Used, Vintage, Leather Belts, Huge Inventory

History of Leather Belts

Early Stone Age Man dating back to almost 500,000 years ago, hunted and killed animals for food and used the animal skins for protection from the elements. Tools for fleshing, scraping, shaving, perching, padding and trimming have been found from almost every historical period in which tanning was carried out.

The skins obtained from hunting and breeding were initially used to make clothing and were rubbed with animal fats to make them more flexible and durable. This represented the first known tanning process as documented in Homer's Illiad and various Assyrian writings. Another process used in ancient times was smoking - almost certainly discovered by chance.

This then lead to tanning with aldehyde, an element present in the smoke emitted by burning leaves and green twigs. It was soon found that the putrefecation process could also be slowed down by drying, carried out by exposure to the sun or by rubbing in salt. Vegetable tanning, in its turn, was also known in far off times, although it is not clear how the properties of the tannin found in the bark of some trees (especially oak) was discovered. The other method known since 'the dawn of time' is tanning with alum. This mineral is quite widespread in its natural state, particularly in volcanic areas. These processes, which gradually became more refined and effective, provided the basis for the use of leather in the ancient world, and continued to do so for centuries and centuries, right through to the present.

leather production was developed during the eighth century in Spain, then under Moorish domination, and, thanks to the important advances this represented for the tanning process, remained famous throughout Europe for centuries. But Marco Polo demonstrated that working leather was not restricted only to the Western world. In his 'Il Milione' he tells us that the Mongols had been using leather for flasks, blankets, masks and caps, and until last century few substantial changes had been made to their tanning methods. Oil tanning was used to produce skins for protective garments, and alum tanning was also widespread, though not always entirely successful. Various finishing operations were also often made to make the leather more supple and give it a better appearance, mainly through dyeing.

Strips of leather were used as belts for thousands of years dating back to the Roman civilizations before the birth of Christ.

Vintage Western Leather Belts For Sale

Huge collection of Vintage Southwest Designer belts

including Tony Lama, Williams, Fossil, Justin, and numerous others. Also many old leather belts, some a hundred years old or more. Some belts with removable buckles; others with fixed buckles; some with the old style 2-prong buckle, and others with the ancient Square D buckle. Lots of large sizes as well as all standard belt sizes. Send us an email and we can probly help you out with your request. We also "deal" on quantity orders.


WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS.

Belt Sizes

When selecting a belt size, add 2 to your jeans or dress pants waist size. If you wear size 34 bluejeans, select a size 36 belt.

Other Belt Types or Sizes Not Listed

Fort Tumbleweed has a "vast" belt collection with hundreds of belt types not yet cataloged. If you have a specific need, send me an email. Also, if you need a special type of belt or unusually large size belt, I probably have it.

Come back and visit often. Will be adding new selections daily. Thanks....Len

Vintage Leather Belts

$24.95 Belt Catalog No. BELT4 Western Dress Belt Great looking Western Dress Belt, 1-1/2 inches wide, accepts any of the vintage buckles; Specify size (available sizes 28" to 44") with a follow-up email. Usually ships in 5-7 business days

For more information, send me an Email or call me at (512) 630-4619.

MORE PLACES TO GO

American Indian Collectibles	Cowboy Collectibles	Old West Books
Indian Books	Old West Buckles	Native American Jewelry.
Birthday Newspaper	Fossils & Crystals	Civil War Books
Texana Books	Western Art	Civil War Collectibles
New Western Belts	Tomahawks & Craft Supplies	Teddy Bear World
Native American Jewelry.	Christmas Catalog	Fossils & Crystals

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