Fritz Sr. and Jr. of Seidel Tanning on the Art, Science, and Challenges of Making Leather

The Stitchdown Shoecast

This time Ben sits down with two, count ‘em TWO Fritz Seidels: Fritz Jr. and Fritz Sr., who every day are continuing on the tradition of the four-generation, 79-year-old Siedel Tanning Corp in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In addition to getting the lowdown on some longtime Seidel favorite leathers and overlooked gems, we get into Seidel’s history and fluid approach to tanning and meeting shifting market demands, what in the hell all that machinery in a tannery is doing all day long, why making heavyweight boot leathers is so damn tough—and of course, cows getting diaper rash.
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This episode was sponsored by Nicks Boots
Theme Song: The Road by Punk Rock Opera