06/03/2026
A good informative description clip from this reputable American company of the various leather types and the care and repair there of.
I have been in the leather upholstery trade some 48yrs+
I have had many positions in the various aspects of the trade.
In the latter years of my working for other companies.
I decided to diversify.
So I went on a technical leather repairs and refinishing course to Italy to learn more about the natural materials I was working with.
Leather and its various types and properties.
I came back from Italy with a treasure chest of interesting and valuable knowledge.
Then not long after I went on a further course at the BLC British Leather Confederation in Long Eaton, England.
On a side note on this particular course.
We were shown around a secure laboratory which was surgically clean.
Like a huge operating theatre.
On the various tables there were items of articles made of leather.
On the first table was a pair of Oliver Cromwells fine leather gloves.
They were in for restoration of the filigree cuffs that had degraded over the years.
The professor said they had to tan a piece of leather with albumen. Which is from egg whites. As this is what they used back then.
They even had to make a very fine knife to hand cut out the filigree to get a good seamless match.
Another another table was a leather suitcase from the Titanic...
On another table was a saddle from Robert The Bruce period in history.
The saddle was made of think oak lats, straw and leather.
It took a technician three months to clean it using only cotton buds...
On another table a long pointed leather shoe.
(Think Robin Hoods shoes)
But these were from some famous Irish person.
Hundreds of years old.
Lastly, I went into a sealed temperature controlled room to have a look through an electro microscope.
It was a huge machine indeed.
I zoomed in on a sheep tick that was clinging to a sheeps hair follicle.
I zoomed into the ticks knee joint that was bent.
I then zoomed in further and deeper into its knee....
I could then see tiny miniscule ticks inside the knee joint....unbelievable magnification.
The Argentinian Government were having huge problems with sheep ticks in their country.
Hence they needed the BLC to look into the problem.
I have many more stories of my time in the upholstery trade.
Lots of commissions for famous people and a thankyou letter from Harrods.
Ive had a few Coutts Bank cheques from famous people.
Wish I had photo copied them to put up in my upholstery workshop / studio.
Great conversation pieces.
If you are ever passing my workshop.
You must pop in to have a nosey and say hello...
Its quite funky n arty..... I think 😁
Bring Digestives....or your not getting in 😆
Cheerio now 👋😊
