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This 100-Year-Old Rusty Mystery Tool Had Everyone Stumped!
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- Published on Apr 18, 2026
- Today, I came across a 100-year-old rusty tool, completely covered in dirt and corrosion. At first, I had no idea what it was - maybe some random mechanical part.
As I started cleaning and restoring it piece by piece, my curiosity kept growing. Every layer, every screw, and every bracket revealed more mystery…
And finally, after the full restoration, I discovered that it was actually an Overlock Machine! 😯✂️
Watch the full restoration process from a rusty, forgotten antique to a fully restored working machine. You won’t believe the transformation!
#rustytool #mysterytool #mysterytoolrestoration #overlockmachine #restoration #vintagetools #antiquetools #satisfyingrestoration #rustremoval #toolrestoration #oldmachinery #vintagetools #restorationproject #surprisingreveal #oldsewingmachine
I don't have any idea what this is but... How do you remember where everything goes? Even if I manage to take it apart I wouldn't be able to get it back together again. That takes some serious talent right there.
Thank you, my friend! 😊 Indeed, putting this machine back together isn’t easy-sometimes parts get wrongly fitted and then the headache starts, haha. I’m really happy to see your appreciation and interest.❤
Take lots of pictures before and during disassembly!
Ask me how I learned that lesson! 😉👍
I would be doing a lot of video reviews.
watch the video that unscrew it
Its a sewing machine called a "surger". Nice metallic green paint job! I'm sure this restoration and revitalization took aome considerable time, patience, and effort to complete! Good job!
Nice job! I've never seen a sewing machine like this before. Amazing find!
Great job
Nice job!
Oh my god. You restored an ancient sewing machine.
Good lord the amount of parts involved. Insane.
AND IT WAS STILL WORKING !!!!!
Thank you so much😊 It really was an ancient sewing machine with a lot of parts. Restoring it and bringing it back to working condition was an interesting challenge, and I’m glad you liked it.
In these videos I’m not sure how much is actual rust and how much is a red clay wash! the way a quick squirt of WD40 cleans it off and instantly releases years of ‘rust’. Still entertaining to see an old piece of equipment brought back instead of scrap metal.
Thank you for your feedback! 😊 I understand your point. In my videos the rust is real, but WD-40 only helps loosen the surface rust and dirt so it can be cleaned more easily. The restoration process still takes a lot of time and effort. I’m glad you enjoyed seeing this old machine brought back to life instead of being scrapped. ❤️
I recognise the shade of 'Rust', very similar to the gas cutter. This overlock machine is claimed to be 100 years old, is this estimate from the same source that told us the gas cutter was 100 years old when it was probably 50 years old. I appreciate that this is only your 2nd video, but honesty is the best way to gain subscribers.
The metal is severely pitted, that's years and years of neglect to get that bad. The editing makes it look easy but, I'm sure that took many many hours to restore.
I've restored many woodworking machines, it's not hard to spend 100 hours or more on one machine.
@bigredc222I'll give you a clue as to my experience. I travelled for a UK industrial gearbox manufacturer, I was mostly in the UK and EU, but was often in the USA east to west coast and Seattle down to L.A. I went all over the place to repair, update, investigate and often consult with top tier manufacturers. Gearboxes were rusty but not pitted I've repaired gear boxes on sewage plants, 3 storey newspaper printers, etc, etc. The overlock machine is not heavily pitted, some materials are prone to pitting, especially cheap cast components. You are entitled to your view, but in the same breath, so am I.
@thepagan5432 I agree with you … every item this channel “restores” has the exact same uniform coating of “corrosion”. The big giveaway is the initial scrapes with a screwdriver when the “corrosion” flakes straight off as dust. To get a uniform coating that bad would require the item to be soaked for a long long time in a ditch somewhere … and if so, the various screws would be so corroded it would not be possible to undo with a simple screwdriver and certainly wouldn’t come free with such nice clean threads.
Even allowing for the sharp video editing, these are also very impressive wire brushes at removing all trace of corrosion and burnishing the metal in one pass … all when barely touching the surface!
I’ve come to the conclusion that these are sham restorations. Equally, the items are always described as “ancient”, yet, whilst I’m not familiar with this particular sewing machine, previous items have been little more than 30 years old.
Amazed to see it actually working at the very end … albeit a bit (unsurprisingly) rough.
Un coup de karcher ça aurais décapé ́d’un coup dans tous les cas excellent travail j’adore comme d’habitude good djob vraiment
That metallic green is outstanding!
Thank you very much! 😊 I also really liked the metallic green color. I'm glad you noticed this small detail. Thanks for watching and for your comment! 👍❤
Such a lot of work but so Excellent Amazed So many thanks
Thank you very much! 😊 Your appreciation means a lot to me. I'm glad you liked this work.
Great restoration amazing how you put it back together 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you very much! 😊 It really wasn’t easy to completely disassemble it and then put it back together, but I truly enjoy bringing old tools back to life. I’m glad you liked the restoration! ❤
Damn that was a good guess, guessed it at beginning of video
Thank you so much 😊 You recognized it perfectly! Glad you figured it out right at the beginning.
One word ( Fantastic ) . Sincerely Chuck. PS I still don’t know what it is.
This is an overlock sewing machine.
Beautifully restored machine. Great job!!
Thank you so much! 😊 I really appreciate your kind words. Glad you liked the restoration.
Amazing ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanku so much ❤❤❤
مبدع
Thanks❤
I'm proud of myself for not cheating to find out what it is. I had no clue. The reveal was worth it! Probably the best restoration I've ever seen on RUclips. 👍👍
Thank you so much, my friend! 😊 I'm glad you waited until the end without checking first and that you liked the reveal. Your wonderful comment is a big encouragement for me. Thank you for your support.❤
I myself did not Cheat. Honestly I was guessing at the start , correctly I might add. And surprised myself at the end. And Yes, excellent job in restoring. I'm amazed that the people who designed it knew they must have all those Whozits and Whatzits from the start. I'm subscribed now. Thank You.
Great colour choices
Thank you so much! 😊
I’m really glad you liked the color choice. I tried to keep it simple and clean. Appreciate your support ❤️
Awesome job
Thanks❤
Beautiful work man. 👍
Thank you so much, my friend! 😊 I really appreciate your support. I'm glad you liked the work.
Complex
An overstitch... 😅 .... thaught it was a leather sewer.... awesome 👌.... what year.... y the way... nice restore ❤😊
Thank you so much for your kind comment 😊
Honestly, I’m not sure about the exact year of this tool, I just found it interesting and old so I decided to restore it.
Really appreciate your support and kind words ❤️
Good Worked 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thanks❤
SEWING MACHINE 😊😊😊😊😊😊
Yes
I think it's a serger used in factories to sew around garments to stop fraying.
Thank you for your comment 😊
You might be right, I also didn’t have complete information about it at the beginning. I just found it to be an interesting old tool and decided to restore it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge ❤️
Good
Thanks ❤
This video was originally put up three weeks ago. It´s a type of overlocking machine for sewing lace onto pelmets and curtains.
This is not the same video. I only watched that video and then made my own video, so maybe that’s why it looked similar to you. Thank you very much for sharing your valuable opinion❤
it has many uses and was used in many applications in my world and job it was used to seal chicken feed.
First of all, the fact that you disassembled then reassembled an industrial sewing machine is a truly impressive feat. You are a talented mechanic. Having said that, I have a few suggestions. Invest in a sandblaster. It will make your projects go quicker, it's more effective at removing the remaining rust, and viewers get a sense of satisfaction. Surfaces that are pitted or rough should be filled with metal filler and sanded smooth. All sharp corners should be rounded slightly. For a project like this, don't use spray paint. Use powder coating with a primer underneath your color layer. Instead of seasoning your metal parts, use cold blue. Any silvery parts should be nickel plated with no visible rust. You're off to a great start. Hope these suggestions help.
Thank you very much, brother! I really appreciate your detailed comment and valuable suggestions. I don't have a sandblasting machine yet, but please keep supporting like this. InshaAllah, I will get one in the future and the work will become even better. Your tips are very helpful, and I will definitely try to follow them in my future projects. Thank you again for your encouragement and support❤❤
❤❤❤❤❤❤
❤
It’s a sewing machine or over-stitch machine of sorts. It’s been nicely disassembled and cleaned. But in its current overhauled state it will never work again. Looks good though.
Como você consegue montar tudo de novo tão perfeito?
Muito obrigado 😊 É tudo questão de prática e paciência, com o tempo tudo fica perfeito.
@skillsrestoration❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
pleas get a sand b
laster
Yes, that’s a great suggestion! 👍 I don’t have a sand blaster at the moment, but as soon as I get one, InshaAllah I will definitely use it to get even better results. 😊
Who was the original manufacturer?
I still haven’t been able to find out the original manufacturer. I found it in an old condition, so the information is limited. As soon as I learn more about it, InshaAllah I will definitely let you know. 😊
First 30 seconds. SEWING MACHINE
Industrial overlocker
Thank you! 😊 It seems you’re right, this really is an industrial overlock machine.
Китайский оверлок их тучи и запчасти на них есть. И ему не 100 лет 😂. Года 2005 😅 он . У моей тещи такой же. Автор зачем врешь?
Crazy old sewing machine
Yeah, it’s really amazing how old machines were built so strong. Glad you liked it! 😊
On first look I thought sewing machine so will watch to the end to hopefully find out.
Thank you 😊
Yes, it does look like a sewing machine at first glance, which is what makes it so interesting. Hope you enjoy the video and it becomes clear by the end. Really appreciate your support ❤️
How do you remember where everything goes back together? I’d have parts left over and it still wouldn’t work.😅 A sandblasting booth would be very helpful for you. Amazing results.
Yaar, sometimes some parts are left over and then the headache starts! 😄 Thanks a lot for the advice. I don’t have a sandblasting setup yet, but God willing, I’ll get one soon and then the results will be amazing.
Overlocker?
Yes over lock machine
called it, guessed it was a sewing machine right off.
Wow😊 Well done, my friend, you recognized it immediately. I’m glad you watched the video and figured it out.
Can't say I've seen a sewing machine like this before
lock machine
i think this was what they call an overlock sewing machine i believe it would be used in an industrial sewing factory
Haha 😄 Yes, it’s definitely a unique and old sewing machine. I found it quite interesting too. Thanks for commenting.
this was my first time watching your videos. Great job! As soon as the rust was off, I knew instantly what it was. But, I am an 80 year old woman. I am thinking mpst of your viewers are male and that's a foreign object to them. I wish you good luck in your youtube career and I hope you make enough money to someday get a sand blaster. It would make your job so much easier.
Whenever it’s a mystery looking wtf is that for, it’s a key grinder of some sort. What’s this I wonder? 1:29
Interesting😊 At first, I also thought it might be a key-cutting machine, but during the restoration, I found out that it’s actually an overlock machine. Thank you so much for your comment.
On ne tape pas sur des pièces métalliques avec un marteau en fer, cela marque le métal…
I don't know how to assemble a meal, so how can I assemble this piece?
Haha 😄 no worries! It does look complicated, but once you understand it, it becomes really interesting.
How on earth do you remember where everything goes?
Haha 😄 Honestly, sometimes I have to guess a little. But when I take something apart, I keep the parts in order, which makes it much easier to assemble everything again. Thanks a lot for your comment.🙌
Buy a sandblaster..
Thank you for the suggestion! I’ve just started this channel and this is only my second video. Inshallah, I will get a sandblaster soon and use it in upcoming restoration videos. 😊
@skillsrestorationthats fine😊
❤❤
Correct
Traduzir par o português?
Obrigado! 😊 Se Deus quiser, em breve tentarei disponibilizar a tradução do vídeo/texto em português também.
If cola removes rust from metal parts what is it doing when we drink it?
Good question! 😄 Actually, cola contains mild acidity that helps loosen rust, but it doesn’t affect our body in the same way or amount. Still, it’s best to consume everything in moderation. 👍
My guess is a wood planer. or stitching ...
Thanks! 😊 That’s an interesting guess. To me, it looks like a pico sewing machine, but I’m still not completely sure. If you or anyone else knows more about its actual use, feel free to share.❤
Vairs nav pareizie instrumenti
ar skrūvgriezi jāsit
Suspect rust I recon.Not convinced at all it's genuine.
I got this machine in the same condition too.
I was going to say the same thing looks like a vinegar and water mix was used....
It's a very stupid FAKE video. That's a brown colored pigment powder they mix with a bit of water & coat the item in so it looks as if it rusted all over. The give-away is the threads are in perfect order which would never be the case if this sewing machine thing had sat in water for decades to genuinely corrode !
Si estoy de acuerdo eso no es óxido porque si fiera óxido las piezas se echan a perder ,a otro perro con hueso de plástico.
I knew it was a sewing machine straight off.
Nice catch! You recognized it right away 😄👏
a singer sewing machine can have over 1000 parts that machine could have 500 nuts screws washers included
Absolutely correct! There are indeed so many parts, nuts, screws, and washers, which is why patience and attention are very important in restoration. Thanks for sharing your knowledge❤
Needs belt and motor.
Looks like some kind of sewing machine.i may be wrong.
Actually, this is an overlock machine, usually used in factories. It cleans up the edges of the fabric.
Very nicely done looks like and old ripe overlocker machine God bless and thank you for sharing this ❤️🙏💯👍🇿🇦
Thank you very much! 😊 Your point is really interesting; it really does look like an old overlocker machine. I'm glad you watched the video and shared your thoughts. Thank you so much for your kind prayers.❤
100 year old hexagon socket bolts???
No, these aren’t really 100 years old . They just look vintage. Thanks for watching the video and sharing your valuable opinion.
I'm thinking sewing machine
Yes, absolutely correct! This is indeed a sewing (overlock) machine.
It looks like some kind of sewing machine used for making wide stitches, something like serging. Anyway, it looks much better than before and it works like a charm too. Beautiful and excellent work.
Thank you very much! 😊 I really appreciate your opinion. It truly was an interesting and mysterious machine. It was great to see it working again after the restoration. ❤️
Exactly my thought. Just clicked and looked closely… is it called an ‘Overlock’ or something… more industrial than retail
Это швейная машина называется ОВЕРЛОГ для обработке края ткани , но вот странно где оно так пролежало что так проржавело ???🤔🤔🤔
А внутри все в масле😂
Спасибо за информацию! 😊 Возможно, это действительно оверлок. Скорее всего, машина долгое время лежала во влажном и пыльном месте, поэтому так сильно заржавела. Рад, что удалось восстановить её и снова увидеть в рабочем состоянии. ❤
😺👍
I’m glad you liked it! 😊 It feels great to read your comment. ❤️
It’s a Merrow sewing machine aka overlock machine… I was right 😊
Absolutely correct! This is indeed a Merrow sewing machine/overlock machine. You recognized it perfectly, thank you.❤
@skillsrestorationMy family was in the garment manufacturing industry. Ours were never in the condition yours was 😂.
I forgot to say brilliant restoration work.👏
Shoe repair?
You might be right 😊 Some people in the comments also suggested that it could be a tool used for shoe repair. Thanks a lot for sharing your idea.🙏
Kind of looks like an old surging machine
Yes, quite a few people have guessed the same 😊 It does seem like that, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. Thank you for sharing your opinion.
Te vajag shēmu salikšanai
I see a sewing machine before it’s cleaned up.
Exactly! It was in a really rough state before cleaning, that’s why I decided to restore it. 😊
The vast majority of these "restorations" involve people dunking items in dirt, clay and other stuff then cook them to make them look like rust has been present for a long time. Here is a video that shows how they do this: ruclips.net/user/shortsT5DU9SxUyZ4?si=UknTNnECU2-xdek-
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I understand that in some restoration videos people use clay or other materials to create fake rust. But in my videos, I try to show the real condition of the machine. Thank you for your feedback.😊
Where can I buy that before brown paint ? It seems to be very common on RUclips but I can find it anywhere
I actually found this in an old and rusty condition, so there isn’t a specific place to buy it. Things like this are usually found in old scrap or junk markets. 😊
30 seconds in , it's a sewing machine
Haha 😄 You might be right. At the beginning I also had no idea what it actually was, that’s why I decided to open it and check it properly in the video. Thanks a lot for sharing your idea.
That is an overlock sewing machine.
Yes, exactly! It’s an overlock sewing machine, mainly used to finish fabric edges neatly. 🙂
Youdid a Beautiful Job . And it works .
burlap bag sewing machine seal your rice beans what ever
Exactly! This machine is used to sew and seal different types of bags, whether it’s rice, beans, or anything else. 😊 But I don’t know much about it yet.
@skillsrestoration well here
s one for you when you take a job operating on you had to be able to seal 900 bags a shift or lose your job😮💨😳
Why not cold blue the parts? Already showing rust.
I don’t have cold blue yet. I’ve just started my channel, but InshaAllah, I will complete all the tools and things gradually.❤
@skillsrestoration
Awesome work by the way!!
🪛
❤
It's a textile industry machine 😏😏😏😏 and it's not 100 years old
If you believe this ad, I have some land in Florida I'll sell you, or a bridge in New York!!!
Haha 😄 Looks like you really have some golden investment opportunities! Had fun reading your comment.
This is an overlocking machine & was not invented hundred years back.
It’s a sewing machine
Yes, you’re absolutely right! At first, I wasn’t sure either, but after opening it in the video, it became clear that it’s indeed a sewing machine. Thanks for commenting.
انت غطستها في الطين
"ربما يبدو هكذا في الفيديو، لكن الحقيقة أن الأداة كانت قديمة ومليئة بالصدأ منذ سنوات. شكراً لك على المتابعة والتعليق.
شكرا 🌹
Hand Tool Rescue ripoff? With gloves?
Hey, thanks for pointing that out! 😊 It might just be for demonstration, and I’m still learning about it myself. The gloves are just for safety, so no worries.❤
Come on… it’s a manual sewing machine & not all that old!
Yes 😊 it’s a manual overlock sewing machine, and it’s not extremely old. Your identification is absolutely correct.
Fanciest nutcracker I ever saw
Это полная звиздеж,эта швейная машина, просто измазанна глиной, никакой коррозии,все винтики откручиваются,от руки без усилий,и все в смазке,реставратор лжец!
Wonder what chemical and length of time to get to look like this. FAKE! All that work then you paint it green, figures!!
I appreciate your comment 🙂 This isn’t fake-restoration took time and effort. The final paint is only to protect it. You can see the full process clearly in the video. Thanks for watching.
Fake
Dear friend, which part did you think was fake? Just tell me, and I’ll explain.
Hier wird gelogen! Der Titel stimmt nicht! INBUS-Schrauben gibt es erst seit 1936! Deutsche Erfindung! Die Nähmaschine ist höchstens 70 Jahre alt!
Thank you for sharing the information! I really appreciate it. It’s possible that this machine isn’t as old as I initially thought. I’m still trying to learn more about it, so comments like yours are very helpful. 😊
Another fake restoration channel 😢
I respect your opinion 🙂 but in my videos, I genuinely try to clean and repair old rusty tools to make them usable again. If you tell me which part seemed fake to you, I can explain it in detail. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
When I see unnecessary ues of tweezers, I move on from your channel. Stop the dramatics and good luck
Thank you very much for your feedback! 🙂 I understand your point. My goal is simply to show the work clearly, not to be dramatic. Still, your feedback is important to me, and I’ll try to improve it in the future.
1000 skrūves.vai atcerēsies kur ir kura?
На 24 секунде остановил. После такого покрытия ржавчины, даже молоток можно выкидывать а это оверлок. Поверьте только переплавка. Или это имитация ржавчины. Скорее имитация, обман.
Спасибо за ваше мнение. Когда я нашёл этот инструмент, он был действительно в очень плохом состоянии и сильно заржавел. Реставрация всегда непростая задача, но я постарался сделать всё возможное, чтобы вернуть его к жизни. Спасибо за ваш комментарий! 🙂
offensichtlich ist bei diesem möchte-gern-restaurator nicht mal der rost echt...