Woodhull 4750: Black Bridle Against Natural Veg Tan
The Woodhull 4750 is a standard-size briefcase, 16 x 12 x 4 inches, built in two leathers that age in opposite directions: natural veg tan and black English bridle.
Two leathers, two clocks
Natural veg tan has no dye and no heavy finish, so it records everything. The oils from my hands, the air and the sun darken it as the case is used, and I compare the way it ages to a good pair of jeans.
Black bridle moves on a different clock. Bridle leather carries heavy waxes, and those waxes take years to wear in and fade.
What is in the case
The body is 16 x 12 x 4, split into two 2 inch compartments. The closures are Cobra quick-release locks, the same locks I use on the Woodhull line. The handle is my signature bottom cross stitch handle.
Inside, the case carries the standard set of pockets and a back newspaper pocket. It is naturally unlined, which keeps the weight down and leaves the leather itself as the interior. A shoulder strap, 20 inch drop by 1 inch width, comes with it. Everything is hand saddle stitched.
Where the bridle comes from
The black is UK English bridle leather, or American bridle depending on what the tanneries have in stock when I build it. I order leather per case and cut from the butt section of the hide, the firm part, because a briefcase panel needs leather that does not stretch.
Natural veg tan and bridle are cousins. Both are vegetable tanned, so both patina, but the bridle carries its wax finish and the tan carries nothing. One case lets the two finishes sit side by side.
Why the Woodhull name sits on a smaller case
The first Woodhull cases were the huge pivot-flap file cabinets. This 4750 shares the line without the bulk: no pivot bar, no four-compartment gusset,. If the 4703 is the sculpture, this is the working version of the same idea.
The leather and the lining
Natural veg tan and bridle are both vegetable tanned, but they are finished differently. The bridle is waxy and stiff. The natural veg tan has nothing on it. Bridle Leather vs. Vegetable-Tanned: What the Difference Means in Your Hands sets out the difference.
The case is unlined. An English bridle leather briefcase kept unlined is a traditional style: the back of the hide is finished pasted and matted down, which makes a smooth, durable lining that is easy to clean. The leather page covers the bridle I use, and the hand stitching page covers the saddle stitch.
