94 



LEATHER, CURRYING OF 



may be required. The use of this part being the drying of the leather, the ceiling is 

 furnished with a number of rails or long pieces of wood, with hooks or nails on 

 which to hang the leather for drying ; and where steam is used for this purpose, the 

 floor is traversed with pipes for heating the loft. Here also is a table, similar to that 

 previously described ; it should not be less than 7 or 8 feet long by 4A broad, if 

 possible, without joint, and with a smooth face. 



There are other subordinate departments, each furnished with a table similar to 

 those described. 



Of the tools used in currying, the knife stands first in importance (fig. 1365). Here 

 and b are two handles, a is held in the left hand, and forms a powerful lever when 

 the edge c is applied to the leather. The blade of the currier's knife is peculiarly 

 tempered ; it is composed of a plate of fine steel, strongly riveted between two plates 

 of iron. This instrument is taken to the rub-stone, and ground to a perfectly sharp 

 edge by successively rubbing forward and backward ; care being taken to keep the 

 edge true, that is, straight. When this has been satisfactorily accomplished, it is 

 still further rubbed on a fine Scotch or Welsh stone, called a clearing-stone, until the 

 scratches of the rub-stone disappear. 



In this operation a fine thread or wire forms on the edges, for the knife has two 

 edges, c, c, which must be carefully got rid of; after which it is wiped dry, and the 

 edges greased with tallow or oil. The workman then takes a strong steel, and placing 

 himself on his knees, he fixes the knife with the straight handle b against any firm 

 body, and the cross handle a between his knees ; then holding the steel in both hands, 

 he carefully rubs it forward and backward the whole length of the edge. During this 

 operation the knife is gradually raised by means of the handle a, until it is nearly 

 perpendicular ; by this means the edge is turned completely over. If the knife is 

 not well tempered, the edge thus obtained will be irregula" or broken ; in either of 

 which cases, it is of no use whatever. 



1366 



1367 



1365 



To keep the instrument just described in proper order requires great skill on 

 the part of the currier. The edge is so delicate and liable to injury that it can- 

 not be used more than a minute or two without losing its keenness. To restore 

 this a very carefully prepared small steel is used, fig. 1 366 ; the point of the steel 

 is first run along the groove which is formed by turning the edge over, and the' steel is 

 then made to pass outside the edge (fig. 1367). It is remarkable that a skilful hand 

 can thus restore the efficiency of the knife, and keep it in work for hours without 

 going for a new edge to the rub-stone. The other tools will be described as their uses 

 are mentioned. 



The first thing done by the currier is the soaking of the leather received from the 

 tanner in water ; the skin requires a thorough wetting, but not to saturation. In 



