The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-05-01
Hoe Kid GIorrs are Made.

The skins Of the young xiii, after being
roughly dried in The sun and air, arc sold
to pcddlcrs who go about from place to
place gathering them, in orlcr that the lat.
ter may in turn sell them to dealers In the
principal towns adjacent to the mountain
ranges. These pcddlers commence this
work in Italy as early ns March In each
year, nn, proceed northwnrd rs far almost
as the Baltic, as the season advances and
tho young kids rsech their required ma
turiiy. The most important point for Oh
taining skins in Italy is Naples Leipsic, IN
Germany, is also one of the considerable
markets. The cxten, Of the trade may be
Inferred from the fact that single manu-
lac,urcr Of gIoves In Paris makes about
100000 pairs annually. He'leaves no mar.
ket in Europe uncxplorcd TO obtain the
best material for the manufacture Of gloves.
The price Of skins-such Is tho growing
lemand-had advanced nearly fifty per
cent. in the last five or six years.
The process Of cleaning the inner por.
ton Of the skin from fleshy impurities; of
reducing the thickness when necessary by
pairing or scraping, and Of removing the
hair after Il has been soaked in solution
Of lime aud water, or otherwise prepared,
is very much tho same with other light
skins. After expclng the lime which has
already performed its service, tho skin is
converted into sof leather for gloves by
subjecting it toa solution chiefly Of alum
and salt. The skins, immersed IN this
emulsion. are ,ramplcd upon with barc feet
until they become thoroughly ilnpregna,ed
with the liquid. They are dried, and also
rubbed and stretched to make them smooth
and supple, md portions are blcached-thc
object of these several processes being to
render them incapable Of tho decomposi.
ton to which they are liable In their natural
state, and to make the leather soft, plial'lc
and partially impervious to water.
Some Of the manufacturers In Frnnce
perform this work, rs well as that Of dye.
ing, in their own establishments, SO rs to
be certain to command large trade, but
others buy tho skins already prepared.
For the purpose of coloring, the liquid
dye is made in kind Of rub, attached to
which is sloping rest composed Of wool
on which the lcaiher-for such II has be.
cOme-is fastened 30 rs to permit the ready
application Of the dye to its outer surface
by s,n'aring, which is done by the hand
with the md Of n brush. II il were int
merscd, the inner portion Of the glove
would receive the dye as well as the outer,
and stain the hands. The hest leather is
that dyed black, or Of some other dark
color as only those skins are used for these
colors wl,icl, ARE free from imperlrciioIs on
the surface. Tho dye docs not penetrate
leyoud the ncrr exterior an,l such impar.
isctions as become visible when tho glove
is strctcllrd-in the nature Of slight open.
ing-arc more obvious when the color Is
dark, AMI hence skins Of u poorcr texture
uro used for white kids. which AFRO kInwn
To le moro flexible thun others. The mum
lcr Of shades communicated IN dyeIng
these feathers is about two hundred. gloves
of any ono Of which will ba furnished to
large customer, who sends his orders In
advance Of their manufacture. Nearly oil
the diversity In ths colon Of flowers and
plumagc Of which we know 10 presented,
to ofisr qualification to the sense Of plea
sure occasioncd to tho wearer by their ap'
preparation and display.
Largo dealers in gloves usually keep on
hand hook Of sample colors, In which
small pieces Of colorcd leather arc arranged
In the orler in which the respective shades
vary, each being numbered ~ as to core.
spond with like book retained by The
manufacturer, to which reference ID made
in giving and filing orden
The leather thus tanned and dyed 10 cu
up into small rectangular pieces, and thur
stretched to tho length and width Of Tho pro.
posed glove-the process being accomplish