The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1861-11-02
The PIanter and HouSekeeDer.
The Manufacture of Leather.


ing series Of able articles upon the i'm
provements in tanning leather, and advo.
Gates a more rapid mode than the old twelve
months system by the use of heat
By soaking dry hides in warm water they
can be prepared for lining in half of the
time required when soaked in cold water.
When the lime watts are warmed by steam,
or hot water, the hair soon comes loose, and
the hides are easily prepared for the ooze
or bark, and need little or no assistance
from the bate to deaden and remove the
lime.
More tannic acid can be extracted from
cord of tan-bark in forty-eight hours by
steam, or copper heater, than by cold
water in two months. Of course, to apply
/ hot ooze, or too strong cold fannie acid, to
raw or partly tanned hides will damage the
leather. But having extracted the tanning
pripcp from bark, or any substance that
! con aims it, a man who understands his bnsi-
ness will temper his fresh ooze by the add
ton of old, to suit the condition of the skins
or hides to which it is to be applied.
Slow tanning does not mean good tan
ag; roe does quick tanning imply bad
ming. The wnole process being strictly
chemical in It's nature, either may be sadly
1 defective from the lack of scientific knowl-
edge. All the gelatin in the skin of au ami
nal Oughtto be saturated with TAM or the tan
ming il d fective. This saturation can not
/ be well done in minute, but it need not
take twelve months to effect the chemical
combination. BY Il little extra handling Of
hiGes, and pressing out the etftte ooze pnd
water which fiji their pores, their capacity
for receiving tan may soon be saturated,
provided the o0ze in which they are handed
is Just right IN all respects.
| 1t is difficult to teach any mechanical art,
/ or operative science, on paper to thousands
at once. But in the matter IF tanning raw
hides, no point is more important than the
powe. to strengthen ooze properly as it parts
with tan in forming leather. Nothing is
gained, but much is lost by keeping parrly
tanned hides for weeks and months IN SUR
liquor devoid Of the tanning principle. his
Is the common error. This acidlhed liquor
is far better than simple water to pump
upon leach, and extract the strength OF
new bark whether cold or hot. All ooze
should az last take this direction. Every
taunery should have at least two teaches 81
situated under the mill that ground ba,k
will fall into both.
The upper leach should be high enough
to draw all liquids upon the bark in the
lower leach, ard the bottom Ot the latter
should be hlgh enough to run all strong
ooze into all the watts used for tanning pur-
poses. These should all connect with com
non reservoir, called Il jlnk, from which
the weakened or etfete ooze Is pumped into
the highest leach by horse power, steam or
warer power. 1t will pay, however to pump
ouze by hand from every vat, and often re-
iuvenate the same, aud thus expedite tan
nug. Bus this old and cod ooze needs
ineauGg TO draw ali tue Launic aCld from am
bark in short Tune. How shall this be
done in common country tannery?
The writer o2ce had Thousand hides
tanned IN such an establishment; and bank
notes falling due, rendered tlme an element
of importance, as is the case In most New
York leather factories. Ia this Instance, a
steam apparatus, that lad been made tor
ldistllng ~ ain into whskey, was bought al
low price, and found capable or boiling
Two cords vi bark at time. The hot ooze
thus formed was cooled on four cords Of
bark in the lower teaches. A tanner Injuries
nlmself who applies hot ooze to hides or
leather, by so contracting the tissures and
pores aStoprevent the proper gain in weight
IN an article sold by the pound. The best
tanned leather weighs the most.
During the last half of tanning heavy
sole leather, the ooze may be eighty degrees
on our common thermometers with ad,an-
tage; or little below blood heat Heavy
hides may be suspended in a current OF
strong ooze after few days handling, anu
kept there till ready for drying and rolling
i've have seen great many tons OF harnesS
/ and sole leather made in THIS way. Sides
ay be either hung over sticks with pates
and butts down near the bottom Of the va,
r stretched lengthwise on hooks. We have
tried both ways for years, and prefer tie
iormer; for the butts and pates are the
tbickest part of the hides, and the ooze is
strongest near the bottom of the vat. The
current in every vat is kept up by pump
ghich, in the writer's tannery, worked nigh
and day by water-wheel. The same power
drove hide-mill, rolling machine aud bark
ail.