Morocco Leather Dressing.

Scientific American 19, 3.11.1860

Although enameled oilcloth, having its surface finished to imitate morocco leather, has come into very extensive use during the past five years, still it does not seem to have njured the manufacture of the genuine article. Morocco dressing establishements are still increasing in number and extent. Real morocco leather is made of tanned goatskin; but the term is now, in a general manner, also applied to tanned sheepskin, which is colored and dressed with a polished and corded surface in imitation of morocco. Having been informed that the manufacture of sheepskin into colored leather was carried on extensively and in a superior manner, in Albany, N. Y., by the firm of A. Williamson & Sons - old and experienced leather dressers - we recently embraced on opportunity of visiting their establishment, while briefly sojouring in the capital of the empire State. It is situated near the upper extremity of a street called Broadway, and although this street is very unlike its great namesake in New York, it can boast of a good morocco factory, in which some new and improved processes are carried on. Colored sheepskin is principally used for shoe bindings, and, in this establishments, the majority of the pelts are obtained gree nfrom sheep and lambs slaughtered in the vicinity. About 100,000 skins are dressed annually in it, and from these about half a million pounds of wool are obtained and sold.

The first process through which they are made to pass is that of soaking and softening by water, to fit them for receiving the unhairing preparation. Formerly hydrate of lime was sprinkled in the inside of each pelt; it was then folded over with the wool side out and laid down on the floor, sometimes called "the pit." In this manner a whole pile or heap was made, and a heating action was engendered by which the roots of the wool were loosened, so that the fleece could be easily pulled or scraped off on a table afterwards. This method of loosening the roots of the wool was redious, occupying several days to complete, and the skins required constant watching, as they were liable to overheat and injury both to the wool and the gelatinous tissue. This was especially the case in warm weather; but the remedy for this trouble and these ills was lately introduced by the senior member of the firm, and is one of the most important improvements made, for many years, in this art. This is effected by a calcium orpiment compound, which they import and have also introduced among other manufacturers. It is made up into a thick creamy consistency, then applied to the inside of the skins which are folded over, wool side out, and laid in a heap, as before described. In twenty-four hours afterwards the skins can be deprived of their wool, and if they have to lie longer, no injury will result. In all cases the depilatory action is certain without injury to wool or skin tissue.

The next operation is that of washing the skins prior to unwooling them. This latter manipulation is executed by placing them upon an inelined bench, and rubbing off the wool with a blunt tool. The flesh side of the skins is also scraped to remove slime and loose flesh, after which they are ready for the liming operation. They are now placed in vats containing milk of lime (slacked lime mixed with water), in which they are treated for about two weeks. The office of the lime appears to be that of a corrosive agent for the removal of grease in the skins, as it would prevent the action of the tannic acid afterwards. The lime does not act upon the gelatinous tissue, which alone forms the leather when combined with a tanning agent. A new discovery to shorten and cheapen this part of the process would be invaluable.

The next operation consists in passing the skins through a bath of hen or pigeon manure, mixed with water, which softens them. After this they are washed and passed through a sour of dilute sulphuric acid, which neutralizes all hte lime that may remain in the pores of the skin, converting it into a sulphate, which is easily removed by a good washing in moderately warm water. After this they are dipped into a solution of common salt, sewed up at the edges with the grain side out, to form bags partly filled with tanning liquor, inflated and tied. They are now placed in a tub containing an extract of Sicily sumac, in which they float and are kept in constant motion for several hours; and when they have absorbed a sufficient amount of the tannic acid in the sumac to convert the skin into leather, they are taken out, drained and rinsed; and if not to be colored, they are ripped out and dried in the atmosphere in sheds constructed for the purpose. They are stretched on boards, rubbed out to render them smooth, and tacked down so as to dry without wrinkling. These skins are generally filled three times with fresh liquor to tan them fully.

The next operation is that of coloring. If the color is to be applied topically by putting it on the surface with a sponge, the skins are first dried. If they are to be dyed in liquors, they are sewed so as to have the grain side out, then mordanted, and afterwards handled in a tub containing the coloring agents. Prussian blue colors are imparted by handling the skins first in a dilute solution of nitrate of iron for about an hour, then in a warm bath containing the cyanide of potash and a little sulphuric acid. A beautiful blue is thus dyed. A scarlet is prepared with a mordant of the muriate of tin and cream of tartar; the red color is afterwards obtained by handling them in an extract liquor or cochineal. Purple is dyed by applying a cochineal color on the top of a prussian blue. Bronze is obtained from a strong extract of logwood and alum. After being dyed, the skins are rinsed, stretched on boards, rubbed smoothly down, tacked around their edges and dried.

Topical applications of color are given to the grain surfaces in many instances. They simply consist of a strong extract applied with a sponge or a piece of cotton cloth; almost any color can thus be put on. A scarlet color is made by a topical application of an extract of turmeric upon a dyed cochineal red. To enable some of the coloring agents to go on evenly, milk and the white of eggsa re frequently mixed with them. These applications also serve to impart a metallic luster to the surface. Prior to rolling, and dyed skins are slightly shaved on the wrong side and trimmed at the edges.

The subsequent finishing operations consist in rolling the skins on a table under a small weighted roller having a grooved face, and which is attached to a suspended arm which the operator moves back and forth until the roller has traversed the entire surface. This operation imparts a glossy cordovan surface to the leather. A second rolling, with the grooves running in an agular direction, gives the surface a diamond corded finish - the true morocco style. Formerly these skins were all finished by hand labor. The operatives stretched them on inclined boards, and rubbed over their surface with grooved balls of ebony held in the hand. Sometimes and extra finish is still imparted in this manner to skins.

In this factory we saw the first aniline (popularly called Magenta) colors on morocco that have been applied in this country. The senior partner had been on a European tour last summer, and obtained the new color from abroad. It produces the most beautiful shades of purple, lavender and lilac upon leather. No coloring agent hitherto known can equal it.

All processes for making leather from skins is not tanning, although most persons so term them. White leather is prepared with alum, and in some instances with a paste of flour. These are tawing, not tanning processes. It requires an agent, such as hemlock, oak or sumne, containing tannic acid, brought into contact with gelatinous tissue, to constitute the tanning process.

Heavy sheepskins are frequently split by machinery, and for some purposes such leather is more suitable than any other kind. In thisfactory, a new machine for splitting had just arrived from England, and we were surprised to learn that, although it did not split so many skins in the same space of time as the American splitting machines, it was preferred because its work was of a superior quality. The cutting knife moves with a reelprocating sawing action, and is driven with a very high velocity.

We have in this brief description of morocco dressing mentioned three new improvements not to be found in works published on the subject, viz.: the depilatory process, the cleansing operations with dilute sulphuric acid, and the new styles of colors. Morocco leather dressing proper is principally carried on in out cities on the sraborad or in their immidiate vicinity, as the goat skins are all imported from India, Africa, &c., and the sumac for tanning them from the island of Sicily - that land to which the eyes of the whole civilized world have recently been directed, on account of the wonderful exploits of Garibaldi and his heroic followers, fighting for the freedom of Italy.