Oak Bark Tanned Leather From J & F J Baker, Colyton
Reasons We Choose Devon Leather
OAK BARK TANNED LEATHER FROM J & F J BAKER, COLYTON
When we select leather for Tanner Bates products, we’re looking for great quality leather that will last the test of time, while giving each item its own unique look. Luckily, some of the best leather is produced only an hour away from our workshop in Devon by J & F J Baker in Colyton, so we can choose each and every hide. This also means that the distance this leather has travelled to reach our workshop is minimal.
This leather looks, smells and feels amazing. As it ages it develops a distinctive patina, so the older it is, the more character it has.
Unique leather
The freedom of visiting the tannery means that we can wander around and uncover vintage hides that even Andrew, the tannery owner, had forgotten about. This was the case with our beautiful vintage OBT leather, which means we can offer our customers leathers that aren't available anywhere else.
(Photo - Vintage Oak Bark Tanned Leather From J & F J Baker)
There's something honest and old fashioned in being served by the man who makes our leather. We know every person involved in the manufacture of our leather including the man who coppices the oak to provide the bark for the tanning.
Traditional methods
Bakers Oak Bark Tannery is the antithesis of a modern factory tannery. Leather is made in small production runs and every stage of the leather making process is carried out by hand. The resulting leather is exquisite and world-famous.
(Photo - Russia Kip Leather From J & F J Baker)
Scars, blemishes, irregular dyeing, parallel crease lines, surface white tallow are all natural and a part of the character of this unusual leather.
If you want uniformity in your leather then don’t go for our Devon leather. Their making processes are primitive by comparison to the European super-tanneries of France and Italy who make for and are mostly owned by the luxury brands.
If you are ordering an Oak Bark Leather product from us and are not sure do get in touch and we will happily send you a photo of any individual item.
4 Responses
Michael Williams
Dear Mr Haggar . Today my wife passed me an article about Ali Goodman at Francli Craftwear at Falmouth , I followed it through and discovered you and your activities at Tanner Bates in Devon . Having looked at your web site I thought I would send a note to congratulate you . I’m interested and impressed with what you are doing , your products , the way you are presenting them and what I think you are trying to achieve . I should say that I was in the saddlery and leathergoods industry for almost forty years with E Jeffries & Soms in Walsall where I was Sales Director . I retired in 2009 . I am very glad to see you are championing the virtues of English manufacture and also home grown materials supply . I was particularly pleased to see the coverage that you gave to Andrew Parr and his fine company in Colyton . We dealt with J&F Baker from the well before I joined Jeffries in 1974 . You also mention you buckles and fittings are from Walsall no doubt from Richard Brown at Abbey Saddlery unless I am mistaken , another fine British company .
The care you have taken in promoting your business on your web site and the quality of the presentation is excellent . Keep up the good work .
I travel to Devon now and again . I will try and come to Totnes and visit you sometime in the future . Please pass on my best regards to Andrew Parr the next time you see him . I have sent this again as it is not strictly for posting as comment .
Sincerely .
Michael Williams
Neil Cudlipp
Love your leatherwork John, the belts you have made over the years for myself & my son are weathering beautifully. My wife’s leather rucksack you made her she uses every day & is as good as new. Have never seen any leather belts or bags or leather half as good as yours.
David
I fully support your views
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Catherine Mackenzie
February 20, 2023
I noticed a vast ‘’falling off’’ of leather quality in the last few decades. My saddler, Alan Milsom {sadly now RIP} used to say ‘’You just can’t get the leather now, like one once could’’….. He used oak bark tanned leather for his stirrup leathers …and they are still going strong from late 1980’s.
I was lucky enough to have a few bits of the 1700’s Russian leather from the Shipwreck, {Where no men died!} and that leather is exquisite.
So glad that proper, traditional tanneries are still in production.
Jefferies saddlery was superb…especially their bridles without dye on the flesh side.
Good leather lasts centuries when well cared for, gets better the more it is used.