Reed Sealers

Goldbeaters's Skin1. This is prepared from the external or peritoneal coat of the coecum or blind gut of neat2 cattle.  The workman separates and turns over the part which encircles the junction of the pouch with the rest of the intestines, and draws it off, inverted, from the other coats to the length of 25 or 30 inches. It is then soaked for a short time in a weak potash liquor3, and is next cleaned by scraping with a knife upon a board; it is then soaked in water, and afterwards stretched upon a kind of frame from 40 to 50 inches long and 11 inches wide. This frame consists of two uprights held together by two cross-bars, having longitudinal grooves 21 lines4 in width. The outer surface of the membrane is placed in contact with the upper part of the frame, and it is stretched in every direction, after which it is glued to its rim. Another membrane is then stretched over the first, with its outer surface upward, and secured by glueing round its edges. When dry, the membranes are separated by passing a knife along the grooves. Each strip is then glued upon a similar frame, but without grooves, and is washed over with a weak solution of alum, made by dissolving one ounce of alum in two quarts of water. When dry, the surface is wiped over with a sponge dipped in a strong solution of fish-glue in white wine, flavoured with clove, nutmeg, or camphor. When this is dry a coating of white of eggs is applied, and after again drying each strip is cut up into pieces 5½ inches square, which are then smoothed under a press and afterwards made up into leaves.

1) Alexander Watt. 1906. Leather Manufacture. New York: D. Van Nostrand Co.
2) Of the Ox family.  Although this meaning of neat  is archaic, it is still seen  in neatsfoot (or neat's foot) oil.
3) A weak caustic solution
4) 1 line = 1/12 of an inch