The Harness Makers' Guide. 



*r. in-;<:t nnon havino- onlv such leather as is stamped 

 :;;:u::ran :er''unXte!:;;ed.'' This will ensure freedom from 

 '"uco'^e or other artificial weighting material, as prosecution could 

 ?e"uh if proved to be untrue. Some curners sell harness leather 

 i'h specked brands, and it is reasonable to suppose that when 

 ^o\\ in this way the currier particularly aims at uniformity m 

 annal^e, dressing, and selection. If this can be re hed upon it 

 dieJes the harness maker of much anxiety, for rehabihty and 

 uniformity have been the secret of the success of many a good 



"ln"purchasing leather, see that it is free from warble holes, and is 

 of a close, firm grain, without scratches or other imperfections, and 

 well fill-d and level throughout. This is not always easy to obtain. 

 Some hides will have a perfect grain, and be full and plump at the 

 back, but fall away at the shoulders, and nothing makes more 

 imperfect reins, backhands, or traces, than these. 



A FEW HINTS ON CUTTING. 



Harness leather should be of a close, firm, glossy grain, well 

 grown, and of fairly even substance. In choosing it, see that the 

 flanks and other extremities are light and clean, because any excess 

 of weight or waste here, increases the cost of the prime parts. 



Having selected a suitable side or back, examine it carefully for 

 any defects. There are iwo methods of cutting. The first — and 

 that which is more generally adopted — is to straight-edge the leather 

 as shown by the dotted' line in Fig. 2, and to cut straight 

 away from this edge. Another plan (which is preferred by some 

 cutters), is to cut 6 inches into the back, as shown by the full 

 line in the same illustration, utilizing this off-cut for gig reins. 

 The leather at this part is found to give greater satisfaction in 

 wear than when the strips are taken close to the back line, where 

 it is always less firm, and consequently not of the same tensile 

 strength. 



The part marked A in Fig. 2 will be found stouter than any other 

 portion, and from B to the belly-edge it will be lighter than else- 

 where. That marked C is seldom of any use when cut into 

 strips. It is generally flabby, and well scored by the butcher, and 

 proves of more value if cut off in the piece, when it comes in useful 

 for side-piecing collars and such like repairs. 



No rule can be laid down here as to the correct order in which 

 the strips should be taken after straight-edging the hide or back. 

 Not only would this necessitate dealing with every style of harness 

 given here, but different qualities would also have' to be dealt 

 with, and the various conditions of manufacture. One man may 

 have half-.i-dozen pairs of backs to choose from, of different weights 

 and substances, and he is thus able to cut out the various parts 

 •vith a better regard to efficiency and economy than the man who 

 has a single pair for the purpose. 



Practice and careful judgment are the best tutors in gaining 

 knowledge of this work. 



