Leather working tools?

[georger]

Does anyone know where in the Orangeville/Guelph region of Southern Ontario you can buy leather working hand tools?

It's a craft my grandfather knew and I'd like to try my hand at it as well.

[Kathy]

Georger, I don't know much about the specific areas of S. Ontario but I did a search for leather tooling supplies-Canada and got this link.

www.shopincanada.com/Arts___Photography/Art_Supplies__Craft_Stores/


I'll keep posting any I find-maybe you'll find one close to the right area.

I think leather tooling is such a beautiful and intricate art form. :-*Have you done much so far or are you just starting?

[Kathy]

I found there's a lot of shops on Ebay Canada-hope this helps.

crafts.stores.ebay.ca/_W0QQcatZ134573QQtZlw

[georger]

Oh, I try to avoid eBay when I can.....it takes so long to do things by mail and money orders and sometimes there is a matter or trust when dealing with on-line people and money.....

I prefer going to a store and seeing the thing and buying it.

Thanks for the "shopincanada" link, that has some things of interest! They're all too far, I admit, but it's a starting point!

[kitaye]

Tandy Leather has a retail store in Toronto and they have a website but I find it useless. What kind of tools are you looking for?

www.tandyleather.ca/

[georger]

My grandfather was a shoemaker. I've been thinking about what is a sustainable occupation these days and regardless of what's for sale at Wally's world, following in his footsteps seems like a wise choice.

[kitaye]

Don't know if you have ever visited Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, but they have a working cobbler there. Perhaps a visit to find out what the tools of the trade are and where they gets theirs. We try to go twice a year so if I get there before you I will try to remember to ask for you.

[georger]

Thanks!

Wow, Morrisburg!! That's a far drive from me!!

But there was a time when I did that route - Toronto to Hull, PQ - regularly. That was when I was a young pup. These days it's just too much driving for me!

[kitaye]

If you ever decide to make the trip, plan on a full day or more. I've been there every year for 3 years and I still spend a full day there especially when they have the tradespeople all working. Blacksmithing, Broommaking, and Cabinetmaking, OH MY! I spend most of my time in the flour mill, the working farm, and the cabinet makers but I enjoy the others as well.

uppercanadavillage.com/home.htm

[kitaye]

We finally made our first visit to UPC for the year. The Master Shoemaker was not there but his apprentice was. I asked about the tools and he said "Most of our tools are antiques. There are very few specialized tools in this trade. Rasps, Hammers, pliers, and carving implements(for the forms and wooden pegs). Anything specialized we get from LeeValley Tools in Ottawa." He then pointed out the leather hole punch and the awl.

I took pictures of his tool chest that I will post later(hubby has to operate the camera). He said the shoows will last 6 years but teh heel will have to be replaced every year. For that reason they used metal nails on the heels rather than wooden pegs. At the village they use hide glue and vegetable dyed leather to stay with the period. I suspect they use some form of scraper to make the softer dress shows for men and ladies.

I did get to watch him making baseballs. The ball was alot softer than todays balls and was filled with a ball of wool yarn. Apparently the rules were different in 1866. Then you could throw the ball at the runner to tag him out. Kind of like dodge ball I guess. Of course that brought up all kinds of images of contact basebal and I mentioned it to him and he said "Oh it was. It is great fun to play too."

Follow the link to see all the pics we took, including the ones from the Shoemaker's Shop s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa34/kitaye/Upper%20Canada%20Village%20-%20June%202007/