Leather Washers

[ship]

Saw a note tonight while researching my bunch light project about Leather washers. Specifically 2-3" dia. and listed in 1964.

What was the purpose of such a washer, and what's the very useful book such a washer was recommended in as bonus points?

Leather washers??? - Ill'

 

[MPowers]

Don't think I'm allowed to answer yet, but I suspect there are several useful books listing and reccommendating them. FWIW, still a very good solution for the intended use.

 

[CrazyTechie]

I would venture to say that a leather washer will still act as a spacer when needed but it can be molded and cut to fit around objects as well. But alas this is just a guess.

 

[rochem]

My guess would be something along the lines of keeping metal parts from rubbing against themselves. I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere that leather washers are used even today on bicycle wheels to keep parts from rubbing together at high speeds. However, I don't know what specific application they would have had in the theatre.

 

[richm0nd]

I manufacture leather washers and I see no misinformation regarding the application in all the post..including molding the leather to fit a shape... richm0nd
Vegetable Tanned Leather, Bird Toy Parts and Supplies, leather soles, meter washers, water meter gaskets: TWIN LEATHER COMPANY,INC.

Saw a note tonight while researching my bunch light project about Leather washers. Specifically 2-3" dia. and listed in 1964.

What was the purpose of such a washer, and what's the very useful book such a washer was recommended in as bonus points?

Leather washers??? - Ill'

 

[snarefire]

Well i can tell you this much working in bike shops for the last five years leather isnt used on anything but saddles or grips. I would suspect that the leather is great for hanging things. Used in sails where the rigging runs through to keep the canvas from ripping

 

[ship]

Yep correct that too experienced to anser yet, but as I note today, between 1929 and 1964 they were well thought of for use.

On the other responders.... nope, start over. Should be easy but not seemingly.

 

[derekleffew]

I'm pretty sure their use extended well into the 1980s and may even continue today. I can't think of what I would use instead, in certain applications.

 

[ptero]

Yep, I still use 'em... might be picking up a few more.

 

[MarshallPope]

Possibly for something that needed to be extremely heat-resistant, such as in a very inefficient lighting fixture? Just a guess.

 

[derekleffew]

What was the purpose of such a washer, and what's the very useful book such a washer was recommended in as bonus points?

Leather washers???

Now that a week has passed, anyone may answer.

 

[reggie98]

You don't specify where they are used in the fixture. Used as an insulator, leather is slow to transmit heat. Leather and now more recently: fibre; neoprene; other "hard" synthetics, are used to increase/modulate the friction between two rotating metal parts, such as a lamp yoke and body or between the plates in a gobo or grip head.

 

[BrianWolfe]

We still use them as spacers for moving parts on our armour. We get them through McMaster-Carr:
McMaster-Carr
They are great for a quiet, non-lubricated, smooth, flexible, reliable spacer for moving parts. I think they have been used on armour for a thousand years. Heat resistance I hadn't thought about and McMaster says they are safe to only 150 degrees.
I believe some of the lights we used in college had leather washers and they were on the ends of the shutters which made a nice handle that wouldn't heat up. I think they were also used up front to isolate the front lens housing that needed to be adjusted to for focus. I think the intent there was to keep the front end cool since you had to grab it.

 

[coldnorth57]

I KNOW ...i know.....I KNOW!!!!!!

 

[venuetech]

I KNOW ...i know.....I KNOW!!!!!!

You must be yokeing

 

[coldnorth57]

I have seen them used in the yokes of followspots, they allow some friction when loosen off alittle for nice smooth tilting

 

[jonliles]

I have seen them used in the yokes of followspots, they allow some friction when loosen off alittle for nice smooth tilting

That's where I've used them on a Super Trouperette III and a 80' s model Altman Comet.

 

[ship]

Many got it at least per text books from 1929 to 64' that I saw. Funny I never used them or noted the reference before - probably in not using them. Don't believe I have ever seen one in use before in any number of gear serviced.

Per McCandless "A Sylabus for Stage Lighting" a washer between the fixture and yoke that allows for grip in its use. 150F would be a bit low for within a fixture. That's what I was thinking for correct answer but in expanding the topic, inside the fixture?

 

[derekleffew]

Many got it at least per text books from 1929 to 64' that I saw. Funny I never used them or noted the reference before - probably in not using them. Don't believe I have ever seen one in use before in any number of gear serviced.

Per McCandless' "A Syllabus for Stage Lighting" a washer between the fixture and yoke that allows for grip in its use. ...

Still a current Altman part:
For 1000Q, Part#14-0042
For Voyager, Part#14-0042-25

 

[ship]

Still a current Altman part:
For 1000Q, Part#14-0042
For Voyager, Part#14-0042-25

Interesting in me servicing a few 1000Q's over the years. Never noted that part before.