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KINGSMERE CRAFTS
HAND-CRAFTED LEATHER GOODS
Tanners and leather suppliers (pages 103-105)
Abbey Saddlery
& Crafts Ltd:-
Abbey House, Haig Road, Parkgate Industrial Estate,
Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 8DX UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1565 650343. Fax: +44 (0) 1565
633825
E-mail: info@abbeysaddlery.co.uk.
Contact: Richard Brown. High quality English leathers, Leather Tools,
Hardware, Webbing and Outdoor textiles form the core of Abbey's extensive
product range. Their truly comprehensive range enables them to offer their
clients the best possible service at competitive prices.
Following their recent move to larger warehousing premises they are able to
hold significant stocks of their broad based inventory. Based in the town of
Knutsford, in Rural Cheshire, Abbey is ideally situated to supply throughout
the UK and internationally with the M6 motorway only a few miles to the West
and Manchester International Airport to the East.
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A Family firm in the best sense of the word, and a very reliable company
offering excellent service, Abbey was founded some
seventeen years ago with the aim of servicing the country saddlery trade in
England. They have grown through dedication to this aim and by applying the
same principles to their ever widening client base. Personal callers are
always guaranteed a warm welcome. A wide range of saddlery and belt leathers are available plus a range of others.
Abbey Saddlery has acquired B B Stanley Brothers, of Walsall, the last
remaining brass buckle foundry in the UK saddlery trade. Established in 1837,
Stanley’s brass foundry has built up a range of patterns over the years,
covering all types and sizes of brass buckles, headcollar and harness fittings.
"We are pleased to be able to maintain this essential part of the British supply
chain and look forward to increasing the production very soon through better
marketing and an improvement in the production techniques", said Abbey Saddlery
managing director, Richard Brown. Abbey has taken on the production, sales and
assets of B B Stanley Brothers, with all sales now handled through Abbey Liston
Hardware, its manufacturing division, which already includes Liston Locks – the
only remaining British brass lock maker. Production remains at the Long Street
factory, in Walsall, overseen by Abbey’s production manager, David Broome, and
his team at Abbey Liston. (Also see ‘Trade Suppliers' for
Fittings and Tools.
Here) You can get directions from Local Google by clicking
Here. Website
http://www.abbeysaddlery.co.uk
Assbel BV (Tanner):- Heuvelstraat 5, 5101 TB Dongen, Nederland. Tel: +31 162 371371. Fax: +31 162 318883. E-mail: info@leather.nl. Contact Riph van den Assam. A group of Dutch tanneries producing quality leather for the manufacture of shoes, leathergoods and clothing. Assbel markets its leather under the brand name of "Brabant leder". Their tannery has operated as a family business in the same town in the south of the Netherlands since the early 17th century. Today, the world is their market. They export to all of Europe, the Middle East, North America and South Africa. Washable leather is their speciality. The leather will not shrink or stain when you wash the clothes in a washing machine or have them dry cleaned. Guaranteed. The thickness of the leather ranges from 0.6 mm to 1.4 mm.This site is worth visiting for any manufacturer looking for a new source of leather. Website http://www.leather.nl.
BAB Leather Products Intl:- No. 43 Vaidyanathan Street, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034 India. Tel: 0091-44-8321504. Fax: 0091-44-8270458. E-mail: bableather@vsnl.com. Contact: B. Suresh. This tannery produces mainly cow and buffalo hides for the leathergoods, shoe and upholstery industries. The quality of the hides is excellent and a variety of colours and finishes are available (examples shown on the site). The availability of buffalo hides is of particular interest as this is not always so, especially for the saddlery industry, as their tight grain is preferred when producing stirrup leathers. Website http://www.bableather.com
J T Bachelor & Co. Ltd:- 9-10 Culford Mews, Balls Pond Road, Islington, London N1 4DZ, UK. Tel: +44 171 254 2962, 020 7254 2962, 020 8254 8521. A reliable company supplying a wide range of leather. They stock leather skins that are sold by weight. They are also used to dealing with re-enactors and sell leather in all shapes and sizes, also buckles, rivets, punches, dyes etc. They hold a vast amount of leather in stock, plus all the tools, dyes and findings that you could wish for (almost). As far as I know they stock Russet leather for tooling and they do hold most others tannages and hides. My experience is that they are much more knowledgeable about certain types of leather working than others. Phone them first, and be very clear about what the leather will be used for. No website or catalogue. They're easy to get to by tube then bus. Nearest Station: Dalston Kingsland (See also ‘Tanners and leather suppliers’ Here.)
J & F J Baker & Co Ltd:- Hamlyns, King Street,
Colyton, Devon EX24 6PD, UK. Tel: 01297 552282. Fax: 01297 553274.
E-mail: info@jfjbaker.co.uk.
J & F J Baker is Britain's only remaining traditional oak bark tannery. Their
exclusive methods produce the richly coloured organic leather favoured by
distinguished shoe makers and top stables for its quality, durability and
finish. Devon river water, oak from renewable sources, and time dedicated to
slow tanning (the hides are moved by hand every week for three months into
progressively stronger tanning liquors) preserves the natural weave of the fibres
in each hide resulting in unique hardwearing luxury. Leather tanning process
Bowstock Ltd. (Fittings and Tools):- The Barton, North Tawton, Devon EX20 2BB, UK. Tel; 01837 82077. Fax; 01837 82077. E-mail: info@bowstock.co.uk. They supply tools and fittings to the Leathergoods industries, also, starter kits for the novice that includes an instruction book. Stitching equipment and threads, finishing tools and supplies, other tools and supplies, rivets, eyelets and studs, starter and stitching kits, books, buckles and fittings (sizes relate to the width of strap that the buckle can accommodate). Leather knives and shears, thonging and cords. All lace is cut from the reel, so your orders will be delivered in single lengths whenever possible. Leather dyes and finishes. Well worth a visit (see also ‘Tanners and leather suppliers' Here). Website http://www.bowstock.co.uk
Braintan.com:- 10398 Takilma Road, Cave Junction, OR 97523, USA. Tel: (541) 592-3693. E-mail: backcountry@braintan.com. Contact: Matt Richards. 240 pages of information. They are listed here because they supply and tan buckskins. There are books, videos and tutorials on this subject should you wish to make your own leather. (See also ‘Trade Suppliers’ Here). Website http://www.braintan.com
Bridge of Weir Leather Company Ltd:-
Baltic Works, Kilbarchan Road, Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire PA11 3RH, Scotland. Tel: +44 (0) 1505 612132. Fax: +44 (0) 1505 614964.
E-mail: mail@bowleather.co.uk. (They are a wholly owned subsidiary of Scottish Leather Group Ltd:- 1 Seedhill, Paisley,
Renfrewshire PA1 1JL, Scotland. Tel: +44 (0) 141 847 4520, Fax: +44 (0) 141 848 7246, (See Here) see also their website
http://www.scottishleathergroup.com/sti/scottishleathergroup/home.asp). This privately owned group of leather manufacturing companies employs around
500 people at locations near Glasgow, Scotland. The Group's activities span raw hide processing and tanning, as well as the manufacture of finished
leather. Membership of the Group provides them with ready access to high quality hides and tanning experience, and a means of managing supply,
quality and research throughout the leather manufacturing process.
One of the early customers was the Ford Motor
Company which used Bridge of Weir leather in the Model T from 1911.
Click for Bridge of Weir pdf colour chart
Building upon the natural advantages of pure water, rich pastures and prime beef
herds, Bridge of Weir Leather Company Ltd has grown into a major supplier of finished upholstery leather to the automotive, aviation, marine and contract design
industries. Bridge of Weir leather is also used in the British Library, the
Houses of Parliament in Westminster, Glasgow City Chambers and countless other
public buildings and famous hotels around the world. The Company has won three
Queen's Awards for export achievement in 1985, 1996 and 2000. The business today
remains privately owned and its success is due to the commitment of the
generations of employees many of whom were born and bred in Bridge of Weir. Buckskin Fur & Leather Co:- (A division of Canor Development Corp Ltd Clayton Leather
A wide and varied selection of leather is available.
Choose from, industrial leathers, saddlery
leathers, footwear leathers, medieval leathers (for re-enactors), limed
rawhide (For drums etc.) The site is easy to navigate and a leather thickness table is also supplied on-line.
Website
http://www.claytonleather.com/
Eagle Ottawa (Tanner):- Headquarters, 2930 Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, M1 48309,
USA. Tel: 1-248-853-3122.
With their unique blend of technical and artistic capabilities, they're able to provide the exclusive and detailed leathers that automotive
designers demand. Their customized grains, textures, aromas, and high-durability performance often surprise and delight the most discerning of tastes. In
addition to leather for seat covers, they produce products for nearly every other interior application: door panels, consoles and instrument panels. They
also provide special services, including leather perforation, foam lamination, embroidery, component wrapping and sewing. They
also have worldwide outlets. Website
Greenhalgh Tannery Pty Ltd:- 856 Greenhalghs Road, Bunkers Hill, Victoria 3352, Australia. Tel: 03 5342 4304 (Aust), +61 3 5342 4304 (International). Fax:
03 5342 4816 (Aust), +61 3 5342 4816 (International).
Website
http://www.bowleather.co.uk/sti/BridgeOfWeir/BOW_Home.asp. (Bridge of Weir is located seven miles west of Paisley on the A761 and sits close
to the River Gryffe. Bridge of Weir does not have a train station so if you intend to travel by train, you can change to a bus at Paisley or Glasgow. Several buses run to
Bridge of Weir from Paisley and Glasgow. If travelling by car, Bridge of Weir is easily accessible from the A737. Local Bus and Train Services: All telephone
enquiries for public transport timetable information should be directed to Traveline Scotland on 0870 608 2 608, 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week.)
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With the introduction of new technologies and mechanization both the quality and quantity of leather production has improved worldwide. Greenhalgh Tannery has embraced much of these improvements while continuing to have a very much hands-on approach to production, ensuring only the highest quality leather is produced. With over 130 years experience and five generations of Greenhalgh's tanning leather, our customers can be assured of our ongoing commitment to quality and customer service.
Hanson Tower Ltd:- Hanson House, Knights Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 2JH, UK. Tel: 01634-713363 or Fax: 01634-721099. E-mail: sales@hansontower.com. Contact: Paul Hanson. This reliable company offers a wide choice of hides for the saddlery and leathergoods industry. They supply reputable companies such as Tanner & Krolle. The following leathers are available, bridle, russet, bag and cloak hide. They only supply quality leather. Website http://www.hanson-tower.com Harmatan Leather Ltd. (Tanner):- Westfield Avenue, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire NN10 8AX, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1933-412151/312471. Fax: +44 (0) 1933-412242. E-mail: marc@harmatan.co.uk. Contact: Marc Lamb. This company, established in the early 1980s, produce the finest quality smooth-grained and vegetable tanned goat and calf skins for the bookbinding and leathergoods industries. They distribute worldwide and there are facilities for ordering a brochure plus an online order form. Their goat skins come from the Kono and Sakoto regions of Nigeria that are renowned for their beautiful natural grains. Website http://www.harmatan.co.uk
Hewit & Sons Ltd. (Tanner):-
Kinauld Leather Works, Currie, Edinburgh EH14 5RS, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 131-449-2206. Fax: +44 (0) 131-451-5081.
E-mail: sales@hewit.com.
This tanner and leather dresser produces high quality leather for the
bookbinding and leather goods industry (vegetable tanned and special finishes).
Calf, goat, skiver (sheep etc) are available in a variety of colours. They
sell by the square metre and a useful conversion table is available for conversion
to square feet. This is an excellent and reliable company.
(See also ‘Trade Suppliers' Here). Website http://www.hewit.com/
Horween Leather Company:- 2015 Elston Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614. Tel: (773) 772-2026. Fax: (773) 772-9235. Sales Inquiries:-
We offer an array of tannages utilizing primarily cowhide and horsehide with smaller quantities of calf and bison hides also used. Our leather is used in many products including shoes, sporting goods, bags, belts, and other types of apparel and accessories. We are well known for our production of the finest Genuine Horween® Shell Cordovan, professional football leather, and Chromexcel®, among other leathers. (see also). Website http://www.horween.com/
Hought Fine Art & Leather (Associated Site) :- P.O. Box. 2115 McKinleyville, CA 95519, USA. Tel: 707-839-1164 / 1-800-839-1164. Fax: 1-707-839-1871. E-mail: hought@humboldt1.com. Contact: Gail Hought. Supplying specially prepared kangaroo hides suitable for cutting into braiding strips. (Can also be supplied ready cut in the form of kits for projects. (Ideal for beginners). (See also 'Trade Suppliers' Here). Website http://www.hought.com.
Hutchings &
Harding Ltd:- 163 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge, Cambs CB22 3HN. Tel:
+44(0)1223 832281, Fax: +44(0)1223 836401.
E-mail:
chamois@chamois.com. They were established in 1897 and remain a
private company. Modern technology has been harnessed to the traditional
skills and craftsmanship of the leather industry, providing a top quality
Chamois Leather product with a personal customer service.
Aerial view of factory in 1977
Aerial view of factory in 2007
Based in Sawston, just 7 miles from the famous University town of Cambridge in Eastern England and 50 miles from London, their Tannery dates back to 1645. Hutchings & Harding continue to excel as a Tannery for Chamois Leather, Skiver Leather and Pickled Grains. Today, the main activity of the company is the tanning of selected sheep pelts from around the world – exactly as it was when first established over a century ago. Modern machinery, technology and a skilled workforce combine in the production of their leather. They have a pride in their product and service that enables them to claim with justification "The World's Finest Chamois". Website http://www.chamois.com
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