“The more leather costs, the more prestige it has.” There’s a new drying room on one of their top floors where the offices, conference room, and show room once were—and all new toggle frames plus a dehumidifier which can extract up 300 gallons of water a day! This really helps to speed up the drying process during humid weather while, at the same time, allows the leather to be dried in the same amount of time throughout the year which helps guarantee a more consistent temper. That’s important. Other newer equipment Matt points to include a larger setting out machine and a shaving machine which replaced their old fleshing machine. The shaving machine takes less flesh off the underside which means hides stay thicker.
to countries as far away as India and Australia while maintaining a strong presence in Canada where its parent company, Banks Bros., a hide broker, has its corporate offices. Of course, the above ground rocker pits that Wickett has are kept at a consistent temperature of 98° F which virtually eliminates that horrible little strip of rawhide sometimes found in the middle of heavy veg hides like harness or skirting—no more!
Procedures have also changed at Wickett over the years which all work together to ensure more consistency in their leather. For example, Matt talked about a new practice of pulling 10% of their worst hides after they’ve been dehaired and fleshed then selling them to mostly tanners overseas in countries like Pakistan. The hides never get tanned which means there are fewer lower grade pieces to sort out. W&C also exports its finished leather 32 |
Along with improved efficiency and greater consistency, Matt attributes W&C’s ability to survive and prosper to the growing diversity of the markets he serves. It’s true, most people reading this article think only of the harness available from Wickett or the skirting, the latigo or fabulous bridle leathers. But in reality, this is a relatively small portion of what they make and sell. As mentioned earlier, they supply Hartman Luggage which is a large company that sells worldwide and they also sell to manufacturers such as Coach, Filson (a high-end outfitter), Louis Vuitton, Tory Leather, Coastal Pet, Freeman Harness, and, of course, Fisher’s Harness and Beiler’s Mfg. & Supply. While Matt is more than happy to have such large accounts, he’s still dedicated to offering great service to his small accounts and still welcomes everyone who
July 2013
Shop Talk!