feature of these operations.  Breaking is first resorted to.  The break beam, which is armed at each end with a knife edge, oscillates up and down.  In a frame beneath it the operator stretches the dried and stiff skin.  The break beam comes down upon the skin, stretches and softens it, and removes much surplus custard.  The operator presents a new surface to each stroke of the break beam, and in a very short space of time the entire skin is rendered soft and pliable.

Further manipulation upon the arm or knee stake—­of which a dull, semicircular knife blade, supported upon a suitable standard upon the floor or upon a beam about opposite the worker’s elbow is the main feature—­is required.  The skin must be drawn across this knife blade with a considerable application of force so as to reduce the unduly thick parts, stretch the skin and secure a uniform thickness suitable for gloves.  Much dexterity, especially in the case of fine skins, is required in this operation to avoid cutting or tearing.  The operator places the fleshy side of the skin over the knife, grasps the two ends of the skin, and placing his knee upon it and slowly drawing the skin across the knife edge, he brings his weight to bear upon it.  If the operator is skilled and experienced the skin yields quickly, when needed, to the strain applied and a uniform texture is secured.  The operation of transforming the skin into leather is now finished, but age is necessary to secure perfect pliability and softness.  The skins are, therefore, laid away to let the slow chemical operation going on within them be completed.

The visitor can now watch the further processes of manufacture by visiting the dye rooms.  Skins which have already been aged are immersed in dye vats, where the delicate colors are imparted to them.  The same care is not required in obtaining the ordinary range of dark colors, for these are “brushed” on, the skin being spread upon a glass slab and the dye being painted on with a brush.  After they are dyed the skins are sometimes somewhat hard, and in some classes have to be staked again in order to restore their pliability.  The finishing touches to a kid skin are secured by rubbing the grain side over with a size, which imparts a gloss.  The experience of Gloversville manufacturers with “buck” gloves has enabled them to impart a special finish to a skin which is very popular under the title of “Mocha.”  This is the same as suede finish, which is produced in other countries by shaving off the grain side of the skin at an early stage of its progress.  The Gloversville method is much better, however, and has more perfect results.  Here the grain is removed, and the velvet finish secured by buffing the surface on an emery wheel.  The surface of the leather is cut away in minute particles by this process, and the result is an exceedingly even and velvety texture, superior to that obtained by other methods.  European manufacturers do not approach the Americans in this respect.