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Leather

Leather is derived from the processing of animal hides and skins into a usable material known as leather. Leather in organs is used for many purposes, from leather diaphragms and pouches, to corners on reservoirs to gasket material. It has qualities that it is air-tight, will remain pliable, and is reasonably long lasting. It has been used successfully for centuries within pipe organs. 

     During the 1960's and 1970's the quality of leather available to the pipe organ industry was declining, due to poorer processing qualities, and coupled with the increases in air pollutants, leather was deteriorating at an alarming rate; some lasting only 10 years in much used instruments located within cities. Being that the replacement of the leather (known as re-leathering) is an exceeding expensive proposition, pipe organ owners were becoming frustrated with the seemingly never-ending re-leathering procedure, as well as being able to afford this constant cycle of renewal. The pipe organ industry, as a whole, was concerned about this problem, and set out to try to find a solution. They discovered a man-made material, perflex, which was developed during the 1960's by the United States military that could be made into bags to carry water, and be dropped from helicopters to troops on deployment. It was adopted as a leather substitute with promising prospects. After the original run, the organ industry ordered from the manufacture a subsequent order. The manufacture slightly changed the formula, which has disastrous results. Perflex, due to the hydrocarbons and acids in pollution, was failing after as little time as 6 months! Even the original batch of Perflex was after several years failing. This problem nearly caused several organbuilders to go bankrupt! After the recovery from this debacle, the industry began looking at leather, and how to make it perform better. Empirical research was done on the life and aging of leather. Some leathers in older organs were lasting well over 100 years. It was discovered that certain tanning procedures (namely tanning with chrome salts), and chemical treatments of the leather were making the leather last longer. Therefore the procedures of how leather is processed and tanned has changed to reflect the needs to have longer lasting materials.

     We here at Williamson-Warne & Associates strive to use the best, and longest lasting leathers possible, and treat the leather in such as was as to promote longevity. For our small pneumatics and pouches, we use when available, Kangaroo leather, which is the strongest leather available. For other applications within the organ, we do use other types of leather of course processed with chrome salts. After the leather is attached, we treat all of the leather pneumatics with a solution of silicone, lanolin, and saddle oil to promote longevity.

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