Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-08-29
PROCESS OF DRESSING fyRs.
How They Arc Treated from Killing 10
Articles of Wear.

Articles of Wear.
In going through a Undressing es-
tablis hment reporter who was On
tour of investigation had noticed the
draegled. faded, repulsive-looking skins,
from which the dye was dripping, as he
went upstairs, and was surprised to see
there also the same process, only the
mixture was colorcd with yellow froth.
This was the "mordant," or, in every-
day parlance, killing" No fur can be
changed in color without this treatment,
which lasts for ten days or more, until
the hair is dead or, in other words,
has become mere fiber which will alb.
sorb any shade.
Everybody has noticed smooth,
soft, brownish- black fur in muff that
looks like seal. If they ask, when told
the rather low price, "Is it real or imi-
tation 2" they are told it is American
seal. 1t is nothing in the world but the
common little muskrat.
A fur really to be much admired is
that of this same little muskrat. The
skins arrive at the factory in packs con-
tanning many hundreds, which are stiff
and rough and inside out. These are
thrown into huge bin, which revolves
about forty times per minute. Two
hammers beat them continually, and,
quite soft and warm with the friction,
they are taken out, rubbed with seal
oil or butter, and returned to the hop,
per. Often the beating turns them the
other side out. Twice is the operation
gone through. Then they 60 to man
who sits astride of block, on which is
firmly fixed long, upright knife; over
this two skins are passed, thus scraping
off all the supertiuous hide. leaving
them much thinner. Now they are
ready to be cleaned. A sort of dough
is made Of the sawdust and put into a
close cylinder; the greasy skins are put
in, charcoal fire is lighted, and the
wheel revolves. The saw-dust absorbs
the grease and moisture. but of course,
remains in the hair. To get that out a
wheel similar to this, but with latticed
ends, is employed; the revolutions are
much more rapid and the saw-dust flies
out through the lattice, leaving the
clean, soft fur for such it has become
inside. If not sufficiently cleaned
this process is repeated.
The muskrat is now ready for the
"evener." This man has a big round
log in front of him, over which he
throws the pelt, fastening it with rope
drawn taut by his foot. On the right
thumb is thick rubber tube about six
inches long, and the hand draws back
and forth a sharp steel comb. The
"mordant" is now gone through and the
pelt is taken down to the dyeing rooms.
Here it is dipped constantly until it is a
deep, rich dark throughout, and finally
passed through ringer, from which it
is thrown out almost dry
The skin is now ready for the final
touch or shade. The black fur must
have that brown shade so much adj
mired in sealskins. A man stands at a
table with pile in front of him. A
rather stiff brush he dips in yellow
bowl filled with the color; he lays the
pelt fur side up on the table and runs
the dye over it several times. Not one
drop must touch the leather, for it
would rot the skin. The fur has now
the desired shading, and possesses the
true seal odor. A visit to the dyeing-
room, through an inspectors hands, and
it is ready for the market.-Boston
Herald.