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This aerial photograph of Salz Tannery was taken in the early 1950's possibly by Vester Dick Photography. River Street/Highway 9 is on the left and the San Lorenzo River is on the right.
Ansley Kullman Salz holding a sample of the leather made by his company, the A. K. Salz Tannery in Santa Cruz, California. Ansley bought the San Lorenzo Tannery in 1917 with a relative named Herman Kullman and renamed it the Kullman Salz Tannery. The…
The forklift was the modern day replacement for the dray horse. Even into the late 1950's, bark was stored and dried across River Street from the main Salz Tannery complex and transported across River Street/Highway 9 as needed.
The front of the historic Salz Leathers building remained unchanged for over 140 years. The lettering was more recent. It read in full, "A.K. Salz Company" and featured the company logo for "Salz California Saddle Leather." An unnamed employee stood…
Glazing Salz's California Saddle Leather TM involved using a glazing jack. Each side of the hide was glazed twice to create a mirror-like surface. The protein (albumin) used in the glazing process was derived from egg whites. After drying on the…
Joe Bellas, plant superintendent at the Salz Tannery during the 1950's holds the finished leather product. Bellas was Yugoslavian, and according to the Lezin family "tough and fair".
A Salz tannery employee glazing California Saddle Leather (TM). After tanning and processing, each side was glazed twice, to create a mirror-like surface.
A Salz employee illustrates the scudding process that removed fine hair roots from the hides. It was a very exacting and challenging task. The implement used was a large, dull blade. The hide was stretched over a wooden, sloped structure designed…
Ansel Adams photographed this Salz employee to illustrate a typical beamhouse outfit. The coverings were made of leather for safety because the "beamhouse" was where hides were tanned in large open pits.
Salz employee Parky Hibbard tacks leather to large boards prior to drying. The hides stayed tacked to the boards for several days prior to moving to the next process.