Topics: Tannery Tour, Handbag Leathers, Leather Auction, & skiver question.

First I have to apologize to new members that weren't approved timely. My
internet provider was bought by Windstream and my email changed. It had to be
changed everywhere. I changed it with Yahoo but not at the group site so I
wasn't being notified about pending members and messages.

I went on a leather buying trip a couple weeks ago to get handbag leather, and
to check out the machinery and leather auction at Weaver Leather. You can read
about it and see pictures at http://henrysleathernews.blogspot.com One of the
stops was to a tannery in Tenn. You will have to scroll down the blog to get to
it.
More interesting old time tannery pictures can be found from links on
http://www.moserleatherco.com/ home page.

On the trip I bought Black handbag leather, Black pigskin for linings and a
milled brown leather for handbags. I have on order two shrunken grain leathers
from Italy, a burgundy/brown and red. I've never made the bags in red but this
looks good so I'm giving it a try. I just don't know what to do for thread,
linings, and zipper colors with red. When I get the Italian leather I will
update the colors page, make some changes to the handbags... make some with the
designer logo... I may discontinue some and add some new ones. The prices will
also have to change.

arturoguerrero2 wants to know what a skiver costs. Well, that depends on the
kind you get. There are the kind with a fixed blade that work ok for belts. That
cost a few hundred, or less. The motorized bell type skivers for handbag
leathers can be bought new for around $1500.00 for knock off brands. I paid
$1200.00 for a used Fortuna. You can probably find one on Ebay.

We are making a relatively new wallet style the 10-4 Ponderosa. It is a
trucker/biker style with credit card slots that is shorter than a regular
trucker wallet and fits completely in the pocket. In the few months we have been
making it, it has been very popular. It comes with a round braided leather
lanyard or chain and belt loop.

The tannery making the "Brown" buffalo calf went out of business and I haven't
been able to replace it. I do have a new "Med. Brown" color though. I also have
a new "Canyon" leather for the exterior of the trucker/biker wallets. I also
want to use this leather for the machine sewn wallets but what to use on the
interior is the question. I have some natural horse hide samples on order that
we are hoping will work and look good. That will be one tough wallet. You can
see the new wallet in the canyon color
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/handmadeleather/4130a.jpg
and on the wallet page http://www.leathergoodsconnection.com/trandbiwa.html
The new med. brown color is here
http://www.leathergoodsconnection.com/calwal.html

Proleptic Inc. has published the "New Big Book 2009" It is a product and
suppliers guide for the leather industry. I'm not sure if they charge for it or
not. I subscribe to their mag, "Shop Talk" so it just comes in the mail every
year. 207-495-3600

If you want to drop out of the group the link for that is at the very bottom of
this email.