In buying black leather goods one should select nothing but the best grade of No. 1 leather membering that there are three grades of genuine black Leather. It takes about six weeks to convert raw hides into leather. The hides arc moved along from one tanning vat to another, each solution contained therein becoming stronger, until the final vat contains nearly pure tannic acid. On completion of the tannic process, a machine divides the hide into three distinct layers, of which the upper layer is most valuable, possessing nearly all of the natural grain of the hide. This is reserved and made into what is called No. I leather. The two remaining layers, or flesh hides, are called split leather and are without natural grain. They are spongy and contain little to resist the hard wear that is so often given leather-covered furniture. No. I leather is used for the best grade of upholstery and for every piece of this grade, remember, there are two of the inferior grade. This accounts for the oft-written advertisements calling attention to a couch, for instance, covered with leather, for say. fifteen dollars, apparently low in price. It is low in price and that is all. It will not give good service because it has not the qualities of the best part of a hide which is made into No. 1, or the best grade of leather. If that same couch were covered with No. 1 leather, the price would be about double the one advertised.

The following article, "The Difference in Leather," by Edw. T. Harris, written for the Grand Rapids Record, while lengthy, is full of valuable information, as leather is an important factor in furniture making:

Currying And Buffing

"While careful and thorough tanning is all-essential for the production of good leather, its practical usefulness for purposes where appearance and flexibility are important, depends upon the second stage of its preparation, known as currying. The hide, split into layers, is received from the tan-yard in a rough and intractable condition. Sometimes the tanning process has not been fully completed, and after a little stretching, and manipulation, it receives a further soaking in the tan liquors. After this it is 'slicked out' on a large table, the process being that of stretching and scraping with a smooth, blunt scraper to remove the creases. The 'splits' are then ready for finishing, but the top layer, which has the natural outside or grain layer, is subjected to a process of buffing. This is done with a sharp scraper having a turned edge. This is worked over the grain side and removes a very thin layer, little more than the down on a peach, making the grain more receptive of colors and finishing materials. Of recent years a system of machine buffing has come into vogue whereby this outermost layer is removed in one piece, making a very thin tissue. It may be seen used to cover memorandum books and for other purposes requiring little or no tensile strength. Of course, the hide from which a machine buffing has been taken has not as strong a grain as one from which only the slight scrapings of the hand buffing process have been taken, and is therefore not as valuable, but the manufacturer has his "machine buff" to sell and thus it is to his advantage. Hand buffed leather is the highest grade, as may he seen, and commands an advanced price over machine huffed.