HARNESS LEATHER 73 



The various methods of liming, together with analogous 

 variations in tannage, have resulted in great variety in 

 bating. Sometimes up to three days' bating has been given 

 at 70 F., but more often the goods are merely immersed 

 overnight, and then delimed with boric acid, but with 

 sulphide processes it is an advantage to use some of the 

 commercial bates of the ammonium chloride type, and 

 finish off with boric acid. Scudding is always more thorough 

 than for sole or belting ; the hides are rounded into long butts 

 which include most of the shoulder " harness backs." The 

 goods are sometimes bate shaved. 



A few tannages will now be outlined, in order of historic 

 type. 



Type I may be taken to represent the so-called 

 " high-class " process in which oak bark myrabs and 

 valonia are the staple materials. A good deal of gambier 

 is also used, and a little myrabs and chestnut extract are 

 helpful in attaining the desired strength of liquor. The 

 " backs " go first through suspenders (8-30), which takes 

 up to three weeks, and then in to handlers (30-40) for four 

 weeks, consisting of rounds of clear liquor. They next go 

 through a duster round, in which they are put for a week 

 with oak bark and myrabs into a liquor of 45. Four layers 

 are given (50, 55, 60 and 65), in which the goods remain 

 for two, three, four and five weeks respectively, oak bark 

 being the chief dusting material. The tannage is thus for 

 twenty weeks. I/ight backs receive less time in the layers 

 (only ii weeks). If the tanner is also the currier, the fourth 

 layers are omitted. He then saves five weeks and gets the 

 weight in the stuffing. 



Type 2 is a tannage in which oak bark and valonia are 

 replaced by myrabs, mimosa bark and chestnut extract. 

 It is therefore considerably cheaper and probably no less 

 durable. Expense is also curtailed in handling. The 

 harness backs go through suspenders (i6-3O) in two weeks, 

 handlers (30-45) in four weeks, and then receive four 

 layers of the same strength as in Type i, but only one, two, 

 three and four weeks respectively. The last layer is omitted 



