Lederfabrik Gebrüder Kobel

The tannery produces hot-stuffed harness leather, bridle leather, and hand-waxed leathers using methods maintained for nearly 150 years. Their vegetable-tanned leathers feature strong pull-up effects and water resistance, making them suitable for high-quality boots and equestrian gear.

Hubertus Kobel founded the leather factory in 1877 after returning to Kellinghusen from Quincy, USA. He had previously worked at the Jargstorff tannery in Kellinghusen before traveling to America. When Heinrich Jargstorff was elected first mayor of Kellinghusen, he offered the tannery to Hubertus Kobel, who accepted and established the business that year.

During its early operations, the tannery primarily supplied sole and pantine leather to customers in the local area and nearby shoe factories in Barmstedt and Eutin. The company has maintained its focus on vegetable pit-tanning methods throughout its history, continuing these traditional techniques into the present day.

The business operates as Gebrüder Kobel GmbH and remains under family management, with Eckart Kobel and Sebastian Kobel serving as Managing Directors.

Kobel specializes in vegetable pit-tanning, one of the oldest forms of leather production. This method has become extremely rare, with vegetable pit-tanning described as "a niche of this niche" among modern tanning practices. The company produces vegetable-tanned leather in both pits and barrels.

The tannery uses a hot-stuffing process to treat its vegetable-tanned leather base. This involves placing leather in rotating drums and soaking it in heated oils and waxes that fully impregnate the hide through the core with animal waxes and tallows. The hot-stuffing process gives the leather unique properties including a strong pull-up effect, where bending or folding creates a two-tone appearance as oils move within the leather.

The company's product range includes bridle and harness leather made from vegetable-tanned bases. They produce pit-tanned hot stuffed harness leather as well as soft aniline leathers, offering a wide assortment across this spectrum.

Kobel manufactures hand-waxed leathers specifically for equestrian sports, which are slightly aniline dyed and primarily used for high-quality bridles. The hot-stuffed leathers offer excellent water resistance in addition to their distinctive pull-up characteristics, making them suitable for outdoor applications.

The tannery's vegetable-tanned leathers are used in heritage and artisan footwear production. Pull-up leather produced through hot-stuffing is typically reserved for high-quality shoes and boots, providing both aesthetic appeal and functional durability.