Andrews. Matt is one of the reasons that Wickett has weathered some tough times over the past twenty years and continues to be a hugely successful US tanner. Matt attributes W&C’s strong position in the market to the company’s refusal to be complacent combined with a willingness to innovate and adopt to changing markets. They’ve done this by becoming more efficient in how they tan leather, by striving to be consistent in both the tanning process and the leather produced, and by becoming more diversified in the markets they sell to and the leathers they produce. While Wickett keeps standard leathers in stock for immediate shipping, about half of their total production (around 12,000 sides/month) is tanned to customers’ specifications. They do a lot of custom tanning for a lot of very different markets. If you want it, Matt says he can make whatever weight, color, finish, or temper your heart desires—from very firm to very glovey. Just ask! Over the past ten years, Matt explains, Wickett has steadily added new equipment in the tannery, like the new crane system they use for handling the green hides that come in. It makes a tough, nasty job a lot easier and quicker. There are the four new, bigger wooden tanning drums now in use. According to Matt, the larger drums handle more hides and thereby help insure greater consistency between loads. These are the drums that W&C uses to do their veg retanning in—a mix of quebracho and mimosa is used in their tanyard while chestnut or wattle is used in the drums for the veg retan.
25th Annual
Custom Boot Saddle Makers
Roundup
• • •
Trade Show: Friday, Oct. 4, from 9am-6pm Saturday, Oct 5 from 9am-6pm
Location:
MPEC • 1000 5th St • Wichita Falls, TX
$5,000 in Cash Prizes
to be awarded throughout the day on Saturday. Must be present to win.
For Information Contact: Eddie & Kathy Kimmel, Kimmel Boot 2080 CR 304, Comanche, TX 76442 Email: kimmels@cctc.net Phone: (325) 356-3197 Fax: (325) 356-2490
www.bootandsaddlemakertradeshow.com Shop Talk!
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