Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-07-10
No. l62
pRooKss OF DREssrse FUSS.
How They Are Treated From KiIlin G
TO Articles Of Wear.

TO Articles Of Wear.
In going through q fur dressing estsblish-
ment q reporter, who was on q tour Of inves-
tigation, had noticed the drsggled, faded. re-
pulsive looking skins, from which the dye
was dripping, as he went upstairs, and was
surprised to see there also the came process,
only the mixture was colorsd with yellow
froih. This was the "mordant, |" OF, in every
day parlance, CHILLING" 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
q mere fibre which will absorb any shade.
Everybod has noticed q smooth, soft,
brownish black fur in muffs that looks like
seal. If they ask when told the rather low
price, SIS 1t real or imitstions' tbsy are told
it is American seal. 1t Ia nothing is the
world but the common little muskrat.
A fur really TO be much admired is thai
of this same little mnskrst. The skins ar
rive at the factory in bales containing many
hundreds. which are stiff and rough and in
side out. These are thrown into huge bin,
which reyolyes about forty times per min
ute. 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 hopper. Often
the beating turns them the other side out.
Twice is the operation gone through. Then
they 60 10 man who sits sstride of block,
on which is firmly 6xed a long, upright
knife; over this two skins are passed, thus
scrapiug of all the superhnous 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 thrown 10, charcoal f.e is
lighted, and the wheel revolves. The Saw
dust ebsorbs the grease and moisture, but of
course remains in the hair. To get it ont
wheel similar to this, but with lattieed ends,
Is employed; the revolutions are much more
rapid and the saxdust flies out through the
lattice, leaving the clean, soft fur, for sneh
it has bscome, inside. If not sufhciently
cleaned this process Is repeated
The muskrat is now ready for the "eEen-
err This man has a big round log in front
of him, over which he throws the pelt. fast
ening il with a rope drawn taat by his foot.
On his right thumb il a thick rubber tube
about six inches long. aud the hand draws
back and forth sharp steel comb. The
''mordsnt" is now gone through and the pelt
lie taken down 10 the dyeing rooms. Here IL
IL dipped constantly until Il is q deep, rich
dark throughout, and finally passed through
a ringer, from which IL Is thrown ont almost
dry.
The skin lie now ready for the final touch
or shaiA. The black fur must have that
brown shade so much admired In sealskins.
A man stands at q table with pile in front
of him A rather stiff brush be dips into a
yellow bowl filed with the color; he lays the
| pelt fur side up on the table and runs the
i dye over 1t 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 zeal odor. A visit 10
4 the dyeing room, through an inspectors d
4 hands, and IL is ready for the market.