To cut up Hides for Soles.
In the first place, let the hide lie flat on the floor or board; then round off
the loose belly and shanks, and cut off the neck and the thin part of the
shoulders across the width of the whole hide.—Then cut the rest of the hide in
ranges across the hide, of such width as you may require.—. There is no need for
the ranges to be wider than the width of the last at the joint added to the
width in the small; for in the prime part of the range the soles may be taken
heel and toe; that is, in cutting the soles separate, where the heel of one
comes, the toe of the other will come: Hence, there is no need for the range to
be so wide as twice the width of the last at the joint.
It has been found by various trials in different modes, that cutting up sole leather in ranges is the simplest, and with the least waste.
The neck part is in general converted into welt
leather; the loose belly, and part of the shanks, into inner soles; and the hard
shanks into lifts, split-lifts, and piece soles.