Pete in Holland
Leather flat belts ? Haven't been many leather belts made in a century. Most flat belting is a rubberized canvas type material with a metal lacing joint. Any old tractor guys in your area? They will have access to used belting, and just as importatly, the lacing machine.

You can also check the yellow pages under Power Transmission and possibly find a belting supplier (conveyor belts are similar).

Putting a v-type belt on a flat belt pulley will not allow too much horsepower to be transmitted before a belt slips.

I have old tractors and work with old machinery that has flat belts up to 10" wide. They all work fine when you know what you are doing.

Pete