An issue of the Society’s newsletter, transcribed from the original. Download as PDF.
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Page 1
[Transcribed from the original 8-page issue. Paragraphs are reflowed from the original setting; spelling, punctuation and wording follow the original, including its own inconsistencies. Editorial notes appear in [square brackets]. [First issue produced by the new editors, Kevin Armstrong and Don MacLeod. The typography and layout change completely from this issue: the Commodore-set columns of the McPherson years give way to a word-processed full-width setting.]]
CANADIAN LEATHERCRAFT
VOLUME XLVII NO. 1 — FALL 1997 — 0045-5121
President's Message
September 8, 1997
I hope everyone had a great summer. Some of us were busy stockpiling merchandise for fall shows and the Christmas rush, others may have decided to take the summer off to just enjoy the fabulous weather. Well, the kids are safely in school learning their ABC's, and its time for all of us to get back to work furthering our leather education.
Our first priority is the organization or Leather 98. We have already procured a display site, and judging will take place on Thursday October 30, 1997. That means that your entries must be ready approximately one month from the time you read this message. If each one of you starts a piece right now, there is no reason why it cannot be completed by the judging date.
Why is it important to participate? First, this is our only public display of our work and therefore our best opportunity to attract new members. Second, with the executive's approval, I want to aggressively advertise this event, hopefully in the local paper, on community cable television and possibly on radio. If we are going to go to all the trouble to advertise the event, it would be helpful if there were actually completed works there for the public to view. In the past, only a select few have participated in the biennial show, which has always surprised me because you have two years of projects you can draw from, this year and last year.
If you only have time to do a key case, that's fine. Participation in the show is sorely needed and would be greatly appreciated, regardless of the size of the completed project. It is our job as leather crafters to educate the public in the versatility and possibilities of our leather medium.
I hope we will be able to have a flyer that we can distribute to craft stores, libraries and the media, which will help us increase awareness of our guild in each town where meetings are held. Please take a few minutes while you are reading this bulletin to think about how you can contribute to the success of this show.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.
Sincerely, William H.G. Whittingham, FCSCL, President
All material published in Canadian Leathercraft is the property of THE CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE LEATHERCRAFT and may not be reproduced in any form without the permission of the Society
President Bill Whittingham 42 Robinhood Rd Islington Ont. M9A 2W8 1st Vice-President Nancy Durham RR #4 Princeton Ont. N0J 1V0 2nd Vice-president Recording Secretary Kevin Armstrong 1377 Hurontario St Mississauga Ont. L5G 3H5 Corresponding Secretaries Dorothy McPherson 574 Cayley Drive London Ont. N6H 3G8 David McPherson 574 Cayley Drive London Ont. N6H 3G8 Treasurer David Windeyer 1202-23 Lascelles Blvd Toronto Ont. M4V 2B9 Membership Chairman Madeleine Mitchell 17 Light St Woodstock Ont. N4S 6G7 Editor Kevin Armstrong 1377 Hurontario St Mississauga Ont. L5G 3H5 Editor Don Macleod 2165 Corsair Road Mississauga Ont. L5A 2L7
[Nancy Durham's rural route is printed RR #1 in the page passes here and R. R. #4 in every earlier issue; the digit does not resolve cleanly. The established RR #4 is carried.]
[The 2nd Vice-President line remains blank, as on the 1997/98 slate.]
Page 2
This is just one of about ten or fifteen articles given to me by Rene Hackstetter, this past summer.
This one may be of interest to Mr. Ray Potter, who is one of our older members, past executive member, and now a Life Member.
[A reproduction of an eighteenth-century trade card is set into the page. Its text is transcribed below as printed, retaining the long ſ forms as they appear.]
James Potter Leather-Breeches Maker At the Sign of the Boot and Breeches, within Three Doors of Aldgate, on the Left Hand Side of the Way, in Shoemaker-Row. Maketh and Selleth all Sorts of Leather-Breeches, by Whole-fale and Retail, at Reafonable Rates. Likewife Buck and Doe Skins and all Sorts of Leather for Breeches. Printed at the Old Katherine-Wheel without Bifhopfgate.
What makes the age of this ad even more noteworthy is the type of type used, and puts it at least 200 yrs ago. was the use of mid-word "s" was in Old English form, that is to say an "f" without the crossbar, but only in the middle of words, the proper "S" was used to begin all words, especially capitals. Another odd part of the older type, was that the final "s" on words like doors, sorts, breeches and rates was a standard small "s". For fun, try and write and pronounce "Bifhopfgate" as I first did. Remember that there is no cross-bar on the "f". Intriguing is'nt it. (Bishopsgate)
On top of Mr. James Potter ad is a logo, a decorated vertial Oval, almost like a carved belt, no buckle. Inside are a pair of men's breeches, highly decorated, with some form of lace attachments, at the front fly area, and above the knees, plus what look like pockets at both sides on the tummy. Above this is a boot, almost Wellington style, complete with a flared leather cuff above the knee unit. to protect the knee and thigh. On the heel area is a Spur, and a deep set heel for going into a stirrup. I am glad I could copy it for you so you can see it yourself.
[The article's own transcription of the card reads Aldergate in the running text and Aldgate on the facsimile itself.]
Page 3
MEMBERSHIP — A SPECIAL REPORT
We have not heard from you this year. Please remit your membership fee of $20.00 immediately or your name will be removed from the C.S.C.L. mailing list.
Send your membership fee to:-
Madeleine Mitchell 17 Light Street, Woodstock, Ont., N4S 6G7
Leo Beboning 370 Franklin Rd., Hamilton, Ont., L8V 3P5 [?] Herbert Earl 7103 Broadway, Merrillville, Indiana, U.S.A. 46410 George Gross 5151 Cleaveland St., Gary, Indiana, U.S.A., 46408 Marnie Harrington 154 Scarboro Cres., Scarborough, Ont., M1M 2S4 Eva Harris 703 - 1760 Main St. west, Hamilton, Ont., L8S 1H2 Marion Kehoe 306 - 600 Talbot St., London, Ont., N6A 5L9 Cindy Magura 111 Viginia Ave., Toronto, Ont., M4C 2T7 Sylvie Marcoux 771 Coxwell Ave., Toronto, Ont., M4C 3C6 Margaret Monteith 39 Millridge Rd., London, Ont., N5Z 4P2 Kryna Ooyevaar 25 Wareham Dr., Mississauga, Ont., L5M 1B8 Allen Spencer RR# 3 Petrolia Ont., N0N 1R0 Harry Wendland RR#1, BOX #60, ELDORADO, Ont., K0K 1Y0 Emma Windatt P.O. Box 406, Fenelon Falls, Ont., K0M 1N0 Jim Yates RR #3 Penetang, Ont., P.O. Box 14, L9M 1R3
As we said, we know your out there, please send our Membership Chairman your remittance or this is your last Bulletin. If you have already sent it in, our thanks, sorry for the embarrassment of seeing your name listed. Some of you belong to various Chapters, others belong as Members at Large, each know your own circumstances, so let that be your guide for the fee you owe, and how much, and to whom, local and/or C.S.C.L.
[The forename is printed Kryna Ooyevaar here, as in Summer 1996 — a second independent instance of that form against the settled Keyna.]
[Leo Beboning's postal code does not resolve at magnification and is marked [?].]
This little footnote is a thank you to the Lone Star Leathercrafters, "Newsletter", Editor, Mike Rodgers and President George Hurst for putting us on their mailing list these last 3 or 4 months. Our groups enjoy your video tapes and the news about your programmes. The interviews with the Manufacturers and Leathercrafters have been very informative. It was good to see Karla Van Horne's picture taken at the 1997 "Cowtown Jamborie". Your pictures and ads are very well done, thanks again for the inspiration.
[The surname is printed Van Horne here and van Horn in the 1997 Annual Report.]
Page 4
EPHEMERA
Another in the series of articles from Rene Hackstetter's inquiring pen.
Once your interest in a field of study has been sparked you find yourself collecting "Ephemera". These are all those bits of paper, such as letterheads, invoices, Cartes de Visite, and trade cards that often end up in the garbage when a desk gets cleaned out, or get thrown out when a buisness of a company ends or dies.
This first invoice to the Rev. John G. Scott from Alex Johnston and Co. for a $38.00 Leather Trink might have been a substantial purchase for 1889. It makes us wonder if Rev. Scott was preparing himself for a move out of the Diocese, to parts unknown. He was served by the owner of what appears, in the engraving, to be a substantial Importer and Dealer in Leather and Findings.
The second cut of the Adams Harness Co. is a letterhead showing the enterprise located at 176 & 178 King St. E, Toronto, with carriages, wagons, Street Railway (Trams) and a bicyclist. The building still exists at the corner of George and King Sts. though the buisiness is long gone. Their "Brandon House" operation was in Manitoba, serving Western Canadian trade. The letter signed by one of the owners is responding to a Mr. Waddell of Orono to clarify if the Backstrap and Dock of his Harness are included in the original price. They are not, as Mr. Adams indicates, included, however the Co. is willing to include them for 75 cents and send them with the goods.
The horse drawn wagons, loaded with bundles of harness leathers are probably heading to some Mennonite farmer in the area with orders, plus the old King street tram has a pole up to the electric wire, this service started in 1899.
[Two engraved facsimiles are reproduced at the foot of the page. The only line that resolves is an address, 354 RICHMOND STREET.; the remaining lettering is engraved script and does not recover at any magnification.]
Page 5
[A full page of reproduced ephemera — the Alex Johnston and Co. invoice and the Adams Harness Co. letterhead described on page 4, together with a smaller card. The lettering is engraved and heavily reduced; almost none of it resolves. The one heading that reads clearly is TORONTO HOUSE. No body text is recoverable, and none is attempted here.]
Page 6
CLIFF McTAVISH — RAISED INLAY BUCKLE
Materials Required:
Large Oval Buckle Blank 3-4 oz. Leather -- 8" x 5 1/2" 1 1/2 - 2 oz. leather used to line top piece Morocco Leather Piece of Thread Glue -- White or Contact Edge Dye
Tools:
Cutting Surface Sharp Pointy Knife or Scalpel Skiving Knives Dividers that will scratch a line Bone Folders Rotary or Small Punches 00, Stitching Groovers Stitching Wheel #7 Stitching Awl, Needles and Thread
Steps to be done at Home:
1. Make a Tracing Pattern
2. Cut a piece of 3-4 oz. leather 8" x 5 1/2". Dye leather desired colour. Choose a piece of Morocco about 6" x 5". Smaller pieces can be used as long as they are about 1/2" bigger all around than the size of the insert pieces on the tracing pattern. Choose a colour that compliments the colour you dyed. Also a piece of leather 4" x 5" will be needed to line the top piece. A scrap piece will do, as long as it is thin — 1 1/2 - 2 oz.
3. When leather is almost dried, trace patterns on leather.
4. The cut out and punch out parts, on the bottom piece can be done now. The outside line is there just to show shape. Do Not Trace or Cut this line. The Top Piece is left for the Workshop. Again the outside line on the tracing pattern is there just to show shape. You don't need to trace (it will mark the leather) or cut this line (it may be a different curve after you mold it over the belt buckel blank, because of the complex curves).
Tracing pattern:- Remember, do not trace or cut outside line on leather
[Two pattern outlines are printed at the foot of the page, labelled Top and Bottom.]
Page 7
WORKSHOP WORKSHOP WORKSHOP WORKSHOP
LASTED BOXES WORKSHOP
INSTRUCTOR:-- RUTH HAIG
BITS AND THINGS NEEDED
BASSWOOD BLOCK -- ie 3" x 6 1/2" x 2" cost $10.00. Basswood is used because no wood grain telltails to mark leather. and tacks go in easily and hold.
Lasting Pliers, to pull and hold the leather as you mold and tack it. Fine Lockjaw Pliers that are clean with no oil or grease traces or small upholstrey stretcher. (lasting pliers 2" curved)
Knives -- all the usual knives, bone folder. scissors. cutting board. sponge and water jug. dye if you wish, wallpaper heat gun, or hair dryer, hammer for tacks.
Tacks -- box of shoemakers tacks 9/16" or slightly longer. Capital Findings. or Home Hardware. other types of tacks will not work. They tend to fall out.
Sandpaper -- Fine and Medium grit
Leather -- 6-7 oz. or 7-8 oz. cowhide, 2 pieces, top and bottom about 15" square.
Skiver -- Enough to line the box, at least 1 - 15" square
NOTE: If lighter leather is used apply a coat of fiberglass then activator to the inside of the bottom and the lid, use a well ventilated area for fiberglassing. this makes the shell more stabile, and ridgid, but also another ballgame.
Application Form
Name ..................................................... Address .................................................. Telephone Number ......................................... Is a wooden block required? ..............................
Cost if $10.00 extra for the block
Location is Cooksville United Church, 2500 Mimosa Row, Mississauga Saturday Nov. 22, 9.30 a.m. -- 4.00 p.m.
The Fee for the workshop is $15.00. Both fees to be paid to Ruth at Workshop.
Page 8
NEWS AND VIEWS THIS SUMMER
A lot of things have happened since you last had a Bulletin from C.S.C.L.
To begin with you have two new (and I mean new) Editors, Kevin Armstrong and Don Macleod. They both will readily admit that this is a new Adventure for them as well as I hope for you. I hope as time goes on we become better.
We all know that the McPhersons have been trying to sell their house. Finally in early September David called me and a deal had been realized. They are now moving to London Ont., at the end of September. They will be our corresponding secretaries. a joint venture. This will free Nancy Durham to attend to her new duties as Vice President, to help and aid Bill Whittingham our new President, in the roll that he has taken on. sort of like a party whip. (Don't get upset Nancy)
There are also some sad notes that happened this year. Hamilton Guild, sustained a loss over the summer, Marg Weldon. from Ancaster. a former active Hamilton member, passed away leaving many memories in that Hamilton Organization, our condolences pass on to that group and her family.
Everyones heart goes out to Emma Windatt, for the loss of her husband. Sandy, (Fletcher Maurice) in early July. We all know Emma from the Plays, Skits and Recitations, she did for C.S.C.L. Annuals. We know with her spirit she can weather the loss and go on with life. All C.S.C.L. thoughts are with you at this time, Emma.
On an up note an old friend, Maryanne Crawford. formally of Toronto group has decided to join the Mississauga group (I think Joyce Scruton did a little arm twisting), Mississauga is grateful, some of our older members seem to be on a sabbatical, despite all Bill Whittingham's and Joyce's many phone calls.
For those interested we have two business cards from Dorothy and David McPherson. They are now both into business on their own in London.
STUDIO LEATHER David J. McPherson SPECIALIZING IN LEATHER FOLK ART ORIGINALS AND LEATHER JEWELLERY 574 Cayley Drive, London, ON, Canada N6H 3G8 (519) 473-6450
Ontario Leather Crafter — LONDON Specializing in Leather Boxes International folk artisan Dorothy McPherson 574 Cayley Drive London, ON N6H 3G8 (519) 473-6450