to identify it.

 

[Swingpress]

I'll check him out, but I still can't get the bearing out to identify it.

Got pics of the front/back side of the bearing in question? Acetone and atf with some solid mallet work might do the trick.

 

[Diesel Mercedes]

Got pics of the front/back side of the bearing in question? Acetone and atf with some solid mallet work might do the trick.

Yes
Here are the pics.

Also another issue is the motor sparks out the rear end at startup, is this normal?