Preface—Translator's Preface—List of Illustrations.
Part I., Materials used in Tanning—Chapter I., Skins: I., Skin and its Structure; II., Skins used in Tanning; III., Various Skins and their Uses—Chapter II., Tannin and Tanning Substances: I., Tannin; II., Barks (Oak); III., Barks other than Oak; IV., Tanning Woods; V., Tannin-bearing Leaves; VI., Excrescences; VII., Tan-bearing Fruits; VIII., Tan-bearing Roots and Bulbs; IX., Tanning Juices: X., Tanning Substances used in Various Countries; XI., Tannin Extracts; XII., Estimation of Tannin and Tannin Principles.
Part II., Tanning—Chapter I., The Installation of a Tannary: I., Tan Furnaces; II., Chimneys, Boilers, etc.; III., Steam Engines—Chapter II., Grinding and Trituration of Tanning Substances: I., Cutting up Bark: II., Grinding Bark; III., The Grinding of Tan Woods; IV., Powdering Fruit, Galls and Grains; V., Notes on the Grinding of Bark—Chapter III., Manufacture of Sole Leather: I., Soaking; II., Sweating and Unhairing; III., Plumping and Colouring; IV., Handling; V., Tanning; VI., Tanning Elephants' Hides; VII., Drying; VIII., Striking or Pinning—Chapter IV., Manufacture of Dressing Leather: I., Soaking; II., Depilation; III., New Processes for the Depilation of Skins; IV., Tanning; V., Cow Hides; VI., Horse Hides; VII., Goat Skins; Manufacture of Split Hides—Chapter V., On Various Methods of Tanning: I., Mechanical Methods; II., Physical Methods; III., Chemical Methods; IV., Tanning with Extracts—Chapter VI., Quantity and Quality: I., Quantity; II., Net Cost; III., Quality of Leather—Chapter VII., Various Manipulations of Tanned Leather: I., Second Tanning; II., Grease Stains: III., Bleaching Leather; IV., Waterproofing Leather; V., Weighting Tanned Leather; VI., Preservation of Leather—Chapter VIII., Tanning Various Skins.
Part III., Currying—Chapter I., Waxed Calf: I., Preparation; II., Shaving; III., Stretching or Slicking; IV., Oiling the Grain: V., Oiling the Flesh Side; VI., Whitening and Graining; VII., Waxing; VIII., Finishing; IX., Dry Finishing; X., Finishing in Colour; XI., Cost—Chapter II., White Calf: I., Finishing in White—Chapter III., Cow Hide for Upper Leathers: I., Black Cow Hide; II., White Cow Hide; III., Coloured Cow Hide.—Chapter IV., Smooth Cow Hide—Chapter V., Black Leather—Chapter VI., Miscellaneous Hides: I., Horse; II., Goat; III., Waxed Goat Skin: IV., Matt Goat Skin—Chapter VII., Russia Leather: I., Russia Leather; II., Artificial Russia Leather.
Part IV., Enamelled, Hungary and Chamoy Leather, Morocco, Parchment, Furs and Artificial Leather—Chapter I., Enamelled Leather: I., Varnish Manufacture; II., Application of the Enamel; III., Enamelling in Colour—Chapter II., Hungary Leather: I., Preliminary; II., Wet Work or Preparation; III., Aluming; IV., Dressing or Loft Work; V., Tallowing; VI., Hungary Leather from Various Hides—Chapter III., Tawing: I., Preparatory Operations; II., Dressing; III., Dyeing Tawed Skins; IV., Rugs—Chapter IV., Chamoy Leather—Chapter V., Morocco: I., Preliminary Operations; II., Morocco Tanning; III., Mordants used in Morocco Manufacture; IV., Natural Colours used in Morocco Dyeing; V., Artificial Colours; VI. Different Methods of Dyeing; VII., Dyeing with Natural Colours; VIII., Dyeing with Aniline Colours; IX., Dyeing with Metallic Salts; X., Leather Printing; XI., Finishing Morocco; XII., Shagreen; XIII., Bronzed Leather—Chapter VI., Gilding and Silvering: I., Gilding; II., Silvering; III., Nickel and Cobalt—Chapter VII., Parchment—Chapter VIII., Furs and Furriery: I., Preliminary Remarks; II., Indigenous Furs; III., Foreign Furs from Hot Countries; IV., Foreign Furs from Cold Countries; V., Furs from Birds' Skins; VI., Preparation of Furs; VII., Dressing; VIII., Colouring; IX., Preparation of Birds' Skins; X., Preservation of Furs—Chapter IX., Artificial Leather: I., Leather made from Scraps; II., Compressed Leather; III., American Cloth; IV., Papier Mâché; V., Linoleum: VI., Artificial Leather.
Part V., Leather Testing and the Theory of Tanning—Chapter I., Testing and Analysis of Leather: I., Physical Testing of Tanned Leather: II., Chemical Analysis—Chapter II., The Theory of Tanning and the other Operations of the Leather and Skin Industry: I., Theory of Soaking; II., Theory of Unhairing; III., Theory of Swelling; IV., Theory of Handling; V., Theory of Tanning; VI., Theory of the Action of Tannin on the Skin; VII., Theory of Hungary Leather Making; VIII., Theory of Tawing; IX., Theory of Chamoy Leather Making; X., Theory of Mineral Tanning.
Part VI., Uses of Leather—Chapter I., Machine Belts: I., Manufacture of Belting; II., Leather Chain Belts; III., Various Belts, IV., Use of Belts—Chapter II., Boot and Shoe-making: I., Boots and Shoes; II., Laces—Chapter III., Saddlery: I., Composition of a Saddle; II., Construction of a Saddle—Chapter IV., Harness: I., The Pack Saddle; II., Harness—Chapter V., Military Equipment—Chapter VI., Glove Making—Chapter VII., Carriage Building—Chapter VIII., Mechanical Uses.
Appendix, The World's Commerce in Leather—I., Europe; II., America; III., Asia; IV., Africa; Australasia—Index.
Press Opinions.
"The book is well and lucidly written. The writer is evidently a practical man, who also has taken the trouble to make himself acquainted with the scientific and technical side of his trade ... French methods differ largely from our own: sometimes we think our ways the best, but not always. The practical man may pick up many useful hints which may help him to improve his methods." —Shoe Manufacturers' Monthly Journal.
"This book cannot fail to be of great value to all engaged in the leather trades ... The British may believe that the French can teach them nothing in the work of leather tanning generally, but a comparison of the methods of the two countries will certainly yield a few wrinkles which may lead to advantageous results. Only a man understanding the science and technique of the trade could have written the book, and it is well done." —Midland Free Press.
"Gives much useful and interesting information concerning the various processes by which the skins of animals are converted into leather. Written by a French Chemist after five years of constant study and application: it shows all that detail of analysis which we are accustomed to find in scientists, and which the practical tanner is too much in the habit of ignoring, sometimes to his own loss." —Leeds Mercury.
"Nor can there be much doubt that this expectation will be fully justified by the result. Thanks to the conspicuous painstaking with which Mr. Addyman has discharged his duty, and the 123 illustrations by which the text is elucidated, the volume can hardly fail to prove a very valuable standard work of its class. It can thus be confidently recommended to all who are more or less practically interested in the technology of a very important subject." —Leicester Post.
"This is, in every respect, an altogether admirable, practical, clear and lucid treatise on the various and numerous branches of the great leather industry, of which it deals in an exhaustive, highly intelligent, workmanlike and scientific manner ... It is a handsome addition to every man's knowledge of his trade, whether he be a leading director of a large public company, or an industrious employee in the works, wishing to improve his services by the addition of his brains to his work." —Shoe and Leather Trader.
"M. Villon writes as one having a very full knowledge of all branches of the subject, and in days when foreign competition has enforced on English manufacturers the importance of no longer being content with rule-of-thumb methods which have come down to them from their forefathers it certainly should be worth the while of English tanners to see what lessons they can learn from French practice, and French practice, we should imagine, could hardly have a better exponent than the author of this large volume." —Western Daily Press and Bristol Times.
"At a time when all or nearly all our British industries are to a greater or less extent hampered by the pressure of continental and American competition, any hints that can be obtained as to the methods pursued by competitors must necessarily be of value ... That it will be of interest and value, not merely to English tanners, but to those associated with many kindred industrial branches, goes without saying ... As a work of reference the volume will be extremely useful in the trade, and where leisure affords sufficient opportunity a careful perusal and study of it would afford ample reward." —Kettering Guardian.
"This is a very handsomely got up and elaborate work just issued by this well-known technical book-publishing firm ... When we say that the work consists of over 500 large pages with about 120 illustrations, and almost innumerable tables, it will be seen at once that we cannot attempt anything like an exhaustive resume of its contents, and even if we did the details would be of little interest to our general readers, while those who are engaged in the leather industry will probably obtain the book for themselves—at least they would do well to do so.... Altogether the 'Treatise' has evidently been very carefully prepared, and by a man who thoroughly knows the subject, and hence it will be a very valuable technical book for English firms and workers.'—Walsall Observer.