In the past these enzymes were provided by dung from dogs, chickens and pigeons. This scudding is usually performed by hand, with a moon shaped knife.Īfter the hides are washed again, they are soaked in a neutralizing agent such as ammonium sulfate or chloride. The hides are then scudded, removing the last bit of skin and hair roots. The lime solution swells the hides, making it necessary for them to be re-fleshed. Today, in some tanneries, the hair is chemically dissolved. At the end of this period, the hair is easily removed and saved, washed, dried and used for making felt, coarse blankets and other articles. The hides are then soaked in a vat of a solution of lime and sodium sulfide for three to seven days. Next the hides go to the beam room, where they are treated to remove the hair. The skins are then placed in a machine that removes the flesh and tissue from the inner side of the skin. After the soaking operation, the hides are washed to remove dirt and foreign matter. After arriving at the tannery, the hides are soaked in water to soften and remove any substance that could have been used as a preserving agent. Most animal skins are cured to prevent spoilage before going to a tannery. Cattle hides are mainly used in the making of leather for shoes, clothing, luggage and upholstery. While all animal skins can be tanned, the hides from cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses are the most important for making leather. The slang word buck, which is used for a dollar bill, comes from the fact that deer hides were at one time used for money. This process produced a soft leather that the Native Americans called buckskin. Next the hides were allowed to dry and lastly smoked over a fire. The flesh was then scraped from the inner side of the skins and hides were tanned by pounding oil, brains of animals and wood ashes into the skins. Our American Indians piled deerskins so that the tissue surrounding the hair rotted off. The Romans used leather and tanned skins as a basis for money hence, the word pecuniary means money, which is a derivative of the Latin word pecunia (cattle). Today we wash windows and cars with a chamois cloth. The principal leather still made by ancient methods is called chamois leather. The Babylonians also made leather and the Hebrews discovered a tanning process that is still in use today. Egyptian leather specimens, which are more than 3,000 years old, have been found in almost a perfect state. The tunics of skin were God’s provision for restoring the fellowship of Adam and Eve with himself, and also implied the slaying of an animal in order to provide them.įor thousands of years, man has known how to preserve the skins of animals by making them soft and pliable. In Genesis 3:21, God made tunics of skin and clothed Adam and Eve. The history of tanning goes back to the very origin of civilization. Tanneries were always built on the outskirts of a community due to their foul smells. The knowledge and skill of the old time tanners has also vanished. Tanneries, which were once familiar landmarks in almost all sizable communities, have disappeared from the American scene. ![]() Today, hunters and trappers can still sell their deer hides to local buyers that deal with tanneries. This was a dirty and smelly job, and not one that I looked forward to doing. At this location, the commission would sell the hides to a tannery, with the monies going into the game fund.
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