ASTM D1517-99

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Designation: D 1517 – 99
Standard Terminology Relating to
1,2
Leather
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1517; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
These definitions are divided into two groups: the first group covers general terms, and the second
group covers definitions applicable to sampling.
The definitions of general terms include some of those encountered by personnel concerned with
specifications and procurement of hides, leather and leather products by the Federal Government.
The definitions applicable to sampling are mainly to be used in connection with the sampling for,
and testing of, physical and chemical properties.
Terms adequately defined by unabridged dictionaries are not generally included.
GENERAL TERMS but firm, dry, strong leather.
aspergillus niger—one of the most common mold growths
alligator—a general term used for leather made from the skins
found on vegetable tanning vats and on leather, usually
of all aquatic species with a grain similar to the american
greenish or blackish in color.
alligator which cannot be killed legally and, therefore, is not
automobile leather—see upholstery leather.
used by the United States industry.
back—a crop with the head trimmed off behind the horn holes.
alligator-grained leather—leather of various types, such as
(OZUP in Fig. 1.)
calf, sheep or cattlehide embossed to resemble the grain of
bag leather—a general term for leathers used in traveling bags
alligator hide.
and suitcases. It does not include the light leathers employed
alum leather—leather produced by alum tannage, usually in
for women’s fancy handbags. The staple material for bag
combination with other substances. Before the invention of
and case leather at present is leather made from the hides of
chrome-tanning this was the principal method of tanning
animals of the bovine species, but heavy sealskins and
with mineral agents.
goatskins are also used.
aniline dyed leather—leather which has been colored by
bark tannage—leather tanned by use of vegetable tannins
transparent dyes as distinguished from leather treated by
found in barks, wood, and other plant derivatives, as
pigments or other opaque material.
distinguished from mineral tannages.
aniline finish—a clear finish with little or no pigmentation.
barkometer—a hydrometer used for determining the specific
antelope finish suede—applied to lambskin, goatskin, or
gravity of tanning solutions. A specific gravity of 1.000 is
calfskin, sueded and finished to resemble antelope.
equivalent of 0 deg barkometer (Bk), and each additional
antelope leather—a fine, soft leather made from an antelope
degree Bk is equivalent to an increase of 0.001 in specific
skin, velvety in texture and sheen, sueded on the flesh side.
gravity.
This leather is so rare, that for practical purposes, it is
baseball leather—leather used for covers of baseballs. The
virtually nonexistent.
better grades of balls have covers of alum-tanned horsehide
apron leathers—any one of several varieties of leather used in
front leather. Some cheaper grades are made of kip and
connection with textile machinery and blacksmith aprons.
sheepskins.
Comber and Gill Box apron leather is soft, mellow, tough
basil—uncolored vegetable-tanned sheepskin and lambskin.
leather, tanned from steerhides, heavily stuffed and boarded
bate—to treat unhaired hides or skins with a warm aqueous
or otherwise softened. Rub Roll apron leather is a flexible
solution of an enzyme in order to remove certain undesirable
nitrogenous constituents.
1 beam—a convex wooden slab sloping downward from about
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-31 on
waist height over which a hide is placed for trimming off
Leather and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D31.91 on Administrative
and Editorial.
excess flesh and ragged edges and scudding by hand.
Current edition approved May 10, 1999. Published August 1999. Originally
belting butt—a double back with the tail cut off at the butt
published as D 1517 – 57 T. Last previous edition D 1517 – 98.
2
line. (RUT8S in Fig. 1.)
These definitions have been developed in cooperation with the American
Leather Chemists Assn. (Definitions of Terms X1-1961). belting butt bend—a double bend with the tail cut off at the
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D 1517
box calf or sides—sides or skins finished by folding with the
grain side in and rubbing the flesh side with a cork-surfaced
instrument
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