River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-09-18
DRESSING FURS.
How They Are Treated From killing to
Articles OF Wear.

In going through undressing estab-
l;shment reporter who was on tour
of Investigation, had noticed the bedrag-
gled, faded, repulsive-looking skins,
from which the dye was dripping. as he
went up stairs, and was surprised to see
there also the same process, only the
mixture was colored with a yellow
froth. This was the ''mordant," or, in
every day parliance, killing it." No
fur can be changed in color without this
treatment which lasts for ten days or
more, until the hair is deaG-or in other
woEds. has become a mere fiber which
will absorb any shade.
Every body has noticed q smooth,
soft, brownish-black fur in nuffs that
looks like seal IL they ask, when told
the rather low price, rs IL real or imi-
tation?" 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 a 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 go to a
man who sits astride of block, on
which is firmly fixed a long, up
right knife; over this two skins are
passed, thus scraping off all the super
fluous 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
sawdust absorbs the grease and moisture,
hut, of course, remains in the hair. To
get that out wheel similar to this. but
with latticed ends, is employed, the
revolutions are much more rapid and
the sawdust flies out through the lat
tice, leaving the clean, soft fur-for such
it has become-inside. If not sufficient
" 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
his right thumb is thick rubber
tube 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 dying rooms Here It is dipped
constantly until it is deep. rich dark
throughout and finally passed through
a ringer, from which il 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 ad
mired in sealskins. A man stands at
table with pile in front of him. A
rather stiff brush he dips into yellow
bowl filled with the color; he lays the
pelt fur side up on the table, and runs
the dye over il several times. Not one
drop must touch the leather, for il would
rot the skin. The fur has now the de-
sired shading. and possesses the true
seal color. A visit to the dyeing-room,
through an inspectors hands, and it is
ready for the Darket-Boston Herald.