The Rural Voice, 1999-08, Page 37support. It has trucks on the road
hauling Toads of raw skins from
abattoirs in Chicago, Detroit and
Idaho.
At the same time, the business
requires skilled, experienced labour,
Snell says. After soaking the skins in
water and treating them with a
solution to loosen the wool, the wool
is stripped from the skins by hand.
The wool pullers are trained to grade
the wool as they remove it — even a
Franklin Snell examines a tanned
hide.
single skin will have several kinds of
wool, suitable for different needs. It's
this skilled sorting (workers with less
than six months experience don't
know where to start, Snell says) plus
the large volume of wool being
handled, that allows the company to
offer high quality, high volume
supplies.
While the company has made
some strides automating
the work over the years,
it's still "a dirty job" says Snell.
Unlike other industries where
automation actually increases quality,
the more automation in wool -pulling,
the poorer the quality. It's the
personal sorting by experienced
workers that creates a high-quality
product because every skin is
different than the one before. As a
result most of the company's
employees have many years
experience.
After the pulling and sorting, the
wool is washed, cleaned and dried
and packed in 200-300 pound bales.
This part of the process is also used
for sheared fleeces.
Bainton's offers a
huge selection of sheepskin
products.
Available:
✓ Sheepskin Rugs
V Blankets
V Sheepskin (oats
V Sheepskin Moccasins
Downtown Blyth 519-523-4740
More and more parents are discovering the
benefits of keeping their baby warm and cozy with
a natural infant care lambskin. Incredible softness
and warmth make baby feel secure and happy.
Helps prevent colic and diaper rash and is 100%
machine washable. By allowing continuous air
circulation, baby is perfectly safe when sleeping
face down.
A product perfected in our own tanneries. The
perfect baby shower gift. Used in bassinets, cribs,
baby seats, strollers, high chairs, buggies
and playpens. Can be used under or over a sheet
in the crib. Washing instructions included.
Infant Care lambskins and other sheepskin
products are available at the Old Mill, 1 mile
south of Blyth. Drop by and visit us or place your
order by phone.
Tit roil
LD
1 mile south of Blyth 519-523-4595
AUGUST 1999 33