Re: MtMan-List: period tanning / Alans comments

[John Kramer <kramer@kramerize.com>]

At 05:51 PM 12/16/98 -0700, you wrote:
.....the only other real option was alum tanning).
>
>Matt Richards
> 

Except for oil tanning, egg tanning, urine tanning, buttermilk tanning, sour
milk tanning, arsenic tanning and acid tanning.

Birch bark as well as oak bark was used for differing leathers and extensive
use of lime and saltpeter was called for in many old tanning receipts.

There are specific receipts for differing hides including goat, sheep, and
etc.  Many techniques were recorded for specific types of leather such as
Russian and Morocco.  I also have found receipts for converting parchment into
leather.

Prior to 1840 there was a significant hide and tallow trade out of
California. 
In 1838 an estimated 200,000 cow hides were shipped to Boston alone.  The beef
was considered a byproduct and much of it was burned as waste.

Calf skins were commonly greased with equal quantities of cod-liver oil and
tallow, called dubbing, after bark tanning.

There are many old receipts for the coloring (dyeing) of leather including
brown, blue, red, purple, green, yellow, and orange not to mention the
ubiquitous black.

I overheard a discussion years ago that declared brain tan was actually the
"dressing" of skins and not a true tanning.  I don't remember the particulars
but, wonder if you've encountered this distinction in your research.

John...
Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.
John Kramer  <kramer@kramerize.com>