The Oak Bark Devon Belt is handmade in Dartington South Devon by traditional leather craftspeople using Devon leather sourced from a local tannery. The hides are aniline dyed which, like stain on wood, lets the grain and all its natural imperfections show through. No two are exactly the same.
Tanner Bates products are different. We are hand makers, leather specialists, a small business of 3 makers - all apprentice trained in our Devon workshop. Our roots are in traditional equestrian leatherwork and our techniques and hand tools are the same as those used by saddlers and bridlemakers for generations.
We pay attention to details especially our edges which are sanded, sealed and burnished. This edging detail, which can only be achieved by hand with time and concentration, is only found on traditional hand made leatherwork. This technique and the quality of our leather is what makes Tanner Bates products different from other mass produced and factory made items.
The Devon oak bark tanned hides are sourced from a tannery local to our workshop. Oak Bark Tanned Leather has a long tradition in this country which modern industry has left far behind. There is, however, one tannery left nestling in the Devon hills powered by a waterwheel producing the very best bridle and harness leather using oak bark from the Lake District. Oak bark contains the necessary tannins to transform Devon cowhides into leather. Just 3 things, oak bark, Devon river water and time produce a very special leather that is prized throughout the world. No chemicals are used in this process.
The buckles are cast in sand in a foundry in Walsall, West Midlands.
Each belt is individually hand stitched and cut to size to ensure a perfect fit.
Natural leather will be kept in good supple condition and last longer if it is treated from time to time with a good quality Hide Food and dressed with a liquid wax. Polish with a horsehair brush.
Width 1.25 or 1.5 inches.
Measured Belt Size:
(Please see diagram).
To get the right size, measure an existing belt from the point where the leather meets the buckle to the most regularly used hole. This is the measured size.
*If this information is not available, please contact us and tell us the trouser size.
Each belt has 5 holes 1” (2.5cm) apart. Your supplied measurement will be to the centre one of the five.
* Please note, as these belts are made to order, they cannot be exchanged or returned.
