CHROME CALF 159 



and also that by neutralizing immediately before dyeing 

 and fat liquoring there is less danger of a further diffusion 

 of acid. 



In dyeing logwood extract is largely used, occasionally 

 a little fustic is used also, and by using a " striker " of 

 iron and copper sulphates a good black is obtained. Dog- 

 wood is often used also in conjunction with coal-tar 

 dyestuffs. The goods are first warmed in the drum up 

 to 140 F., and the dyestuff solution gradually run into the 

 drum whilst it is revolving. Up to f hour may be necessary 

 to exhaust the bath, the goods being constantly drummed. 

 The fat liquor is then run in similarly, and the drumming 

 continued until the grease is all absorbed by the leather, 

 which may take another hour. The skins are horsed till 

 next day, during which time the grease penetrates more 

 completely. 



The skins are now dried out, sometimes by suspending 

 from the hind shanks and sometimes by nailing on boards 

 or wooden frames. They are damped back for staking 

 by leaving for ij to 2 days in moist sawdust. After 

 staking they are dried strained in a " stove " at about 

 105 F. 



In finishing off, the grain is " cleared " by sponging 

 with 10 per cent, lactic acid, and seasoned with a mixture 

 of milk, blood and black dyestuff. When dry on the 

 surface the skins are glazed by machine, and grained two 

 ways neck to butt and belly to belly. They are usually 

 reseasoned, dried out, reglazed, regrained, lightly oiled 

 with mineral oil, and finally trimmed. These various 

 operations are fairly typical, but there is obviously ample 

 scope for divergence. Thus one may fatliquor before 

 dyeing, and the skins may be staked before drying out, 

 and may be restaked after glazing. 



Much so-called " box calf " is not made from calf skins. 

 A very close approximation, however, is obtained from 

 rather older animals, and " box-kip " is largely manu- 

 factured by similar methods. L4ght hides are also widely 

 used, being similarly treated except that they are split 



