The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-04-21
For the Democratic Advocate.
SCHLOSSER TANNERY.

SCHLOSSER TANNERY.
This is about the largest industry that exists II
Carroll county. 1t employs more hands, aud prob
ably pays out more money for the purpose of keeping
| i up TO its standard as manufacturing interest
| management it went down until II passed into the
| hands OF its present owners and managers, about
| 1870. II is now owned by MesSrs. England & Bryan
| 25G, 2js and go N. Third street. Philadelphia Pa
| Your correspondent visited this tannery situate
three miles east of Westminster. ON the Western
Maryland Railroad, and about 81 miles of Bal
tmore. for the purpose of viewing its workings aud
learning enough OF it to furnish your readers with
Information from the superintendent of any estab-
lishment but upon this occasion it was obtained
from Mr.. Charles p. Cassel, the genial and accom-
modating clerk. who showed at once willingness
10 lmpart any information proper 10 be given. lie
Is Nsluaoie adjunct to the establishment, and we
would ADVISE anyone anticipating a visit to this
tannery 20 put themselves under his charge and he
Will explain to them everything in gentlemanly
manner Mr.. Cassell is not tanner and of course
could not answer q number of questions we might
have asked him. Of course any secrets, or secret
arts in tanning we would not expect, and would
have no desire 10 publish.
This tannery uses only the most improved methods
in making leather, and as natural consequence
makes the best Sole leather and betting only are
manufactured. The hides are divided into what is
known among leather dealers as butts and backs.
The rough portions of the hide consisting of the
belly and legs. is trimmed off and sold Tor sole
leather the back with main portion of the hide is
sold Tor sole leather and betting Their sole leather
is No. and is used principally for making ladies
fine turned shoes and slippers. shoe that is made
leather manufactured All their sole leather is used
for this purpose and all of their belt leather is used
to make betting for machinery.
They work ordinarily about 45 hands, though
during the season of receiving bark they work
10 to 100. Everything around this tannery during
bark season presents a business appearance. Bark
is bought from the surrounding country and during
the season teams drive in from every direction for
circuit of probably Is or 20 miles-sometImes half
a dozen or more in one gang. Some of them have
1t on hay carriages, some in stone beds, with high
standards, some in carts-one-horse up 10 horse
vehicles of dissertation laden for
Schlosser Tannery. A large portion of their bark
comes from Virginia and West Virginia by railroad.
They have quantities of it stored in the above states
and have 1t shipped when there is room for 1t here
They have had as much 900 tons stored in their
sheds here at one time.
They use one engine of so horsepower and use
three boilers, one tubular of 100 horse power and
two cylinders of less capacity. In addition to the
machinery for pumping water in their vats they
also run two securing machines which require
great force and speed, doing their work in n most
They run two immense rolling machines. which
give any pressure wanted and make the side of
! leather OF uniform thickness They have two bark
mills; but one is used, and the other kept as a re-
serve. These have grinding capacity each OF
about 30 TONS or three carloads per day. There is
dry house connected with the tannery that is used
for drying hair. II is supplied with fan for that
purpose, the power being furnished by the engine
After the hair is thoroughly dry it is put up in bales
ard shipped TO market IN the city where it is used
principally for clustering. The feshings also
shipped to market, and are used for making glue
Thus nothing is wasted. Machinery runs an ele-
vat0r that conveys the tan from the eeches or vats
TO the furnace, where 1t is used as fuel to promote
steam. There are many other uses to which their
steam power is put one of which is to heat the
tire building, also the office, and no doubt much
more machinery is used but we would not
intrude upon Mr. CaSsells time.
The floor capacity is not less than $1,000 feet
and probably more, independent of their shedding
for bark &c Hides are shipped to the tannery in a
green state, having been sailed and rolled up in
BALES. They are then put in pool to soak; then
put into the lime; from that into the pool again,
after which the hair is taken off. They next
placed upon the beam and feshed, after which the
lime is worked out and all dirt taken out. which is
termed granting; then they are hung on frames TO
color; after this they are laid away in strong bark
liquor, then taken ont and secured by patent pro-
cess after drying again they are taken down. soaped
MeSsrs. England & Bryan own about 40 acres OF
land connected with the tannery, and they have it
dotted over with numbero OF dwellings for their
employees who have families During the last
season they erected some five or sly cosy comfort
able houses This firm are business men in every
sense OF the word, and they conduct their business
in manner that fully establishes that fact They
also have tanneries IN Virginia and Pennsylvania.
ton, and are known TO prominent leather men
throughout the entire country. The sole leather
manufactured at all their tanneries is used for
purpose that only the best can be used viz, heel
ing ladies fine shoes and soleng turned shoes and
| fine slippers.
They exhibited and took first premium for their
leather ut the Centennial at the Vienna and at the
New Orleans Expeditions, for which they now hold
the medals, They never rust i'll their business and
never fail to avail themselves Of new methods or
new machinery by which tanning leather is or can
be expedited. Some trouble was experienced in the
working of the engine at the SchlosSer some time
since and to correct it they had a smokeStack lis
feet high erected. They knew it was needed and
time lost in erecting it. Their buildings are
immense, and probably cover two or three acres of
ground The buildings are brick and frame. Every
precaution is taken in building bark sheds, &c, TO
have them detached TO avoid danger by fire.
John Zentgrafi is engineer and thoroughly under
stands his business, and always be found at his
post. All feel safe with. john at the engine.
Simon Reese is the fireman and knows Just what
John wants and performs his duty faithfully.
Henry Hymiller has charge of the entire premises
at night and us faithful and attentive night
watch is not excelled 1t is very responsible post
and one that is well filed The employees Of the
establishment are steady, quiet polite lot OF men.
Nothing boisterous or rude is visible with any of
the hands. We happened 10 visit the SchlOsser
on Saturday, which is pay day. Mr.. Cassell, the
clerk OF this immense establishment keeps the pay
roll and pays the employees their wages. They are
paid every Saturday afternoon. Mr.. CaSSell has
each mans money counted out and tcketed, then
placed on a table. The employee is called in by u
messenger and gets his money, signs his pay roll,
and goes on his way rejoicing.
Mr.. CasSell has been the bookeeper for this firm
for five years. keeps all the accounts, and does all
pleasant in visiting such an establishment as the
''Schlosser Tannery" TO meet with one whose every
act shows him to be the right man for the place.
This firm as public beneiactors are doing great
work They are putting daily bread into the mouths
of not less than one hundred human beings. This
is not only an immense enterprise but bears upon
it the stamp of success. VISITOR