Leather Souls videos

[JMax]

Cool video detailing the end of the leather and tanning industry in Peabody MA. I found it, and others, researching AC Lawrence Leather Company. There also are a bunch of cool articles with pictures of the Lawrence tannery in MA.

This is just part 1. Additional parts out there if this is interesting to you.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Fascinating. Just watched the first two. How it was, how it likely never will be again.

Did you catch the "100 tanneries" line? 100 in Peabody, MA alone? Wow!

 

[JMax]

Exactly. I thought it was very interesting.

I also found a bunch of photos of the interior of the Lawrence tannery where the male employees were all shirtless as they worked. Crazy conditions. Sweat- infused leather in all its glory.

 

[navetsea]

cool video, wonder where do they use all these leathers why need so many, or probably they don't produce as optimal as single modern tannery?
there is a vegetable leather tannery in my city, but I don't know how to peek inside since I don't have any reason to do that, much easier for a student to apply for permission to write a school project, I visited sugar factory, building construction site from start to finish, but as a random 40 yo guy.. just because I wear leather jacket won't give me entry to peek inside I guess a tourist have a bigger chance than a random local guy... perhaps if I were a youtuber or some celebrity it would help me to get access even without planning to buy any big quantity of their product.

 

[JMax]

Over the past 8 years or so my job has taken me inside many different manufacturing plants (cars, tires, clothes, food, guns, planes, tequila and so on). As well as mines for gold, silver & even oil rigs. I’m always impressed by the process. I always have a wow moment. I know I would have the same feeling walking through a tannery or even Vanson’s production floor. It really is fascinating to see how things are actually made or processed.

 

[navetsea]

Over the past 8 years or so my job has taken me inside many different manufacturing plants (cars, tires, clothes, food, guns, planes, tequila and so on). As well as mines for gold, silver & even oil rigs. I’m always impressed by the process. I always have a wow moment. I know I would have the same feeling walking through a tannery or even Vanson’s production floor. It really is fascinating to see how things are actually made or processed.

do you work in insurance or safety consultant?

 

[El Marro]

Over the past 8 years or so my job has taken me inside many different manufacturing plants (cars, tires, clothes, food, guns, planes, tequila and so on). As well as mines for gold, silver & even oil rigs. I’m always impressed by the process. I always have a wow moment. I know I would have the same feeling walking through a tannery or even Vanson’s production floor. It really is fascinating to see how things are actually made or processed.

I hear you! One of my biggest clients the last couple years is a startup that is developing a new process for making carbon fiber composites. Every time I walk into their facility to see something new and interesting. I would love to photograph every bit of it but unfortunately that is not allowed as it is all quite secret.

 

[JMax]

do you work in insurance or safety consultant?

Close. Security and emergency responder on behalf of a major insurance company, who retains the firm I am with. Certain policy holders are clients.

 

[navetsea]

tsk... I must think of reason for a freelance comic artist to visit a leather tannery... maybe if I quickly draft mutant leather monster... they would have a good chuckle and permit me entry.
much easier as architectural university students I was, once I was given special permission to climb on top of transparent dome of local mall under supervision of their maintenance team, I quickly regretted that one.

 

[JMax]

Get a clip board and start walking around the place like you own it. If anyone talks to you just start writing and walk away lol.

 

[JMax]

Here is one photo of the AC Lawrence Tannery. The caption is interesting.

 

[JMax]

May be worth a visit. It seems only one tannery remains in Peabody. Down over the last century+ from 100+.

https://peabodymuseums.com/peabody-leatherworkers-museum/history/

 

[JMax]

 

[JMax]

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/30/us/us-fines-tannery-polluters-475920.html

 

[tmitchell59]

Thanks so much for posting this interesting Video! I discovered Peabody while trying to decipher a leather jacket label. It was a 60s jacket and I don't recall the brand.

This video does a great job in showing the decline of the American leather industry. With all the tanners, small and large, local makers had their choice of hides. This is reflected in the quality of leather from makers like Wolfe, Knopf, Lawrence, Star Sportswear Kurland..Each of the jackets I have seen by these makers has the finest looking high grade leather.

Competition for Quality is also noted by the Pride the leather workers took in their craft. Not all vintage leather was the same, but the best was as good as any leather tanned today. Why not?

The leather industry was huge in this country. There are volumes of professional trade magazines devoted to the production of leather products going back to the 19th century.

I have a industry Journal I will take some pics of. Interesting stuff to me.

 

[tmitchell59]

Here is a past thread on Knopf

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/s-h-knopf-mfg-co.75515/

 

[tmitchell59]

A thread on Guide Master by Wolfe

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/guide-master-by-wolf-outerwear.97307/

 

[JMax]

A thread on Guide Master by Wolfe

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/guide-master-by-wolf-outerwear.97307/

It was amazing when the Wolfe family member posted in the thread. That’s priceless stuff.

 

[JMax]

Good read - VANSON

http://www.armyofdarkness.com/index.php/2007-rrw/62-vanson-leathers-factory

 

[JMax]

http://www.leathersmithe.com/california-historical-tanne/

@tmitchell59 @jonbuilder