Jerry Burney---another leather expert....WW1
 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3086/3...09aa297743.jpg

A great picture of Bavarian Landsturm Schuster or cobbler / leather worker in the field. Discernible items for repair are boots and shoes, belts, a bayonet frog, rifle sling and ammunition pouches.

That is exceptional! Of all of the vintage military photos posted that is going to be one of my favorites. Thanks!

i agree...it is impressive...and just great working conditions..
 

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Tom, A GREAT photo! I have looked for leather repair or factory photo's for years! They are quite rare for some reason. Do you own this one?

The rifle and sling laying there is likely his!
Jerry

yes, great picture

looks like wooden repair molds, maybe one for a holster on the table?

wide range of things to fix?

Ed, Yes..for sure. There are quite a number of things to wonder about in this photo! Like where are all the hardware pieces and tools needed? Needles, thread, hob nails, buckles and such? I suspect they may be in the box like thing the rifle barrel is resting on?

The little bench the fellow is working off of is likely a vise. It holds leather items in place while he works on them. It appears he might be re setting hob nails or re soling the boot in his vise. You can see his left foot is resting/pressing on the vise lever. Looks like his main business is boots and shoes! Many wooden shoe/boot lasts in his reapair arsenal!

What I don't see are any leather pieces? Leather boot soles or even leather hide for repairs. You would think that would be somewhere in this photo!

Most repair photo's I have seen show repairmen working off of a wagon. This fellow must have had some form of dependable transport.

I kind of think that perhaps an assistant would be nearby and a wagon; the helper would bring the supplies to the master craftsman.
Jack