Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-07-02
Cleaning md Oiling Harness,

VII anu repair the harness. Un-
buckle all the parts and wash clean witt,
soft water, soap and brush. A little
trrpentinc or benzinc will take off any
gummy substance which the soap fails
to remove. Then warm the leather,
and, rs soon as dry OH the surface, ap-
ply the oil with q paint brush or aswab.
Ncatsfoot oil is the best. Hang up the
harness in warm place to dry, bit do
not let it burn"
The above extract, says the Carriage
Journal, copied from a scientific paper,
should have been headed, Chow to
Destroy Harness." the writer evidently
knew nothing of what he was writing
about, but, having an item to prepare,
wrote the above Instructions. If this
article was one that would have been
read by none but harness makers. or
those conversant with the peculiar
properties of leather, it could do no
harm, us they would condemn it at a
glance, but unfortunately, those who
would be the most likely to read it are
those who use, not those who manufac-
ture the harness, and by following the
directions given, they would injure their
harness in attempting to save it the
manufacturer would be blamed, and no
explanation on the part of the latter
would convince the customer that the
fault lay in the treatment the harness
had received after it passed into his
hands. The first and second sentences
are all that there is in the advice given
that would be safe to follow, but we
would suggest that they be transposcd,
as the repairing and oiling should fol-
low the cleaning. The next instruction
is to use turpentine or benzine to re-
move the g11mmy substances left after
cleaning with the soal. There
are no materials, except it be
some Of the most powerful acids
that will more effectual1y destroy leath.
er than these ; they strike in almost
instantly, absorb the grease, harden the
fibre, and kill the leather. Owing to
the penetrating powers Of turpentinc q
small quantity Of it is sometimes used
i'll making harness black, but unless
nc''tr;.lizcd by other ingredients it ia
Injurious /; when applied in raw state
1t Is absolutely destructive, and never
should be used under any pretcnsc. If
g'lmmy substances cannot be removed
without its help they had better remain
on the leather, as the harm would he
much less than that resulting from the
turpcitlnc or bcnzinc. The next direc-
ton is to warm tho leather and onnIv
the oil. If the leather has not bccH
ruined by the turpentine, the war,ninr
process will complete the work "Neota'
foot oil is the best. In some rcsncct.
this is true, but if used alone it is thn
most I'M furious grease that can he an
rli"d, as it more than any other Omen.
the pores of the leather, and, instead
of keeping out the moisture, puts thu
leather III a condition to Obsorb ,,,ro
than it otherwise would. If tallow is tn
he used as final dressing, then heats.
foot oil is the best material that can hc
applied as first coat. We are finally
told to chang mp the harness in a warm
place to dry, but do not let it buru."
We arc not sure that the caution against
burning is necessary, for if the leather
has gone through the treatment recon-
mcndch, it might rs we'll be burned .s
not, and pcrhaps-for the safety Of the
person WHO would Use the harness. it
would be good thing to crcmate it, as
it il already dead.
Our advice to those intending t.,
clean harness is first to unb,lcklc ill
the straps and remove I'LL the metallic
portions possible without ripping the
stitching; then, if thick coating has
formed on any part where the harness
came i'll contact with the horse, remove
it by scraping with - wooden scrnpcr;
then place the straps in water, and after
they have been well soaked lay them OH
a board and with soap and brush clean
Oft I'LL superflrlous matter OH the sur
taco; they should then bo allowed to