Originally Posted by Goomer
... At the same time I skinned and tanned my first mole. I figured 99 more mole skins and I can cover a motorcycle seat. A beautiful, if tiny pelt.
I've seen a buyers price list for hides and pelts from the late 19th Century. It listed mole skins as a hide they would buy. I don't know if it was used to protect the feet from blisters or used to make ladies powder puffs but I suspect both.
My grandmother was still using her vole skin powder puffs in 1977. Went down to TN to attend my grandfather's funeral and was talking to her as she put on her makeup. Asked about the odd looking powder puff (slightly flattened/over sized furry ping pong ball). Apparently my grandfather would skin & cure the `hide' of any vole the dog/cats brought to house (that hadn't been torn up). Grandma would pull the little patch of furred skin tight over cotton balls and sew it shut. Very fine hairs apparently good for even transfer of powder. Might have used moles too, but that didn't come up in conv. so I wouldn't know.
On topic: mixture of bacon grease and peanut butter slathered on the underside of the trigger plate/treadle in live trap.
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