138 ANIMAL PROTEINS 



the best quality goods, in which the popular " box-calf " 

 and " glace kid " are so largely employed. There seems 

 little doubt that this will continue to be the case. It is 

 an unfortunate fact that in this important branch of 

 tanning, British manufacturers have not quite risen to 

 the occasion. Their products have in the p ast been faced with 

 very serious competition from Continental and American 

 manufacturers of chrome uppers, and there can be no doubt 

 that these competitors produced a better article, and pro- 

 duced it more economically. The disorganization of the Con- 

 tinental factories owing to the war should give British 

 manufacturers a valuable opportunity of putting such busi- 

 nesses on a better basis. For sole leather also the chrome 

 tannage makes constant headway, and the relative proportion 

 of it becomes gradually greater. A great impetus to chrome 

 sole leather has been given by the war conditions of Britain. 

 Owing to the submarine campaigns of Germany the tonnage 

 question became all-important, and the bulky imports of 

 vegetable tanning materials became a serious item. British 

 tanners were therefore encouraged to make more chrome sole 

 and less vegetable sole. The urgent need of leather for our 

 armies also assisted in the same sense. The production of 

 chrome sole progressed therefore enormously during 1917 

 and 1918, and although some reaction will doubtless occur, 

 there seems little doubt that chrome sole leather has taken 

 a definite and permanent leap forward. Once the general 

 public fully appreciate its qualities of waterproof ness and 

 durability its future will be assured. 



On the whole the position and prospects of chrome 

 tanning are good. The chrome tannages are making headwa}^ 

 in all directions, and undoubtedly threaten the existence 

 of many of the older processes of vegetable tanning. 



REFERENCES. 



Procter, "Principles of Leather Manufacture," pp. 198220. 

 Bennett, " Manufacture of Leather," pp. 210, 355. 

 Bennett, J.S.L.T.C., 1917, 176. 

 Stiasny, Collegium, 1908, 117. 



