Restoring a Berkel slicer requires more than bringing back its functionality and appearance. Preserving its originality means respecting the configuration of that particular model and, where a component is missing, identifying the correct original part.
For Original Slicers, this is one of the fundamental principles of restoring vintage Berkel slicers: missing components are replaced exclusively with original parts recovered from historic machines that can no longer be restored.
There is, however, another equally important consideration: a component can be a genuine Berkel part without being the correct one for the particular slicer undergoing restoration.
It is detailed knowledge of the different models that makes it possible to distinguish a part that is merely authentic from one that truly corresponds to the machine’s original configuration.
An original Berkel component must be correct for the model
Throughout its history, Berkel has produced numerous slicer models, each with different mechanical designs, dimensions and components.
A Berkel Model B, Model 3, Model 7 and Model 8H do not share the same configuration.
Some parts may look similar or be shared by certain models; others are specific to an individual machine.
It is therefore possible that, during an earlier repair or restoration, a Berkel was fitted with a genuine Berkel component taken from a different model. The part is original, but it is not the correct one for that particular slicer.
When a Berkel slicer arrives at the workshop for restoration, identifying what is broken or missing is not enough. The original configuration of the model must be established, and each component checked to ensure that it genuinely belongs to that machine.
What happens when a Berkel slicer arrives for restoration with missing parts
Today, many vintage Berkel slicers arrive for restoration after decades of use, maintenance and work carried out by different owners.
Over time, certain elements may have been removed, replaced or lost. These may include the sharpener, slice-thickness adjustment mechanism, product-holding arm or other model-specific components.
Compared with twenty years ago, when it was more common to work on machines that were still complete, finding historic slicers with all their original details has become more difficult. In these cases, the challenge is not simply finding a component: it is knowing which component originally belonged to that particular model.
This is where practical experience with historic Berkel slicers becomes essential.
Original Slicers has developed this knowledge through more than 25 years of working with original slicers, including machines that were still complete. By dismantling and reassembling them, our specialists have learnt to recognise the position and purpose of individual components.
This expertise is especially important because complete exploded-view diagrams or technical drawings identifying every individual component are not available for many historic Berkel models.
As Antonio Barra, Head of Original Slicers, explains:
“A skilled restorer must know every model and every one of its parts, understand how the machine was built and be able to make it complete using the correct original components.”
Why Original Slicers uses only original Berkel parts
When a Berkel has missing components, Original Slicers uses only original Berkel parts, recovered over time from vintage slicers that can no longer be restored.
These machines help preserve other historic examples: components that can still be salvaged are retained and, where necessary, used to complete a Berkel correctly during restoration.
The aim is not to replace a part with something merely compatible, but to find an original component that is correct for the specific model.
Can a restored Berkel retain its originality?
Yes. Restoration and originality are not contradictory concepts.
A Berkel can be dismantled, mechanically restored, undergo the necessary surface treatments and then be reassembled while retaining its historic configuration.
What matters is how the work is carried out.
A machine may appear beautifully restored, with carefully finished surfaces and restored decorative details, yet have been completed using parts that do not correspond to its model.
For this reason, the quality of a restoration cannot be judged by its final appearance alone. Its mechanics, completeness and the consistency of its components must also be considered.
At Original Slicers, checking originality begins at the initial assessment stage, before the subsequent restoration work starts.
Preserving original components has also become increasingly important: compared with the past, complete historic machines and available original parts are progressively harder to find. This is closely connected to the increasing rarity and value of vintage Berkel slicers.
What does Original Slicers assess before beginning a restoration?
Even from photographs of the slicer, Original Slicers can carry out an initial assessment and provide useful information to help the owner understand the machine and decide how to proceed.
The assessment may include:
- identification of the Berkel model;
- identification of its year of manufacture;
- an estimate of its value in its current condition;
- an estimate of the restoration cost;
- the cost of an original pedestal, if required;
- an estimate of the final value of the fully restored and certified slicer.
This gives the owner a more complete picture of the machine, the work required and its potential value after restoration, before deciding how to proceed.
Do you have a Berkel slicer that needs restoring?
Every Berkel has its own configuration and history.
Before beginning restoration, Original Slicers assesses the machine to check its condition, completeness and whether its components correspond to the specific model.
Send us photographs of your Berkel and request an initial assessment.
Frequently asked questions before restoring a Berkel
How can I tell whether my Berkel is complete before restoring it?
The completeness of a Berkel must be assessed in relation to its specific model. Photographs of the machine and its components may enable Original Slicers to carry out an initial assessment and identify any missing parts or components that do not correspond to its original configuration.
Can an incomplete vintage Berkel slicer be restored?
Yes, but whether it can be completed correctly depends on the model, the condition of the machine and the availability of the original components required. Before work begins, Original Slicers checks which elements are missing and which parts were included in the original configuration.