T H E L E AT H E R R E TA I L E R S ’ & M A N U FACT U R E R S ’ J O U R N A L
The next big thing The Leather Shops of Lancaster County
47 th H arness G et -T ogether
SK
Miguel Davalos Silver King Remembered S E P TEM BER 2 016
S I NC E 1984
Ray H o Ray H les Saddle Co ol Care es Leather . Produ cts W W W . P RO L E P T I C. NE T
$6.50
Stirrup the Possibilities with Weaver Leather Supply
Wooden Stirrups
Jeremiah Watt Hardware
Add the right finishing touch to your next saddle project with wooden stirrups from Weaver Leather. Built with quality in mind, these stirrups are shaped from the finest selection of firm, durable hickory wood and come in a wide variety of styles and sizes.
Designed by custom saddlemaker Jeremiah Watt, Horse Shoe Brand Hardware delivers special details like intricate engraving and black inlays that elevate the value of your project while maintaining your profit margins.
Call for your FREE Wholesale Supply Catalog!
Call 800-932-8371 shop.weaverleather.com DAS072716R-1
THE LEATHER RETAILERS’ & MANUFACTURERS’ JOURNAL
SEPTEMBER 2016
FEATURES 10 Silver King 16 Joseph Dixon Tool
10
20 Ray Holes Leather 30 Jeff Ballard 32 Lancaster Leather 46 47th Annual Get-Together
Ray Holes Leather
Lancaster Leather Co.
IN EVERY ISSUE 4 Laugh Lines 6 Hide Report 7 Goods & Services 52 News, Notes & Queries
Published by Proleptic, Inc. • P.O. Box 17817 • Asheville, NC 28816 Ph (828) 505-8474 • Fax (828) 505-8476 shoptalk@proleptic.net • www.proleptic.net Read Shop Talk! online with links to advertisers and online information. www.proleptic.net ShopTalkLeatherMagazine
57 Classifieds COVER PHOTO: "Executive Lunchbag" by Brian Rosenbarker of Homestead Leather.
2 SEPTEMBER 2016
32
40
20
SHOP TALK!
Shop Talk! is published monthly (ISSN 1547-0121) by Proleptic, Inc. Subscription rates are $36 annually, $39 (US) for Canada and Mexico, and $54 (US) for all other countries.
IN-STOCK TREE PROGRAM Guaranteed to ship within 3 days or it ships for FREE Fed Ex Ground in the Continental U.S. 4810 COMPETITION TM ROPER WITH STRAINER
DuraK covered Seat sizes: 14", 14 ½", 15", 15 ½", 16" Gullet: 6 ¾" x 7 ½" Cantle: 3 ½" Horn: DM8
4821 WILL JAMES *NOW WITH STRAINER!
DuraK covered Seat sizes: 15", 15 ½", 16", 16 ½", 17" Gullet: 6 ½" x 7 ¾" Cantle: 4" Horn: #4
4828 MODIFIED ASSOCIATION
DuraK covered Seat sizes: 15", 15 ½", 16", 17", 18" Gullet: 6 ⅜" x 8" Cantle: 4" Horn: #4
4832 OY ROPER
DuraK covered Seat sizes: 15", 15 ½", 16", 16 ½" Gullet: 6 ½" x 8" Cantle: 4" Horn: #4
4823 WILL JAMES WP
DuraK covered Seat sizes: 15", 15 ½", 16", 16 ½" Gullet: 6 ½" x 8" Cantle: 4" Horn: 3" WP x 3 ¾" Cap
4118 DIANA SPECIAL *NEW! WITH STRAINER
DuraG covered Seat sizes: 13 ½", 14”, 14 ½", 15” Gullet: 6 ½" x 8 ½" Cantle: 4 ½" Horn: 5P
4850 RH WADE
DuraK covered Seat sizes: 15", 15 ½", 16", 16 ½" Gullet: 6 ½" x 7 ¾" Cantle: 4" x 12 ½” Horn: 3" WP x 4 ⅜" Cap
4826 TM RANCH
DuraK covered Seat sizes: 15", 15 ½", 16", 16 ½" Gullet: 6 ½" x 8" Cantle: 4" Horn: #4
Precision Saddle Tree, Inc.
P.O. Box 232, Yoakum, Texas 77995 202 Industrial Loop, Yoakum, Texas 77995 (361) 293-6581
DE MAN THE I A U S
For more information call 877-916-TREE TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 3 or SHOP visit PrecisionSaddleTree.com
________________ Ø ____________________
LAUGH LINES Tickle Your
FUNNY BONE A worker who was being paid by the week approached his employer and held up his last paycheck. “This is $200 less than we agreed on,” he said “I know,” the employer said. “But last week I overpaid you $200, and you never complained.” “Well, I don’t mind an occasional mistake,” the worker answered, “but when it gets to be a habit, I feel I have to call it to your attention.” ___________________ Ø ____________________
If a train station is where the train stops and a bus station is where the bus stops, what is a workstation? ___________________ Ø ____________________
A traveling salesman was held up by a bad storm in the Hawaiian Islands. He sent an email to his corporate headquarters, advising them that he was stranded for a few days and asked for instructions. A reply came back shortly: “Begin vacation as of yesterday.” ___________________ Ø ____________________ 4 SEPTEMBER 2016
SHOP TALK!
___________ Ø ____________________
The boss came in early one day and found an employee kissing his secretary. He shouted at him, “Is this what I pay you for?” The employee replied, “No, sir, I do this for free of charge.” ___________________ Ø ____________________
Why God Never Received Tenure at the University √ Because he publication.
had
only
one
major
√ And it was in Hebrew. √ And it had no cited references. √ And some even doubted he wrote it himself. √ His cooperative efforts have been quite limited. √ The scientific community has had a very rough time trying to replicate his results. √ He rarely comes to class and just told students to read the book. √ He expelled his first two students for learning. √ Although there were only 10 requirements, most students failed his tests. _____________________ Ø _____________________
L
abor Day in the United States is a public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of the country. It is the Monday of the long weekend known as Labor Day Weekend, and it is considered the unofficial end of summer. Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, different groups of trade unionists chose a variety of days on which to celebrate labor. In the United States and Canada, a September holiday, called Labor or Labour Day, was first proposed in the 1880s. In 1882, Matthew Maguire, a machinist, first proposed a Labor Day holiday while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York. Some maintain that Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor put forward the first proposal in May 1882, after witnessing the annual labor festival held in Toronto, Canada. In 1887, Oregon became the first state of the United States to make Labor Day an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty US states officially celebrated Labor Day.
Advice from a Country Farmer The lazy call the skillful lucky. — Roy English
Following the deaths of workers at the hands of the United States Army and United States Marshals Service during the Pullman Strike of 1894, the United States Congress unanimously voted to approve legislation to make Labor Day a national holiday, and Pres. Grover Cleveland signed it into law six days after the end of the strike. Cleveland supported the creation of the national holiday in an attempt to show support among trade unions following the Pullman Strike.
The boss asked for a letter describing Bob Smith:
A memo was soon sent following the letter:
Bob Smith, my assistant programmer, can always be found
That idiot was reading over my shoulder while I wrote the report
hard at work in his cubicle. Bob works independently, without
sent to you earlier today. Kindly read only the odd numbered
wasting company time talking to his colleagues. Bob never
lines (1, 3, 5, etc.) for my true assessment of him. Thank you.
thinks twice about assisting fellow employees, and he always finishes given assignments on time. Often Bob takes extended measures to complete his work, sometimes skipping coffee breaks. Bob is a dedicated individual who has absolutely no
“I’d give $1,000 to the man who would worry for me.”
vanity in spite of his high accomplishments and profound knowledge in his field. I firmly believe that Bob can be
“You’re on. Now, where is the thousand dollars?”
classed as a high-caliber employee, the type which cannot be dispensed with. Consequently, I duly recommend that Bob be
“That is your first worry!”
promoted to executive management, and a proposal will be executed as soon as possible. SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 5
The Hide Report
YOU R GLO BAL P ERSP ECT IVE
TANDY LEATHER FACTORY JUNE RETAIL DOWN Tandy Leather Factory reported that sales for the month of June were $6 million, down 4% compared to June 2015 sales of $6.3 million.
for June, down 5% from June 2015 sales of $2 million. The 27 same store sales were down 3% compared to last year’s June sales.
Retail leathercraft’s sales decreased 5% to 3.9 million compared to June 2015 sales of $4 million. The 80 comparable stores’ sales were down 4% for the month compared to the same period last year, and the one new store opened in 2016 added $85,000 during the month of June. Wholesale leathercraft posted sales of $1.9 million
SEPTEMBER 2016 MARKET IN REVI EW Weight (lbs.)
Selection
wts. vary month to month
Heavy Texas Steers
May (early)
June (early)
July (early)
Price Last July 2015 (early)
62-64 $65-66.50 $65-68 $72-74
$70-72
Heavy Texas Steers (Hvy) 70-74 $70-71 $72-73 $77-78 $84-87 Branded Steers
62-64 $60-63 $60-63 $67-69 $86-87
Branded Steers (Hvy)
70-74 $68-70 $72-72.50 $76-77 $69-70
Colorado Steers
62-64 $58-59 $58-60 $64-65
Butt Branded Steers
62-64 $70-73 $70-73 $75-76 $92-97
$
Butt Branded Steers (Hvy) 70-74 $75-76 $73-74 $80-81 $82-84 Heavy Native Steers (Hvy)
70-74
Heavy Native Heifers
50-52 $56-57 $55-57 $60-61 $59-64
Branded Heifers
50-52 $53-54 $52-53 $57-59 $52-55
Heavy Native Cows
50-52 $42-43 $39-41 $38-40 $50-52
Branded Cows
50-52 $31-33 $27-32 $30-33.50 $63-66
Spready Dairy Cows
50-52 $52-53 $48-50 $47-49 $75-80
Native Bulls
6 SEPTEMBER 2016
$79-80
$77-78
$80-81
$65-66
100-110 $51-54 $47-50 $47-50 $69-72
SHOP TALK!
Goods & Services SEPTEMBER 2016
Thanks to American Leather Direct for sending us a really nice list of leather specials! ECONOMY 12/13 OZ. LVLD SUNSET HARNESS (9 SIDES) $110 EA. ECONOMY 12/13 OZ. SUNSET HARNESS W/ COLORFAST (3 SIDES) $110 EA. ECONOMY 10/12 OZ. BURGUNDY LATIGO (68 SIDES) $110 EA. ECONOMY 6/7 OZ. BLACK LATIGO (6 SIDES) $110 EACH
You can buy a CONSEW Premier Servo Motor from SouthStar Supply for $119.95—includes hdw. Of course, they also carry clutch motors if that’s what you need. Lots and lots of sewing notions, lubricants, cleaners, zipper jigs—if you’re running even one sewing machine, you really need to get SouthStar’s monthly newsletter because they have stuff you may never even have realized existed! Contact: P O Box 90147, Nashville, TN 37209, (800) 288-6739, www. southstarsupply.com. Tell ‘em we sent you!
ECONOMY 9/10 OZ. CHESTNUT BRIDLE (25 SIDES) $110 EACH ECONOMY 9/10 OZ. ENGLISH TAN BRIDLE (28 SIDES) $110 EA. ECONOMY 12/13 OZ. HAVANA BRIDLE (11 SIDES) $110 EACH ECONOMY 12/13 OZ. BLACK BRIDLE (4 SIDES) $110 EACH ECONOMY 11/12 OZ. BLACK BRIDLE W/ COLORFAST (3 SIDES) $110 EA. ECONOMY 7/8 OZ. GOLDEN STRAP (27 SIDES) $110 EACH
Agri-Tonic manufactures nutritional supplements and liniments for horses and other critters so you might want to find out more about their products and see they’d be a god addition to your inventory. Contact: Oregon Ag, 1150 E. Oregon Rd., Lititz, PA 17543, (717) 656-0067.
ECONOMY BLACK DRUM DYED SKIRTING (30 SIDES) $110 EA. ECONOMY 9/10 OZ. NAT. BLONDE STRAP (12 SIDES) $110 EA. ECONOMY 11/12 OZ. GOLDEN STRAP (11 SIDES) $110 EACH ECONOMY 8/9 OZ. RUSSET DBL SHOULDER (10 PIECES) $65 EA. ECONOMY 9/10 OZ. NAT. DBL SHOULDER (38 PIECES) $65 EA. ECONOMY 7/8 OZ. RUSSET DBL SHOULDER (50 PIECES) $65 EA. ASSORTED BELLIES (100 PIECES) $10 EACH
Contact: 268 Orange Cemetery Rd., Morgantown, KY 42261-9631, (800) 624-7642, e-mail: info@ aleatherd.com.
You might not think but yes, Virginia, there is a conditioner and cleaner for rawhide tack which is called Vaquero Rawhide Cream. And you can use it on other leather goods as well like exotic leather boots, briefcases, saddle strings, etc. The Cream is made by Ray Holes Leather Care Products which also manufactures Saddle Butter, Chap Wax, and Dri-Boot. These may very well be products you can use yourself as well as stock for resale. Contact: Ray Holes Leather Car Products, P O Box 355, Butte, MT 59703, (888) 983-3017, e-mail: sales@ rayholesleathercare.com, www.rayholesleathercare. com.
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 7
Goods & Services Van Dyke’s Restorers also has trunk hardware, hinges, corners, and even rustic padlocks. You never know what you might find. Their catalog is over 200 pages. Products tend to be pricey but very good quality and unique—like their rustic decorative nails. Many handsome styles with sizes ranging from ½” to 1 ¾” dia. Contact: (800) 5581234 or www.vandykes.com.
Special Offer during September from Shelter’s Collar Shop: order 10 or more collars from their 2016 catalog and get a No. 8 buggy collar (up to 22”) FREE! That’s a pretty good deal! Contact: 5819 Flatiron Rd., Conewango Valley, NY 14726-9716. Offer good if paid within 30 days.
There’s a video on YouTube which shows our new Fire Sabre in action, burning holes and cutting synthetic webbing. It’s about 2 minutes long and you can give it a look at www.youtu.be/A2odD1bDJEA.
8 SEPTEMBER 2016
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Goods & Services Rockler Woodworking and Hdw. carries jigs and guides, tools and equipment that might have application in your own shop. Their products seem to be innovative and might just spark some new ideas so get a catalog and give it a look—interesting! They even carry hardware and latches for trunks— the kind that people bring for new straps and handles! Contact: 4365 Willow Dr., Medina, MN 55340, (800) 233-9359, www.rocklerpro.com.
Have you been on the lookout for a genuine mounted rattlesnake recently? I know I have, and for only $68 ea. you can get one at El Paso Saddleblanket. They also have Poncho Villa posters. So get a catalog—it’s 62 pp. packed full of colorful baskets, pottery, bags, bedspreads, jewelry, wall hangings, and lots more. Contact: 6935 Commerce Ave., El Paso, TX 79915, (800) 652-9170, www. elpasosaddleblanket. com.
SUN BIAS, INC.
INDUSTRIAL SEWING SERVICES 1718 N. 1ST. STREET ** MILWAUKEE, WI. 53212 Serving the needle trades 90 years. POLYPROPYLENE WEBBING Firsts & Seconds. 28 colors on Firsts 59/60” NYLON FABRICS Firsts & Seconds Urethane Coated. 60 colors on 1000-Denier & many other fabrics. HOOK & LOOP Sew on 1/4” to 6”, some widths in 35 colors. P. S. (Stick on) 5/8”-5” Rubber & Acrylic. SPECIAL Hook/Loop. Call for prices ELASTICS Woven H D 1” thru 3” & Ex H D, also knitted & braided types. PLASTIC & METAL HARDWARE for webbing & miscellaneous items Grommets Washers 3 colors & Snaps 39 cap colors.
Firewood Bundle Webbing Handles Automated Hot/Sear Cutting on webbing, Elastics and Hook & Loop. For no-fray ends use Hot cutting on webbing for belt tip ends. 2-1/4” Electric Webbing & Rope Cutters for cut it yourself. Self-Locking Nylon Ties (Cable Ties) 4” thru 15”. BIAS or STRAIGHT CUT fabric binding tape slitting SINGLE & DOUBLE folded Bias Tapes * 200+ colors. CORD EDGE PIPING 200+ colors & Asst. Cord Fillers for horse blankets.
Up to 200 Catalog color pages available. Save paper order as needed from our catalog index pages and the latest changes by e-mail in the same day to sales@sunbias.com (or USPS mail takes longer) TOLL FREE NATION WIDE 1-800-425-4747 • FAX 1-414-265-5353
MOST IN STOCK MATERIALS ARE SHIPPED WITHIN 24 HOURS. MASTER CARD,*VISA,*DISCOVER & E-CHECKS
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 9
Silver King Loses its King In 1964, he immigrated to the U.S and lived with his siblings while working at a leather manufacturing company. With his independent entrepreneurial spirit, that didn’t last long. It became clear to him that he did not like working for others and continued to seek something better. After a short battle with liver cancer, on June 26, 2016, Miguel Dávalos, founder of Silver King Silversmiths, passed away at the age of 72. Born in Zapotlanejo, Jalisco in Mexico, he was the sixth of eight siblings. His family moved to Guadalajara when he was still a toddler. His older brother, Felix, worked at a shoe making company and would drag his little brother Miguel with him to help speed up his production since Felix would get paid per piece. At an early age, Miguel showed signs of curiosity and adventure. He always carried a sling shot in his back pocket and would constantly ditch school and mass to go bird hunting. In his early teens, Miguel helped his father at his neighborhood store where they sold sundries. In his late teens, Miguel moved to the small beach town of Rosarito, Mexico, where he worked in his uncle’s bakery. Waking up in the middle of the night to start the bread making process, he developed big forearms and biceps for his size from kneading dough. After work at 11 am, he strolled the beaches catching clams and fish. With plenty of downtime, Miguel picked up the guitar and spent long days teaching himself how to play, which he did till his last days.
10 SEPTEMBER 2016
SHOP TALK!
by LIISA ANDREASSEN, STAFF WRITER
Through family connections, he landed a job with McPhearson’s Leather Co. in downtown Los Angeles and quickly learned the Western horse equipment trade. He constantly tried to learn new skills and outdo his production numbers. So, it’s no surprise that when he asked his supervisor for a raise and was given an additional five cents, he took a nickel out of his pocket, flicked it at his supervisor, and said, “Keep It!”
Life takes a turn; Silver King is born At the age of 26, he took a road trip with his nephew Mauricio Nuño to Guadalajara. In a brand new Ford Mercury, money in his pocket, and dressed to impress, they stopped in Zapotlanejo so Mauricio could say hello to some cousins. They were only planning to stop for a few hours and
then continue on to another town. However, plans changed. Miguel met Maria Asunción Nuño (Malila) and it was love at first sight. Nine months later, they married. While working at McPhearson’s leather, Miguel sharpened his skills and his keen eye for detail. Working nights in his garage shop brought in additional income to support his growing family. In Boyle Heights, Miguel and Maria (Malila) had four children and a dog named Lucky. In the late 70s, with a growing reputation for quality handmade horse equipment & accessories, Miguel took one of the biggest risks of his life and, with the help of a very supportive and business savvy wife, he opened Silver King, the family business that is at the core of his legacy today. “Some of the earliest memories I have of my father are in our home in Boyle Heights in the mid- 70s,” says Miguel, Jr. “At the time, he was working at a company in downtown Los Angeles making horse equipment and in the evenings working in our detached garage that was slowly becoming a full leatherworking and silversmith shop. Through
example, he taught us the value of work. Some evenings, he would create new patterns for future creations in leather and silver. Other evenings, he would take machining classes at the East L. A. occupational center, making tools that would help him in his production in the garage.” On the weekends, Miguel, Sr. spent his time working at his house or attending local rodeos to sell his hand made pieces. “Mom would cook dinner while Carlos and I played in the backyard to the sounds of a heavy leather
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 11
sewing machine, a hammer, and whistling to the music of Javier Solis, Los Freddies and Pedro Infante,” Miguel, Jr. says. “My Dad was good at everything he set his mind to. Besides being a highly skilled silversmith and leather craftsmen, he was a beekeeper, woodworker, musician, barber, machinist, and pool shark. He loved growing trees and plants, learning about nature and outer space, but most importantly, he loved his family more than anything in this world.”
The Silver King Story Silver King started out as a small silver and leather shop in Los Angeles serving horse enthusiasts and customers living the Western lifestyle in their community. Miguel crafted leather pieces including chaps, bridles, and tack and sold them to Western retailers and at horse shows where discerning eyes began to recognize his skill. In the mid-70s, Miguel began working with silver. Self-taught through trial and error, Miguel learned the art of silversmithing. Meanwhile, his wife Maria took care of their children and did sewing jobs at home to make extra money. As years passed, the opportunity to open up a shop presented itself to Miguel, but he needed help. A friend suggested that Maria manage customer service, and her outgoing personality proved a huge asset to the business’ success. In 1975, Silver King opened in Chatsworth, California, and, through the years, Miguel and Maria built up their business while raising a family of six, teaching their children the art of hand crafting, sales and customer service all the while building Silver King’s distinctive brand. Silver King has been successful in creating a solid reputation for quality workmanship, personalized
12 SEPTEMBER 2016
SHOP TALK!
client service, and creating made-to-order silver and leather pieces. Today, Silver King continues to thrive with the next generation of Davalos and has grown into an internationally recognized Western luxury brand and manufacturer of hand crafted silver and leather accessories. The company’s highly skilled artisans and inventive designers meld traditional practices with modern processes to create Silver King’s signature styling—a distinctive blend of traditional American Western design with a contemporary edge.
“At a young age we learned how important it was to work. This was done through example, not by any other way. This is how he grew his baby, Silver King. Silver King will continue through his fine example, but it will never be the same... as we have lost our king, our Silver King,� Miguel, Jr. says. Miguel, Sr. is survived by his loving wife Maria (Malila) of forty-six years, four children, and six grandchildren. CONTACT:
Miguel Davalos, Jr. 21728 Devonshire St. Chatsworth, CA 91311 Phone: (818) 700-1999 info@silverkingusa.com
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 13
ast year, Joseph Dixon Tool Co., Ltd. of Walsall, England, passed into the great beyond of toolmaking history. Since 1843, the family owned and operated company had made tools that were keepers— durable, handsomely designed, scrupulously crafted—tools that, by LYNN ASCRIZZI, with proper care, could last a STAFF WRITER leatherworker’s entire working life and then passed on. A member of the online forum, leatherworker.net, may have said it all: “My most valuable tools are Joseph Dixon’s. The round knife sings like a soprano when you strike it! The sewing awl stays super sharp. The plow gauge gives you confidence when you hold it in your hand.”
14 SEPTEMBER 2016
SHOP TALK!
Despite 172 years of manufacturing pride, in February 2015, Dixon Tool Co. suddenly shut its doors. Their closure was presaged by a painful passage in the company’s history, reported in a news story published Oct. 24, 2014, in the Birmingham Mail of Birmingham, England. Titled, “Joseph Dixon Tool Company facing employment tribunal claim,” the article stated: “An historic Walsall, family-run firm has been rocked by a bitter legal dispute pitting relatives against each other. David Williamson, his brother Matthew and cousin Chris Williamson were directors of the Walsall-based Joseph Dixon Tool Co., Ltd. . . . David was escorted from the premises following
an acrimonious dispute over a financial agreement. He launched legal action, claiming he unfairly lost his job after 15 years as commercial director and working on the shop floor, when needed.” A tribunal judge granted permission for him “to go ahead with his legal claims for unfair dismissal and the unauthorized deduction of wages. But the company, warned there could be legal action in the High Court,” the news article stated.
Eerily, the Dixon Tool website was still up as of this writing, advertising their distinction as “the oldest and only company in the world manufacturing a full range of die-cutting tools, including cutting forms, rotary cutting knives, press knives, strip knives and forge knives, and saddlers’ and leather tools.” Later, the site was closed.
company with a similar heritage, which also started at the outset of the Industrial Revolution.” That similar company, he added moments later, is C.S. Osborne of Harrison, NJ. “They have a much larger array of tools, although there are gaps. They are well placed,” he said. The Dixon catalog is available online at: http://www.boothandco.com/ catalogue.pdf. Chapman commented on the small and seemingly narrowing circle of historic, high quality hand tool manufacturers still in business. “Modern toolmaking is a cutthroat business. How much room is there for how many hand tool makers? They make tools in China. No one knows what they're doing. There’s not enough business for bigger companies to go after the smaller, craftsperson market for high quality hand tools.” Also, Chapman spoke of the need for fine, hand tool manufacturers to train apprentices and provide for a
“I had no prior warning,” said Ken Chapman, owner of Booth & Co., Inc., of Essex, MA, a business that has been selling leather and leather tools since 1865, at the close of the American Civil War. “The first I knew about it [closure] was from an announcement in The Gazette,” he added, referring to the United Kingdom’s official journal of public record, published since 1665. On Feb. 19, 2015, The Gazette ran a notice concerning Joseph Dixon Tool Co., classified as “corporate insolvency.” They reported that “Meetings of Creditors” was scheduled the same day. “Resolutions for Winding-up” and “Appointment of Liquidators” were set for March 16, 2015. In the UK, insolvency is a legal term generally reserved for companies that are unable to pay their debts; bankruptcy is the term used for individuals. A company which is insolvent may be put into liquidation (sometimes referred to as winding-up), according to the Wikipedia. Chapman had dealt directly with Dixon Tool, so its sudden closure threw him a curve. “I have very little Dixon tools now in stock,” he said in late summer. “I’ve had to go on to other things, to a similar SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 15
“We are certainly one of the last, family owned companies,” C.S. Osborne president, Jake Angell, said. “It’s rare to have a company last eight generations, especially when there is less manufacturing in the U.S. these days. There are a lot of cheap craft tools out there, mostly imported from the Far East. Serious leather crafters who want quality tools turn to us.” He drew a parallel between Dixon Tool and C.S. Osborne: “With Dixon, all their tools were made in England. You lose control of quality if you send your manufacturing to China. We do our own forging here, our own heat treating. We control 100% of quality,” he said.
succession of skilled craftspeople. “If you’re a smaller tool company, who is coming up behind you? Can you carry on with a generation of successors? It all depends upon the fiber of the men and women doing it. “They’re rare birds — companies like C.S. Osborne and Vergez-Blanchard [a French hand-tool company]. We’re blessed to have them,” he said.
Since 1826, C.S. Osborne & Co. of Harrison, NJ, has earned high marks for its industrial hand tools, leatherworking, and upholstery tools, and for maintaining strict adherence to high standards of quality and service. All of that raises a question: Does the close of the historic Dixon Tool Co. make C.S. Osborne one of the last hand tool companies left standing?
He pointed out that some of their tools are being manufactured on CNC machines, “a large, expensive metal cutting machine,” he explained. “It improves quality and takes out any inconsistencies from one tool to the next. There are tight tolerances in cutting metal. Some of our tools are done the same way they’ve always been done; they don’t lend themselves to a CNC machine. Our edge tools — you can’t do them on a CNC — but our dividers, you can. We haven’t changed anything, basically. We adhere to the same quality standard.” Is the Dixon Tool closure affecting his company’s bottom line? “We’ve witnessed a greater increase in sales. Certainly, people are coming to us — asking us to make a certain line that Dixon made,” he said, specifically referring to C.S. Osborne’s recent introduction of a fitter’s hammer, No. 1999, formerly missing from their inventory. “In England, they call it a ‘smasher.’ We’re not trying to copy Dixon, by any means. If there is a need out there for a tool, and Dixon’s closure has opened a void for it, we’ll try to make it,” he said. Angell, who has earned his wings as a frequent flyer, travels regularly here and abroad — to places like England, France and Germany. He plans to head overseas in September 2016. “We actively work that market. We have good partners. I travel to England semi-frequently. We’ve had distribution of our leather tools in England for a few generations,” he said. He had contact information for Dixon’s former director, Chris Williamson, but the latter did not respond to an interview request for this article.
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“We’ve always been an international company,” Angell noted. “This is our 190th year. We’re almost 200 years old. We’ve been doing the same thing for that long. I’m an Osborne, we have a larger focus, not just in the U.S. We’ve been working with certain distributors for generations.”
Some leatherworkers looking for quality hand tools should also check out Vergez-Blanchard, a world renowned company that operates twelve factories in France and five elsewhere. One U.S. vendor which sells Vergez-Blanchard tools is Fine Leatherworking Store, an online enterprise based in Berkeley, CA. (www.fineleatherworking. com). The store, founded by Sean Aquino in 2013, exclusively carries products crafted by the French company which has been manufacturing fine leatherworking tools for luxury goods makers since 1823. “We are the main and the first people to carry Blanchard in the U.S.,” said Aquino, who in a few short years has built his ecommerce store into a six figure enterprise, according to www.mywifequitherjob. com, a success motivation website created by Steve Chou. Aquino took a course with Chou, author of “Create a Profitable Online Store.”
Today, his store offers from 30% to 40% of Blanchard’s extensive tool line. Like C.S. Osborne and the former Dixon Tool Co., many tools made by Blanchard are hand forged while others are produced with more modern machinery. Aquino, however, has not noticed a significant difference in sales since Dixon closed. “Who we sell to is not necessarily the Dixon crowd. In my experience, people buying Dixon tools are not buying Blanchard. It’s like comparing a BMW to a Porsche. It costs 50% more to buy a Blanchard tool than to buy a Dixon. We cater to more high end, tailored leatherworkers, like makers of fine handbags Louis Vuitton and Hermes,” he said of the two fashion companies based in France. Louis Vuitton, which refers to its line of products as “creations,” designs and manufactures a diverse range of haute couture (http://us.louisvuitton.com/). Hermes creates expensive shoes, handbags, and other accessories. Regarding saddlers who purchase Blanchard tools, Aquino mentioned Pedrini Saddle Co. based in Marysville, CA (www.pedrinisaddleco. com), founded by French born Pedro Pedrini, Aquino noted that Blanchard tool handles are made of boxwood — a dense, finely textured wood, well suited for turning. His prime movers? “We get a lot of requests for pricking irons, awls, and knives. We’re sold out of awls and knives,” he said.
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C.S. Osborne & Co. Jake Angell, President 125 Jersey St. Harrison, NJ 07029 (973) 483-3232 (973) 484-3621 fax cso@csosborne.com www.csoborne.com
About two years ago, Bruce Johnson of Oakdale, CA, a collector of vintage leather tools, was having trouble with putting a date on an old Dixon plow gauge. “I got a hold of Chris Williamson, the last of the leaders there, before Dixon closed. He didn’t know, so he asked his grandmother. That tool, she said, is older than I am.” Johnson, who is also a leatherworker, sells “mostly 100-year-old tools. I’ve been seriously selling tools through my website (www.brucejohnsonleather. com) for probably seven years. I get some modern tools, too. I sell old tools made by C.S. Osborne and Henry Gomph and Vergez-Blanchard to name a few.” Johnson also carries Dixon tools. “I’m guessing I have about 100 in stock. I got a bunch of old Dixon tools from England and estate sales. I’m getting a little bit more calls from people looking for old Dixon tools. Now that people are knowing none are being made anymore, there’s a little more interest,” he said.
Photo courtesy Bruce Johnson
Booth & Co., Inc. Ken Chapman, owner 234 Western Ave. Essex, MA 01929 (978) 531-3730 www.boothandco.com For a pdf file of the Dixon catalog: http://www.boothandco.com/catalogue.pdf Fine Leatherworking Store Sean Aquino, founder 1563 Solano Ave. # 625 Berkeley, CA 94707 (415) 800-2978 www.fineleatherworking.com Bruce Johnson Leather Tools Bruce Johnson, owner & operator PO Box 125 Oakdale, CA 95361 (844) 584-7866 (209) 505-3621 bruce@brucejohnsonleather.com www.brucejohnsonleather.com
Altogether, he has about 1,200 tools on hand. “I’m nearly up to 7,000 tools in inventory, tools that I’ve either sold, or are in process of getting cleaned, or are for sale. My tools are all refurbished and ready to go back to work.” Like many leatherworkers, Johnson mourned the demise of Dixon Tool. “It’s sad that a company closes after almost 200 years. They were one of the oldest tool companies in the world,” he said.
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 19
Ray Holes: The Idaho Tradition Continues
by NICK PERNOKAS, SENIOR FEATURE WRITER Photos courtesy Nick Pernokas
This building houses the Ray Holes saddle tree shop downstairs and was also the original home of Ray Holes Leather Care Products.
Western Idaho is a study in beautiful isolation. To reach Grangeville from the south, you pass through craggy mountains and white water rapids. To the north of it lie dense forests and more rivers. Throw in an occasional old cattle loading chute that gives a ranch access to the rest of the world, and you have the makings of the eternal West.
I meet Gerald Ray Holes on the edge of Grangeville at a two-story building that overlooks the western Idaho plain. The building is on the outskirts of town because the old Ray Holes Saddle Tree shop is located downstairs. For anyone that has ever worked with rawhide, no explanation is needed about why saddle tree shops are not popular on Main Street. The building also houses the offices and manufacturing facility for Ray Holes Leather Care Products. Jerry, 78, is a gracious man. I know this because I've gotten my time zones mixed up and met him an
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SHOP TALK!
hour early. It doesn't matter though; by the end of the morning, he will have opened his home and the story of his family up to me. Jerry welcomes me into his office which is filled with cowboy memorabilia. Mecates and bridles hang from the walls. A wood stove stands ready to stave off the coming Idaho winter. So begins the story about the man who changed the design of modern saddletrees.
Ray Holes Ray Holes was born in Washington in 1911. Around 1920, his family moved to Cottonwood, Idaho, to farm. While Ray had had polio when he was two and couldn't do a lot of things that other kids could, he found that he liked working with leather and repairing tack. Eventually, he took a part-time job in a shoe repair shop owned by Jack Anthony, an old school cobbler who even made his own dye. With rehabilitation, Ray was able to recover well enough to get around and ride horses, but he couldn't run or play sports; however, the love of leatherwork stayed with him. In the early 1930's, Ray taught himself how to build saddles. The first one he built was for a rancher whom he'd day worked for. Fortunately, Ray was subsequently able to qualify for a state training program for the disabled and sent to the George Lawrence Co. in Pendleton, Oregon, which was a famous production company that built holsters, saddles, and other leather products. Ray spent four months there before returning to Cottonwood. In 1934 Ray opened his own shop out on the family ranch. In ‘35 he went on a pilgrimage to visit some of the old saddle makers who were still around and learn what he could from them. He ended up in Calgary, Alberta, at the shop of L. De Voux who influenced Ray’s tooling. In 1936 Ray reopened his shop in Cottonwood, and, in ‘39, he moved the shop fifteen miles to Grangeville. In 1949, Ray Holes Saddle Co. moved to the building it still resides in. Ray built primarily a custom saddle for ranch work, but a few ropers ended up using them as well. One notable roper that Ray built a saddle for was World Champion Dean Oliver. Ray's early ideas on saddletrees were heavily influenced by O. B. Robinette, the inventor of the Decker pack saddle. Robinette made the bars on his pack saddles by hand and had definite ideas on their fit. The Holes ordered their saddletrees from West
Coast Saddle Trees in Portland, Oregon. In 1952, the owners of the company decided to retire, and Ray bought their copy lathe for making bars as well as their patterns. Their cantles and forks had always been done by hand. The Holes began to build their own saddle trees and even came up with their own bar pattern that had more surface area. Ray Holes works on one of his
Prior to the 1950's saddles, 1972. the swell forks on saddletrees were two pieces of solid wood glued together, joined by a tongue and groove seam in the middle of the fork. This was a weak place where a tree could break, and older trees could spread with use. Ray changed that and came up with a process to laminate the swells with layers of wood which created a much stronger fork. This is the process used by most saddletree companies today. The Holes covered their trees with one layer of heavy bull hide and double covered a few trees for steer tripping saddles. "The rawhide had a little bit of flexibility and was extremely durable,” Jerry explained. He added, "The thing we were changing was, say, from a standard tree to a Quarter Horse tree, was the angle in the fork and the cantle. This is more critical in the fork and the withers.” Most of the Holes saddles were built with a flat plate rigging, and Ray preferred a full double position. The back rigging was included in the plate which was made out of magnesium bronze. The skirts were usually held on with the saddle strings and draw up straps because the Holes felt that they had to have some give. "The skirts were made so that they could move a little. We never made them rock solid," says Jerry. The ground seats were put in on top of a metal strainer seat which Ray felt stood up to the humidity of the Northwest better than ones made from all leather. SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 21
Jerry Holes made this beautiful leather serving table cover for his wife, Ellamae. Jerry says it really shows the elements of the "Northwest Style". The variation of floral elements and the prominence of the scroll work really create a unique piece.
In those days you could tell where a saddle was made just by looking at it because cowboys were less mobile and styles were regional. Ray Holes was influenced quite a bit by the Visalia style since several of his early workers had worked for Visalia. Still, Ray put his own spin on things and tooled his saddles in what Jerry calls the "Northwest Style". "The flowers were set deeper with a little more undercut. We used a fair number of leaves and stems. We used a little bigger flower as a rule. There was more stem work than the Sheridan Style."
Jerry and Ellamae Holes When Jerry was in junior high school he started working on leather in the shop. "When your dad owns the business, you start out cleaning bathrooms and sweeping floors," laughs Jerry. Jerry made his first saddle towards the end of high school. He enjoyed the work but Ray wanted all three of his children to go to college, and he steered Jerry in that direction. Initially, Jerry got a degree
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Jerry has an artistic streak which can be seen in some of the beautiful leather pieces he's done over the years, including an intricately carved serving table. Ellamae is an artist in her own right, and their house is filled with some of her exceptional paintings. Jerry Holes in the office of Ray Holes Leather Care Products. The walls are lined with cowboy memorabilia including mecates by Ernie Morris and a bit by Mark Dahl.
Ray Holes Leather Care Products
and taught industrial education for a few years then he earned a masters degree and continued teaching until 1969. At the end of that school year Jerry decided to return to the saddle shop.
In 1997 Jerry sold the saddle business to the last saddle maker who worked for him, John Calhoun, but he kept the leather care business which produces the world famous "Ray Holes Saddle Butter".
In 1972, Jerry and his wife, Ellamae, bought the saddle shop from Ray. Jerry did all the tooling himself and usually had two other men, one for strap and repair work, and the other for making saddles. At the time there were a lot of "floaters" or itinerant saddle makers that would show up looking for work. Jerry was lucky to have quite a few employees that stayed for a long time.
"Dad started making the saddle butter back in 1936 basically for his own use," says Jerry.
The shop made a lot of pack equipment in these years for local outfitters as well as the Forestry Service. Idaho has one of the largest wilderness areas in the United States and much of it is only accessible with horses. The saddle shop also expanded to include a full service Western store with higher quality merchandise. Grangeville was a small Carving by Jerry Holes town in an isolated area so the Holes saddlery depended on a thriving mail order business. Ray Holes passed away in 1996.
Before long ranchers were coming into the shop with their own containers, and Ray would dip some out for them. By 1940 the Holes were canning the saddle butter and selling it. In 1942 they added Chap Wax and Dri-Boot. These later products were water proofers which were welcomed by many boot and shoe retailers in the Northwest where winters were harsh. In the late 1960's Jerry started working on a product for rawhide because there wasn't much available at the time. "It took a while to develop it. We got it to where it was usable, but it had a short shelf life. When we got the kinks out we had a nice product." The Vaquero Rawhide Cream acts as a mild conditioner for rawhide as compared to the heavy conditioning of the Saddle Butter. It also works on leather. "We recommend that you clean any item with a glycerin saddle soap, or mild soap, before you use any of our conditioners on it." Up until recently Jerry, Ellamae, and one employee made and distributed all of their products out of their building in Grangeville to the 400 plus accounts the company has in the United States and overseas. Ellamae Holes is an accomplished painter. This painting is of Frank Staub, one of many returning soldiers Ray employed after WWII. (Ray always felt bad that his disability kept him out of the war). Staub lost part of his lung in the war, eventually ending his saddle making career. In the late 40s & early 50s he partnered with Ray in an outfitting business. In 1989 Jerry and Ellamae visited with Staub at a mule show in Lewiston and took the original photograph that Ellamae painted Staub's picture from. SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 23
"I feel really good that we had a good reputation in the saddle business. The family was well-respected, and that's important. It wasn't uncommon for a rancher in Oregon to send us a blank check with his order. I like to feel that we're equally respected in the leather care products business now," says Jerry. Since my visit with Jerry and Ellamae, they turned the leather care business over to their daughter, Jeri Mae Rowley, and her husband, Allen. Their granddaughter, Sarah, is doing all of the manufacturing. To find out more about the Holes’ leather care products, you can go to www.rayholesleathercare.com. This Ray Holes saddle was built in 1947 for their catalog. It's on display in the front of the store.
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John and James Calhoun When you walk in to Ray Holes Saddle Company today, it looks much the same as it did in 1949. The narrow building is squeezed in between several others on a main street that resembles many others across the West. The name of the business in red letters on the front wall might barely register with the casual motorist. To anyone with a knowledge of Western history and gear, though, that red sign will make you put on the brakes, pull over, and wander into one of the notable saddle shops of the West.
James Calhoun (l) and his dad John (r).
The front of the store is crammed with gear, tack, hats, and accessories. Continue on through to the back and you'll be in the original shop. Artwork and memorabilia cover the walls. Much of it is artist and writer Lee Rice’s sketches, with other work done by friends and customers. Saddles and cowboy gear, being repaired or built, fills the room. Saddle makers John Calhoun and his son, James, carry on the tradition of building tough equipment that will be tested in Idaho's wilderness by cowboys and outfitters. John Calhoun, 65, started in the saddle business doing repair work in his dad’s, saddle shop in Central Point, Oregon. He continued with a five
year apprenticeship with Eric Gibson in Oregon in the late ‘70’s. In 1981 John went to work for Jerry Holes building the Holes saddles and made fifty saddles the first year. "We still build the same saddle," says John.
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 25
few saddles for local ranches, but that's pretty much gone by."
A bar is made on the copy lathe in the saddletree shop.
One of the few differences is that John’s son, James, builds the saddletrees for the Holes saddles today. The Calhouns cut their own trees for the wood, the rawhide comes from their cattle, and the lace comes from deer that they've hunted. They build a wide range of saddle styles. A lot of their customer base has moved from cowboys to recreational riders across the United States as well as overseas, and they still make a lot of pack saddles and gear for outfitters. "We make riding saddles and you can do whatever you want with them," says John. "We still make a
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James, 44, went to work for Jerry Holes originally as well. He helps out in the saddle shop in addition to his saddletree work. His shop is in the building on the edge of town which also housed the leather care products This saddle was made to commanufacturing for memorate the 50th Anniversary many years. James of Ray Holes Saddle Company and works downstairs with is now in a private collection. the same equipment that Ray used. While he still uses the old Holes’ bar patterns, James has tried to thin the bars down a little to reduce the weight. Both John and James have been involved with breaking horses and cowboying which gives them a good understanding of what their products are used for.
This Ray Holes Saddle Company saddle was built by John Calhoun on one of James Calhoun's saddletrees.
"Riding horses my whole life has made it much easier for me to build trees that work," says James. "I've never built one that's sored a horse. A good saddle starts with a good foundation." To find more out about the Ray Holes Saddle Company, call (208) 983-1460.
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 27
A Satisfied Customer
"I think I'm an expert on tack and equipment because I can tear that stuff up faster than anybody," laughs John. "I think I should be a consultant."
A Christmas Riddle
Twenty-five miles north of Grangeville, I drive out of some hills into the small town of Kooskia. At the When John hears that I've just been in Grangeville, opposite end of Main Street, a lone mounted figure nce upon perfect man a perfect Unfortunately, diving his face lightsthe up. He conditions points to deteriorated one of hisand pack surrounded by aa time, herdaof horses is and heading my way. woman met. After a perfect courtship, they had a the perfect couple and Santa had an accident. Only one saddles. It's a Decker made by Ray Holes Saddle Traffic pulls over to let him pass with his remuda. perfect wedding. Their life was, of course, perfect. of them survived. Company. Most of the horses are loose. There are mares, colts, Who was the survivor? One snowy, stormloaded Christmas Eve, with this perfect couple and pack horses down panniers. The was driving their alongand a winding road when cowboy turns upperfect a sidecar street cuts across to The perfect woman survived. She’s the only one who noticed someone side ofup thewith road in distress. a they supermarket. Whenat Ithe catch him, he's really existed in the first place. Everyone knows that Being the perfect theysaddle stoppedhorse to help. dismounted, and couple, tying his to a tree. there is no Santa Claus, and there is no such thing as a HeThere ties stood up a couple of the horses. rest of perfect man. Santa Claus withpack a huge bundleThe of toys. the group grazes around the parking lot. Not wanting to disappoint any children on the eve of So, if there’s no perfect man and no Santa Claus, the Christmas, the perfect couple loaded Santa and his toys perfect woman must have been driving. This explains His name is John Hallam, and he's heading south into their SUV. Soon they were driving along, delivering why there was an accident. ahead of winter. As he loosens his cinches, we visit toys all over the world. in the shade for a while. His dusty black hat and lace up boots tell a story as do the tribal tattoos Ray Holes Leather Care Products on A his very face. John's a nice guy, and we talkaabout merry Christmas and prosperous P(and 2015 from all O Boxhealthy!) 335 the horses. He tells me that he's just quit a job on Talk!isto of you out there! ofnorthern us here at Shop Butte, MT 59703 a ranch in Idaho. John's saddle aneach old and everyone (888) 983-3017 Wade that he's stripped leather off to make it lighter.& Happy New Year!! Merry Christmas www.rayholesleathercare.com He's flattered that I'm asking about his gear.
O
8 |
December 2014 28 SEPTEMBER 2016 SHOP TALK!
Shop Talk!
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 29
16th th A Annual nnual 16 mish S Saddle addle M Makers akers’’ AAmish athering? ? GGathering
This was news to us here at Shop Talk! We received the following note from Jeff Ballard at Thoroughbred Leather which we appreciate—thank you, Jeff! During the first week of July I attended the 16th Annual Saddle Makers Gathering. A group of about 15 Amish saddle makers get together and work on a saddle and help each other improve their skills. The last few years the group has worked on this saddle and each one of them tooled different parts and then they all signed it with a swivel knife.
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In the end, they drew a name from a hat to see who took the saddle home. Here are some pictures of the saddle they made. Toby Yoder of Crooked Creek Leather in Marion, KY, won the saddle and is now the proud owner. Other members of the group include: Eli Miller, Miller’s Saddlery, KY; Jr. Miller, JR’s Custom Saddlery, KY; Dean Yoder, Arrowhead Custom Leather, KY; Chris and Ben Herschberger, Herschberger Custom Saddles, IN; Jay Bowman, Jay’s Custom Saddlery, TN; Jacob Miller, Miller’s Saddlery, KY; Henry Mast, Mast Saddlery, IL; Alvin Brennaman, Brennaman Saddlery, MO; Robert Raber, Raber’s Saddlery, OK; Lester Yoder, Hullet, WY; Leroy Swartz, Ashland, MT; and Olm Jay Miller, Miller’s Saddlery, IN. The saddle was produced during two of the gathers—Jeff Thanks, Jeff, for a great story!
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SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 31
The Leather Shops
of Lancaster County Ok—the first thing you probably think of when s o m e o n e mentions leather shops in Lancaster Co. is an Amish harness shop, of which there are quite a few scattered around the area. But that would only be partially true. The whole truth is a bit more complex. The truth is that the shops there are run by quite a diverse assortment of folks, Amish and non-Amish, young and old, male and female, making a surprisingly diverse selection of leather goods, selling retail, wholesale, and doing contract manufacturing while marketing their products and services through a diverse number of venues, both new and old. It’s all pretty interesting, and each shop has its own unique story.
Better yet, Brian gets out and presses the flesh at craft shows in Pennsylvania, Baltimore, and DC. Smart. It takes work and it takes hustle but Brian likes it because his craft show customers give him immediate feedback about what they like and what they don’t like which can change from show to show—information which he uses to decide what to make up and take to the different events. In addition to the craft shows, Brian partners with another leather worker, Jay Caneal, and they rent space at a large artisan retail mall, Building Character, in downtown Lancaster. They call that partnership Lancaster Leather Works, and Jay has his own business, Temple Leather Co., which he promotes on Instagram.
Come on—jump in the car and let’s head up to East Petersburg. This handsome guy is Brian Rosenbarker, 38 years old, owner of Homestead Leather. While he’s been around leather work and manufacturing all his life, he went full-time himself in 2011. Before that he was in the Army for eleven years—Brian, we salute you for your service. Brian is so typical of the young leatherworker/entrepreneur. OK—yes, he has a traditional store front which he shares with his father and another leather worker. More about that later. But he just doesn’t sit around and hope someone will stumble across his place and come in. No way! Brian may be on a side street in East Pete but he sells his stuff all over the world via venues such as Etsy and his web site. Smart! 32 SEPTEMBER 2016
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Brain specializes in mainly heavier veg bags and leather goods. A lot of his bags are finished off very nicely with kip binding on the edges—that takes talent! Of course, Brian makes all your standard products but he does a couple things that are just a little bit different like these pencil holders that became bicycle tool kits— And these nice 3-ring leather binders:
But the thing that is going to make Brian’s fortune is an item which his Dad originally made in the ‘80’s and which Brian has begun to manufacture again— the Executive Lunchbag! Oh, gosh—they are too cute! His wife found one around their house and said, “Brain, you have to make this!” Wow. It’s so simple yet so elegant. Yes, it can be a lunchbag but it also can be a purse, a clutch, an evening bag. Can you see this made in patent? Croc? Ostrich? This needs to be on the cover of Vogue! As the old saying goes, “The fruit don’t fall far from the tree” and this is the case with Brian and his Dad, Clay Rosenbarker, of MacClay Leather Design.
At 67, Clay is a fossil who has been around forever and got into the business in the late 60’s, early 70’s. He caught a ride on the psychedelic wave of the Leather Renaissance as a young dude and has been riding it ever since. Like Clay says, “It was a happening thing back in those days.” Here’s a groovy picture of a young Clay Rosenbarker: Nice hats! Clay might be a senior citizen but he’s still shakin’ and bakin’. His story is a familiar one as well. His first leather shop was in Plattburg, NY. That was 1972. Then he moved to the Park City Mall in Lancaster and eventually opened up additional stores. But
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 33
Isaac has a store for walk-in trade and does custom work and even some repair work. He’s like so many of the shops in Lancaster Co.—he does pretty much whatever he can to keep busy. While he has retail trade, most of his work is wholesale. even with that success, he really missed being at the bench and working with his hands so he closed the stores and went strictly into wholesale. At one time he had fifteen people making products as well as a number of reps. And the same thing happened—too much paperwork and not enough leather work so Clay went solo. Now he designs for other people, makes prototypes, and sells his own products at fine art and craft shows. He stays busy! When I visited, he was getting ready for a show—he was going to be gone for two weeks, come back for two days, and then off again. He takes off the month of August to get ready for his fall tour which consists of six shows. That’s work. Not bad for an old dude.
Brian, Clay, and Jay—happy family, passin' on the love and a tradition of craftsmanship.
Here are some pictures of Isaac Stoltzfus’s shop, Forest Hill Leather Craft, in Bird-in-Hand:
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Here’s one of his high end briefcase—the workmanship is impressive, very professional: While Isaac is a young man, he’s been doing leather work since he was fourteen and went fulltime on his own in 2004. Prior to that Isaac worked for his neighbor Samuel Esh at Center Square Harness—what a great teacher! In addition to his bags and ranger belts, Isaac sews up about 4,000 leather halters a year plus dog leads and carpenter aprons. He stays busy. While in the neighborhood, you should stop in at Center Square. Sam is a wealth of information and always has so much going on. There’s the whip business and his harness making business which is mostly wholesale but he still does a few custom orders when called upon. Most of the harness he makes is synthetic but he still makes a line of economy leather harness. According to Sam, while he doesn’t make as much leather harness as he once did, there is a very consistent, though smaller, demand for it. Good seeing you, Sam! The majority of the leather shops in Lancaster Co. are located in the sticks and can be hard to find but not Domaki Leathers, located on W. Main in Leola and one of the oldest stores in the area. Seventy-one year old Larry Selfon has been at his present location for thirty-one years. Barb, his store manager, has worked with Larry for twenty-six years, and both Larry and Barb do repair work as well as manufacture a line of leather bags and belts for the store.
The majority of their business involves the selling of motorcycle leathers and accessories. As you can see, they carry an impressive stock of leather jackets, chaps, pants, and vests for both men and women. Like their web site, they’re much bigger than they look— and they are! According to Barb, business slows down in the summer but picks up when te m p e ra t u re s start to dip. Larry’s father was also in the leather business and had a store in downtown Lancaster named Mishagos which sold leathers goods as well as lots of sheepskin. While Domaki Leather is one of the oldest leather shops, Black Bear Leather is perhaps the newest. This is 31-year-old Michael Glick and he’s been in business since January 2016: What a good looking guy! The name of his company, Black Bear, comes from the barn building company of the same name that his grandfather owned, and he was also a leather worker as was his great grandfather and great great grandfather!
Pedestrians pass so close to his shop that he can grab ‘em and hold ‘em until they fork out some dough! And believe it or not he’s there year round, even when it gets cold. Michael has a small stove inside the shop which he says keeps him cozy during the winter months. Like most other business people, Michael has a web site which lets you shop online. On the weekends he normally heads to the Eastern Market in downtown DC and sets up a booth. Believe it or not, there are harness makers who are women, like Becky Zimmerman, 46, of Zimmerman’s Harness. And she comes by it honestly being the daughter of another fine harness maker (and all round wheeler-dealer), Mervin Z. Martin. Becky started working for her Dad when she was a youngster and made up hundreds and hundreds of bells. Then early on in her career she made and sold harness to Mervin. In 1998 she set up Zimmerman’s Harness where today her husband, Doug, and her son, Shawn, work together with Becky.
Michael could not have a better location—he’s right on Old Philadelphia Pike in Intercourse, right in the midst of other shops and snack bars: SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 35
Her one complaint—“not enough room!” Her shop is extremely well stocked with collars, harness, halters, horse health care supplies, and more. If it’s harness or horse related and you need it, Becky has it!
Becky’s specialty is fine pleasure harness which she makes out of leather. She and her crew also make farm, parade, and buggy harness out of synthetics. They make their own nylon halters. Like all the different shops included in this report, Becky’s business depends on a mixture of local trade, retail, wholesale, custom work, repair, and a lot of out-ofstate orders. When she first started in business, Becky regularly attended horse shows and horse auctions where she attracted new business and then “word of mouth” took over. Today, she really doesn’t have the time to do anything but fill orders so word of mouth still works!
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Like Becky Zimmerman, 33-year-old Daniel Smucker is also the child of a harness maker, Mose Smucker; in fact, the child of an internationally respected harness maker who many considered to be one of the best in the world, famous for his exquisite fine show harness as well as his entrepreneurial skills. While still a young squirt, Daniel is equally talented but is probably too modest to make that claim. Although Smucker Harness closed in 2009, Daniel, using the business name of Smucker Harness Co. (formerly D. M. Smucker), continued making fine harness as well as a number of other things you normally wouldn’t associate a harness shop with; however, I guess that’s what folks might call “the new normal”. Every shop I visited was busy, some more so than others, but they all had one thing in common: they do a lot of different types of work to keep busy. For
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SHOP TALK!
instance, the lion share of Daniel’s harness work is for competitive driving with some fine harness, and some draft show harness. But that is not the majority of his business. Rather, he also makes a line of gift items including wallets, belts, bells, and high end bags—wholesale and retail. He has several accounts for which he does contract manufacturing. He makes camping gear, medical therapy harness, and movie props. Of course, any sort of custom work that someone might want. It all adds up and keeps him and his cousin, Amos Smucker, busy. Do you remember where Smucker’s Harness was in downtown Narvon (Churchtown)? That big building right on the road—what an incredible location. Great shop and lots of parking. Well, it’s had a makeover and here it is: What a difference! And here’s the man himself:
Pretty! And here’s Daniel’s shop:
Like most Amish boys, Daniel started to work in his Dad’s shop when he was only fourteen so his training and experience have helped him retain the loyalty of his father’s former customers—and he does! Daniel admits that it’s been a blessing to have Mose as his father whose reputation for quality has enabled Daniel to gain a firm foothold in the leather harness market which he describes as still being very viable. But Daniel also realizes that repeat customers and word-of-mouth advertising will only get you so far which is why he’s working on a new catalog and redesigning his website—it’s a nice marriage of traditional craftsmanship and new technology which, hopefully, will guarantee his continued success.
He’s on the back end of the building, downstairs where Mose stored machinery and leather and boxes of hardware. It was dark and dank but not anymore!
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Yonie’s Harness may not use social media to promote their products but they do sell their harness all over the world—literally. They were the largest business I visited during my travels. The pins on this map of the world indicate the different countries to which Yonie’s harness has been sold—
Jonathan Stoltzfus, 45, and his son, Leroy, 23, head up the operation. They have another fulltime employee on site and several pa r t- t i m e people. Here’s their expansive shop (above).
lots of storage of Biothane products (Yonie’s is a distributor) and finished goods which are supplied by the five different local shops that Jonathan and Leroy have working for them. All of their harness is made with synthetic materials such as Biothane strapping, vinyl, imitation leather, and rubber belting. One of their biggest sellers is racing harness for sulkies—they sell to customers in the US, Bermuda, England, New Zealand, and other countries as well. They even have a distributor in Australia. In many
Then adjacent to the main building is this lovely barn which has been around since the mid-1700’s and has witnessed both the birth of our nation and our greatest civil conflict—if it could only talk! There is only a minimum amount of manufacturing that goes on at Yonie’s—most of the space in the barn and main building is used for storage. Lots and
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instances they rely on “word of mouth” on a global scale. An English visitor to Bermuda sees harness that Yonie’s has made, orders some for himself, his neighbors in England see it, and so it goes. Jonathan also goes to sales of standard bred horses where he sets up a booth. One sale he attends lasts for six days, and horses can sell from $2,400 to $25,000 each! Now that’s a sale, and it’s been an excellent way to meet new customers from all over the world. Here’s one thing that Yonie’s makes which is a little different. Some folks call it a brollar, Yonie calls it an Euro Collar (above). If you get a copy of Yonie’s new 75 page catalog, you’ll see that he makes about any style or size of harness you might want—from mini to draft and even fine show harness. And the cherry on the top is that they can make your harness in your barn’s colors or to your personal requirements. The last shop visited in this whirlwind tour of Lancaster Co. is owned and operated by Peter and Laurie Eaton—theirs is an interesting story.
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Presently, Peter works part-time in the evenings and on the weekends in the shop. For the past twenty-three years he’s worked fulltime as a nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Before that he was a financial analyst in New York City and then later he owned a construction company. He’s the guy who takes care of all the machinery in the shop. While Laurie has been employed as a fulltime RN for the past thirtythree years, she works only occasionally as a nurse now and spends most of her time in the shop. She says enthusiastically, “It’s a pleasure to come out to work!”
Starting in 2009, Peter and Laurie were originally weavers and then transitioned into leather. Over time they have expanded their product line to include gun cases, wine totes, handbags, duffles, shaving kits—they’re all on 40th Parallel’s very attractive, very useable web site. You need to give it a look. They have a great shop where they meet customers by appointment.
Here’s some of the work they have on display at Madcap & Co.:
40th Parallel, Peter and Laurie’s company, also sells its leather goods on Etsy, and it rents space at a large retail mall for local artisans called Madcap & Co., right in downtown Lancaster—if you visit and park your car, be sure and feed the meter which may be located as far away as a half a block from where you parked! Honest!
And here’s the latest addition to their product line:
60’s style leather sandals. “I’ve always loved them,” says Laurie. SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 41
That’s a lot of sandals! There are even instructions on their web site for how to trace your feet correctly if you want a custom pair made; they do have stock sizes and styles available as well. Laurie reports that she knows whether or not a customer has a high or flat arch by looking at a person’s tracing of their feet. When she sells a pair of her stylish sandals, Laurie suggests that the new owner get the sandals wet for several days in a row and walk around in them, allowing the leather to form to their feet. Then let the sandals dry out and you have a perfect fit! In addition to their standard inventory, 40th Parallel does lots and lots of one-of-a-kind custom orders.
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In Conclusion: Some Observations The Pennsylvania trip was instructive. Here are a few things worth noting that most every shop had in common with one another: --All the shops were well equipment and running machinery in good condition. --Most all of the businesses do a diversity of work to keep busy—retail, wholesale, contract, private labeling, custom orders, etc. Regardless what the product is, if they have the equipment to make it, they do.
--They all stay busy and are open to new opportunities. --Folks, this is a pretty young bunch of craftspeople. Just look at their ages—23, 45, 33, 31! Don’t let anybody tell you that this is a “dyin’ art”—it’s not! The last thing they have in common is that they all advertise on the same web site which can be found at www.reallancastercounty.com. That’s how we came across these different companies, and it’s
--The shops actively market their products by using their web sites, social media (Etsy, Instagram, Facebook), renting unattended retail space in craft malls, attending local markets and craft shows, and setting up at horse shows and horse sales. They all had business cards with their contact information on them for easy reference.
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how the many 100’s of tourists search for different types of shops when they visit the Lancaster area. Very effective. Additionally, part of the advertising package includes having brochures printed which include information about the different businesses and are then distributed to area restaurants, shops, and hotels. Again—that’s great marketing. Is there something in your area like this? You might want to check with your chamber of commerce to find out. If you are in the Lancaster area, you can contact Real Lancaster County on their web site or by calling (717) 715-3911. Then the very last thing: my apologies for not visiting more shops. There was a lot to cover, and there must be another two dozen shops in the area which I did not visit. My apologies for any misspellings or factual errors. My handwriting has not improved with age. If I goofed, just give us a call at (828) 505-8474, and we’ll print a correction. Now for the very, very last thing: wouldn’t it be super if all the shops in the area got together from time
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to time? YES—you do have time! Maybe a potluck lunch at a local park—Amish and non-Amish. Everyone. It really is a pity that people who are in the same trade know so little about other shops just down the road. Did you know, for instance, that MacClay Leather has two or three real nice clickers sitting around that might be for sale? Or that 40th Parallel has a big stock of moose leather on hand? Give it some thought. It’s kind of exciting to think about all the different things you could learn by pooling the ideas, sources, and experience of so many talented and successful people who have so much in common, regardless of what they make. If Shop Talk! can help facilitate the different shops of Lancaster Co. getting together and learning more about one another, just drop us a line! We are here to help! A big THANK YOU to all the folks who took time out of their schedules to allow me to stop by and visit. Thanks.
Contact Information 40th Parallel Leather Goods 1940 Hans Herr Dr. Willow Street, PA 17584 (717) 464-3260 www.40th-parallel.com Black Bear Leather 3526 Old Philadelphia Pike Intercourse, PA 17543 (717) 288-7503 www.blackbearleather.com Center Square Harness 246 Forest Hill Rd. Leola, PA 17540 (717) 656-3381 Domaki Leathers 85 W. Main Leola, PA 17540 (717) 656-3201 www.domakileather.com
MacClay Leather Design 1986 New St. E. Petersburg, PA 17520 (717) 560-0612 www.macclayleather.com Smucker Harness Co. 2016 Main St. Narvon, PA 17555 (717) 445-5956 www.smuckersharness.com Yonie’s Harness Shop 435 Churchtown Rd. Honey Brook, PA 19344 (610) 273-7370 www.Yonies.com Zimmerman’s Harness 601 Snapper Dr. Ephrata, PA 17522 (717) 354-5667
Forest Hill Leather Craft 225 Forest Hill Rd. Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505 (717) 656-8758 Homestead Leather 1986 New St. E. Petersburg, PA 17520 (717) 435-6320 www.homesteadleather.com
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Modest Turnout at This Year’s 47th Get-Together Lancaster Co. could not have been any prettier this year for the 47th Auction and Harness Makers’ Get-Together. Everything was so green! Lush! Coupled with fairly low humidity and temperatures, it was a great setting—the only thing that was missing was YOU! There could have been more folks and, given the number of harness makers and other tradespeople in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states, the low numbers were disappointing. Let’s face it—there’s a whole lot of work that goes into setting up for the two annual events so people really ought to show up and enjoy the festivities. by DAN PRESTON, EDITOR
Knoll Sewing in Nottingham, PA. The cool concrete floor was much appreciated! It’s a relatively small operation but there’s a good bit of work going on in the shop. True, they make custom horse blankets, pads, calf jackets, and driving gloves, but Windy Knoll also makes a line of bags and does contract production as well.
Be that as it may, a good time was had by everyone who did show up! Here’s where the auction took place—inside this just-barely-finished, new horse barn at Windy They carry five different sizes of bags that come in fourteen different colors and different trim. Wholesale prices available. Also song bags. Of course, if you had a bag or tote that you’d like to job out, then Windy Knoll might be a good place to contact.
There were two rings going most of the time hammer and tongs. The sale began around 9 am and ended up around 6 pm. The relatively modest attendance guaranteed that this was a “buyer’s market”! Lots of sellers were not very happy given the low prices that the good selection of quality products brought.
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Machinery generally brought low bids; however, leather held its value fairly well. There was a very strong selection of consigned items this year, including lots of finished goods such as wallets, halters, pads, bridles, harness, hames, braided reins, stirrups, and lots more! Unfortunately, the varied selection failed to stimulate bidding.
The big winner at this year’s auction had to be Mike Dallaire from Chelmsford, Ontario, Canada. He was buying everything he could— rolls and rolls of webbing, boxes and boxes of hardware that were going cheap, you name it! He must have had a BIG truck to haul all of his booty back up north. Good seeing you, Mike! Of course, the Arkansas Hillbilly was in attendance and looked like he was buying a load to take home himself. Hillbilly was limping around like a London beggar, soliciting alms. “A penny for the lame, sir?” Seems that Hillbilly recently had surgery on his Achilles tendon—that hurts! Then he goes and falls in his chicken house, breaking the same ankle he’s just had surgery on in two places. That man will do anything for attention! Ha! Of course, the best looking Russian at the auction had to be Pavel Belousov of Denver, PA. Pavel is famous for the custom made orthotic shoes he hand makes. Pavel was looking fine with matching croc shoes, belt, and briefcase. If you’ve got a problem with your feet—see Pavel.
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 47
Here’s a handy gizmo for anyone doing round work of any sort: This little adjustable groover is made by Dan Byler who is now in Frewsburg, NY. Dan also makes strap punches, slot punches, clicker dies, concho punches, different presses, embossing machines, gang punches, and more. He’s quite a talented machinist. Let’s hope for a better attendance next year! As always, getting the word out way ahead of time and doing the necessary promotion can help attract more sellers and, more importantly, buyers. This year’s Get-Together was more notable for who wasn’t there—we missed you! Folks like Eli Schlabach at Landis Sales & Service, the guys from Chupps Bros., that good lookin’ Bob Kovar at Toledo Sewing Machine, N & A Harness, Wickett & Craig, Mid-River, Mud Creek, Brodhead Collar, Coblentz Collar, Mose Miller and others—we missed all of you! Those who did attend the Get-Together this year included my old friend John Glick from Sweat Pad Shop—one of the oldest pad shops in the US and
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best! John still makes those good ole tick collar pads stuffed with deer hair as well as the new vinyl pads in eight colors plus all sorts of other types of pads like breast, show, back, breeching pads, and more. John has been an advertiser with Shop Talk! for well over twenty years and we sure appreciate his support—thank you, John! The guy who stole the show, so to speak, was Marcus Troyer of Troyer’s Rope and his old man, Andy—the real thing, not Shadow Andy! They put on a dandy demonstration of knot tying which drew a large crowd. It was quite an education about rope and how different knots are tied and their purpose— thank you, Marcus and Andy! To be honest, there didn’t seem to be any harness leather on display which, admittedly, is a sign of
the times. Many—but not all—harness shops use synthetic materials almost exclusively now. Still, several tanners like Hermann Oak and American Leather Direct were there with their bridle and strap leathers. So was Jeff Ballard from Thoroughbred Leather who brought along some new shrunken American bison 5/6 oz. with a lovely pebble finish. Wow—nice stuff! Great for belts, briefcases, bags, and maybe even heavy boots but you might need to get an oz. so shaved off if possible.
That’s one of the great things about the annual GetTogether—all the new and unexpected information you come across which might come in handy sooner or later. You never know! Like Ron Synder selling his wholesale belt and leathergoods business to Gingerich Leather in Shipshewana—we’re doing a story on that which should be in our next issue. I bumped into Terry Glick of the Sign of the Harness in Lititz, PA, who let me know that he’s looking for a 1” round pinking iron, diamond or scallop.
The shrunken bison comes in peanut (very pretty), chocolate, and black as well as other colors including pink, blue, red, and purple which would make some killer bags and belts! Jeff is associated with Hartland Tannery in Hartland, ME, which is owned by Tasman. Hartland’s leathers for personal leather goods and footwear are famous throughout the industry, known for their high quality and innovative finishes. No doubt when you think of Thoroughbred you think of heavier veg leathers for tack, saddles, and holsters. However, if you’re needing something in a lighter chrome or retan, maybe a pull-up, give Jeff a call. He may be able to get what you need.
I was saddened to learn about the passing of Gideon Fisher of Fisher Harness in Ronks, PA, earlier this year. Gideon was a fine, fine harness and collar maker and had a wealth of knowledge about famous harness and collar companies that were once important suppliers to our trade. Here’s a brand new face— That handsome guy is Jesse Sanders from Milton Sokol & Co./Demar Leather Co. in Kew Gardens, NY— welcome, Jesse! Jesse had a small selection of some very clean veg strap leather in bends and back, I think. He also carries an assortment of chrome leathers as well as veg tanned upholstery leathers—you heard me, veg tanned. Most European countries have “Zero Landfill” policies which means all of your waste material must be able to decompose; chrome leathers are banned while veg leathers are allowed. In Mexico, for example, there are quite a few tanneries which make lovely veg upholstery with a nice drapey hand. If that’s something you’d like to get a sample of, please
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 49
contact Jesse who has a very interesting history all his own. He and his family have a rich tradition in the leather business going back many years. Several other new faces included MB Harness & Tack from Ronks and Spring Hollow Saddle Shop in Gratz. There was also Mountain View Harness which employs a number of handicapped children to work in their shop. Mountain View offers wholesale lead ropes and has a retail catalog as well which lists different types and sizes of harness and harness accessories. They also make Mud Splashers with and without flaps in different widths. The new 2016 Master Catalog that Yonie’s Harness Shop was handing out is a real treat indeed! It’s 75 pp. and very well done. You probably know that Yonie’s is a distributor for Biothane products. They also carry gift items like brooms, belts, and wallets. Bet you didn’t know that! They sell racing harness and parts along with lots of other sizes and types of harness with lots and lots and
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lots of options—competitive driving, pleasure, work, draft, draft show, and fine show harness—team and single. All of their harness is synthetic and all nicely made. One item that Yonie’s manufactures which very few other companies do is what they call their Euro Collar— While at the Get-Together I picked up a copy of Pennsylvania Equestrian, a monthly publication for the horse owning public in PA. Very nice—good coverage of horse shows, calendar of events, etc. This might be a good place for you to advertise. Get a copy and see. A very big thanks once again to Biothane for paying for the cost of the tent which is something they’ve done for many years and is very, very generous. Also a big thanks to Eli Beiler at Keystone Harness and Tack in Drumore for hosting this year’s event. It’s a lot of work! Next year’s 48th meeting will be held on the 3rd week in July, 2017, at Hillside Harness Hdw. in Millersburg, OH—please plan now to attend!
47Years
Contact Information BioThane USA 34655 Mills Rd. North Ridgeville, OH 44039 (800) 487-2358 www.biothane.us Jell Ballard Thoroughbred Leather 177 N. Wenzel Ave. Louisville, KY 40206 (502) 315-0315 Dan Byler Byler’s Custom Leather Machinery 881 Ivory Rd. Fresburg, NY 14738 John Glick Sweat Pad Shop 183 Stoney Hill Rd. Quarryville, PA 17566 Jesse Sanders Milton Sokol & Co./Demar Leather Co. 127-25 Metropolitan Ave. Kew Garden, NY 11415 (718) 441-2226 MB Harness & Tack 94 Peach Ln. Ronks, PA 17572 (717) 687-5646 Mountain View Harness 260 Troup Hill Rd. Mt. Pleasant Mills, PA 17853 (570) 539-2102 Pennsylvania Equestrian P O Box 8412 Lancaster, PA 17604-8412 (717) 509-9800 www.pennsylvaniaequestrian.com Spring Hollow Saddle Shop 5053 Rt 25 Gratz, PA 17030 (717) 362-4186 Troyer’s Rope Co. 20785 Morris Rd. Conneautville, PA 16406 (800) 872-0103 Windy Knoll Sewing 70 S. Little Britain Rd. Nottingham, PA 19362 (717) 529-7506 ext. 1 Yonie’s Harness Shop 435 Churchtown Rd. Honey Brook, PA 19344 (610) 273-7370
of Get-Togethers 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
J.H. Bowman & Sons, Millersburg, OH Arthur Collar Shop, Arthur, IL Eli R. Stoltzfus, Intercourse, PA Bowman’s Harness Shop, Shipshewana, IN Miller’s Harness Shop, Mesopotamia, OH Dan Zehr, Newton, Ontario, Canada Raber’s Harness Shop, Millersburg, OH Ivan Hostetler, Nappanee, IN Arthur Collar Shop, Arthur, IL Beiler’s Harness Shop, Leola, PA Miller’s Harness Shop, Burto, OH Schutz Brothers, N. Manchester, IN J.H. Bowman & Sons, Millersburg, OH Mast Harness Shop, Arthur, IL Smucker’s Harness Shop, Churchtown, PA Jelloway Harness Shop, Danville, OH Miller’s Harness Shop, Burton, OH Eash Harness Shop, Topeka, IN Hostetler Harness Shop, Arthur, IL Weaver Leather, Mt. Hope, OH Beiler’s Mfg. & Supply, Leola, PA Al’s Harness Shop, Shipshewana, IN Coblentz Collar, Millersburg, OH Mast Harness Shop, Arthur, IL Lititz Harness Shop, Lititz, PA Valley Harness Shop, Fredericksburg, OH Bluegrass Leather, Liberty, KY Clinton Harness Shop, Goshen, IN N & A Harness Shop, Millersburg, OH Fisher’s Harness Shop, Ronks, PA Mast Harness Shop, Arthur, IL G & M Enterprise, Napanee, IN Yonie’s Harness Shop, Honeybrook, PA Beachy’s Nylon Harness Shop, Baltic, OH L-n-L Harness Shop, Honeybrook, PA Peach Lane Harness Shop, Ronks, PA Fairview Country Sales, Millersburg, OH Miller’s Wholesale Harness, Columbia, KY Allen’s Leather Shop, Vestaburg, MI Eli MIller’s Leather Shop & Country Store, Mesopotaia, OH Chupp Bros. Wholesale, Shipshewana, IN Hilltop Tack Supply, Rebersburg, PA Chupp Blacksmith, Gredericksburg, OH Miller’s Harness Repair, Arthur, IL SHOP & TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 51 !Windy Knoll Sewing in Nottingham, PA
SEPTEM B E R 2016
News, Notes & Queries
FIRE SABRE VIDEO Learn all about how our new butane powered Fire Sabre works by watching a 2 minute video on: YouTube—www.youtu.be/A2odD1bDJEA. You will love it! Highly dramatic! A cast of 1,000’s!! Award winning.
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CATCH THE EXPRESS! American Express that is. We are now able to happily accept American Express credit cards as well as Master Card, VISA, and Discover. Just say, “Charge it!”
NEW FROM CHUCK SMITH TOOLS That’s what we hear on the street—Chuck Smith is coming out with some new tools in the very near future and you know if they come from Chuck Smith, they have to be very, very, very good. Stay tuned.
News, Notes & Queries ONE READER WRITES There follows a note we received from S. Dean Porter at Porterbilt Custom Leather in downtown Salem, OR: Myself and all the boys here at the DSP leather section of the Hobby Shop get more miles out of each month’s issue of your magazine than you’ll ever know. I want to thank “Shop Talk!” for the article you did on prison leather workers, “Staying Busy Inside”. I understand the dark cloud hanging over the people locked up in prison. I had a 3,000 key fob order from a car show in California. Once they found out I was in prison, the order was canceled! I was left hanging with 300 made, supplies, and materials. I made arrangements to have the 300 key fobs dumped on the board of directors’ table free! I thank “Shop Talk!” for standing head and shoulders above the crowd with your “Staying Busy Inside” story.
NOTES FROM THE GET-TOGETHER The 47th Annual Harness Makers’ Get-Together was held at Keystone Harness and Tack in Drumore, PA. Hosted by the Eli Beiler family. The meeting was called to order at 11:00 by Kevin Yoder. The host Eli Beiler thanked everyone for coming and gave a short talk on the auction the day before at Windy Knoll Sewing. Committee members introduced were Kevin Yoder of Nappanee, IN; Jonas Stoltzfus of Honey Brook, PA; Mark Brenneman of Springs, PA; Mose Beachy of Baltic,
OH; Rubin Byler of Middlefield, OH; and Wayne Chupp of Fredericksburg, OH. Andrew Hostetler of Arthur, IL, was missing. The minutes of the 2015 meeting were read by Jonas Stoltzfus. Former committee members present were Omer Beiler, Dan Lapp, and Abe Miller. Jim Weaver gave a report on the auction at Weaver Leather. They had a good auction but the consignors’ and buyers’ numbers were down a little from other years. Harness maker deaths in the last year were Wilmer Graber from Davis Co., IN, and Gideon Fisher from Lancaster Co. Kevin mentioned something that will affect all shops in the raising of the minimum wages. He suggested raising your prices gradually, starting now. Also mentioned there will be at next year’s Gathering a demonstration by Alan Burkholder from Weaver Leather on sewing machine repair. Tanners recognized were: Jim Cox from Moser Leather; Doug Morrison from Hermann Oak Leather; Jeff Ballard from Thoroughbred Leather; Jim Sanders from Milton-Sokol; and Bo Duncan from American Leather Direct. A special thank you to Biothane for paying for the tents again this year. Next year’s auction and meeting will be at Hillside Harness Hardware in Millersburg, OH. The oldest man present was Omer Beiler, 89 years. Longest in business was Bartville Harness, opened in 1970. Newest in business was Beacon Hollow Blankets, opened in March 2016. Most miles traveled was Arkansas Hillbilly from Arkansas, 1,250 miles. There were 44 shops from Pennsylvania present.
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 53
News, Notes & Queries GREAT CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN RH Rural Heritage has a super-duper events calendar which lists seminars, horse and carriage sales, plowing events, festivals, etc.—great places for YOU to set up and hawk your wares! Or something to tell your customers about. They might like to know. Listed by date. So get a copy of RH and see if there is something you should attend: P O Box 2067, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2067, (319) 362-3027, www.ruralheritage.com.
EXTRA COPIES OF SHOP TALK! ANYONE? YES! We have them. We had someone ask us recently if he could get some old copies of the magazine to handout to people who come into his shop, wanting information about how to do leather work and we said, “Of course!” No charge and THANK YOU! So if you’d like to have some extra copies to hand out, just let us know. They won’t be the latest issue but they will be kind of recent. Give us a shout: (828) 505-8474, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net. Or write: Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816. Thanks!
JAMES COX'S WESTERN LEATHER AND EQUIPMENT FALL AUCTIONS Oct. 3rd, set up, 4th is auction at Peoria Ridge Banquet Center (Buffalo Run Casino) in Miami, Oklahoma. Oct. 20th, set up, 21st is auction at the Dearborn County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceburg, Indiana (across from Hollywood Casino). Both sales start at 9:30 a.m. till finished. Call James Cox for more info - 513-889-0500
THE SADDLE CONTEST IS BACK! Yee-ha! Get your saddles ready for the upcoming 28th annual Boot & Saddle Makers Roundup saddle contest! Make sure you have your saddle at the show on Oct. 7 and please bring a stand! Belt buckles and plaques for the winners. Here are the categories: Beginner—To be eligible for the category the saddle must be the maker’s very first saddle and must have been started after last year’s contest. All construction and tooling must be done by the saddle maker him or herself. Novice—Saddle makers wishing to enter their work in this category must have 5 years or less experience. Open Geometric—Saddles will be fully or partially tooled, geometric stamped (basket, waffle, barbed wire, etc.). Plain saddles may be entered into this category whereas plain or geometric saddles with floral, decorative knife cuts, or figures must enter the Open Floral category. Open Floral—Full or partially tooled floral, oak leaf, figures or decorative knife cuts. Geometrics may be incorporated. Working Cowboy—Heavy duty saddle for the working cowboy. All saddles entered must have been started after last year’s contest. For all the details, please contact this year’s coordinators Robert and Pebble Brown at (940) 210-8155.
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FREE SEMINARS AT THE ROUNDUP!
News, Notes & Queries
Wow—both days there are three free seminars, led by some of the best craftspeople in the business. Here’s the agenda: Friday—“Tips on Working with Ostrich” by Mikes Karnes; Carl Chappell leads a discussion group; Discussion group lead by Lee Miller, Mike Vaughn, and Mike Allred; Q&A with saddle maker Jesse Sith. Saturday—Bootmaking with Deana McGuffin; Discussion led by Carl Chappell; Bootmaking with Lee Miller Girls and boys—these are “must attend” events—they may be free but the information is priceless—and just see what Carl Chappell would charge you for an hour’s tutorial. Here’s a hint: ain’t cheap.
NEW WEB SITE—AGAIN? Ha, ha! In fact, we actually do have a new web site with a great new look—www.proleptic.net. We’d really like to hear how you like it so give us a shout--shoptalk@proleptic.net or call (828) 505-8474. If you ever have a problem or something isn’t working properly, just give us a call. We want your visit to be a pleasant one.
CARRIAGE AUCTION Coaches, carriages, sleighs, appointments, and antiques are going on the block this coming Oct. 1415, Lebanon Fairgrounds, Lebanon, PA. The auction is being hosted by Martin Actioners at P O Box 99, New Holland, PA 17557, (717) 354-6671, www.matinauctioneers.com. Get on their mailing list!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR 2016! OCTOBER 4 James Cox's Western Leather and Equipment Fall Auctions at Peoria Ridge Banquet Center, Buffalo Run Casino, in Miami, Oklahoma. Call Jame Cox for more info (513) 889-0500. OCTOBER 7-8 Custom Boot & Saddle Makers’ Roundup, Wichita Falls, TX. For all the details contact Kimmel Boot, 2080 County Road 304, Comanche, TX 76442, (325) 356-3197, www. bootandsaddlemakerstradeshow.com OCTOBER 21 James Cox's Western Leather and Equipment Fall Auctions at the Dearborn County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Call Jame Cox for more info (513) 889-0500.
ON THE LOOKOUT. . . TERRY GLICK in Lititz, PA, (717) 626-0797, is in need of a 1” pinking iron for ending straps so needs to be curved—not straight. The first person I’d call if I were looking for a used tool would be Douglas Tool at 46 Wakeley Road, Sheridan, WY, 82081, dsctools@ rangeweb.net, (307) 737-2222. CHESTER at (231) 924-3936 is looking for a Standard Box Loop Former. Here is a bad picture of one:
There will also be harness, books, art, carriage parts, English saddles, Western saddles, and miscellaneous tack.
50TH INTERNATIONAL GUILD SHOW That’s quite an anniversary—congratulations go out to the International Federation of Leather Guilds whose annual show will be hosted this year by the Buckeye Leather Crafters of Central Ohio this coming Sept. 15-18. Mark your calendar! For all the details please contact Allan Scheider at allanms@columbus.rr.com.
Please give him a call if you can help. SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 55
News, Notes & Queries CHANGE AIN’T EASY Ain’t that the truth. Really, it’s easier to stick with what you know and not rock the boat BUT—sometimes you have to. About a year ago we decided to change banks and that really is a pain in the neck. Inconvenient! But we did and we were happy with our new bank. When we switched accounts we initially sat down with the branch manager, explained our needs, found out the costs, etc.
So we started bank hunting again and found one that handles Canadian checks—no charge. We also ended up saying about $1,200 with the reduction of different fees. There were other savings as well. While it’s not something I wanted to do, the change did turn out to be a good one. We’re getting better service and saving money. What more could you ask!
Then a couple months ago we started getting notices that we were being charged $25 for each $39 Canadian check we cashed from subscribers— checks written in US dollars. That didn’t work and the only explanation was that they had changed their policy which was news to us.
Are there things you might need to think about changing but just haven’t taken the time—insurance carriers, phone plans, health insurance, banks? No, it’s not easy but it might prove to be advantageous. You don’t know unless you get the details and work the numbers. You just might be surprised that there are alternatives out there that can help you cut costs.
IFAI EXPO 2016: INDUSTRIAL FABRICS INDUSTRY’S PREMIER EVENT
attention getting — check out the bold, new world of fabric graphics. And that’s just the beginning.
If you’d like to explore the vast and intriguing universe of fabrics — from traditional to synthetics, to space-age materials — then don’t miss this premier, textile industry event — the IFAI EXPO 2016.
IFAI EXPO DETAILS
Set for this fall, the three-and-a-half day EXPO is organized by the Industrial Fabrics Association International, a not-for-profit, member-owned and driven trade association that represents the global industrial fabrics industry.
WHO — Industrial Fabric Association International (IFAI), a member-owned, member-driven trade association representing the global industrial fabrics industry. IFAI offers seminars, workshops, educational programs, conferences, publications, marketing tools, and much more. WHAT — IFAI EXPO 2016
What’s in it for you? Well, here’s your chance to tap into the expertise of 400 exhibitors of fibers, fabrics, equipment, sewing machines, and hardware — all in one place. At the expo’s educational events, you can discover the latest applications in fabric technology and innovative solutions that can make your products more vibrant, your wearables more wearable and your equine accessories more creative.
WHERE — Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St., Charlotte, NC 28201.
And, if you’d like to recreate your tradeshow booth or retail signage, so they’re more fun, colorful and
WEBSITE — www.ifai.com
56 SEPTEMBER 2016
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WHEN — Starts 8 a.m., Oct. 18 and ends 2 p.m., Oct. 21, 2016 CONTACTS — For more information: EXPO organizer, Jennifer Fisher, (651) 225-6987; jarfisher@ifai;
BU Y, SE LL OR TRAD E
CLASSIFIEDS
Classified ad rates are $26.50 for the first 20 words and $.65 cents for each additional word. Words (or groups of letters) fewer than three characters are not counted when calculating the cost of the ad. Street addresses are counted as one word. City, state, country, and zip or postal code are combined and counted as one word. Enclose payment when submitting ads. Ads received without payment will be held until payment is made. Ads must
be received no later than the fifth of the month prior to the month you wish the ad to run (e.g. ads for the February issue must be in our office by January 5). Typed or neatly printed ads are preferred. We are not responsible for mistakes due to handwriting. Faxed ads must be typed and are accepted with MasterCard, VISA or Discover only.
WANTED
FOR SALE
WANTED: New subscribers from Iowa, Idaho, Utah, and Nebrasks. Now is the time to renew! Give us a call at (828) 505-8474, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net or visit www.proleptic.net.
WALLETS AND BI-FOLDS FOR SALE: Black and brown. Excellent quality. $4.75 ea. $57/doz. Can mix. Contact: Don Livingston, 3092 Ravenwood Dr., Greensburg, PA 15601, (724) 219-3400.
WANTED: COMPLETE TOOL COLLECTIONS. Contact: Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net.
NEW!! ALL SYNTHETIC HORSE COLLARS!! Available in buggy, All Purpose, and Draft Styles. In stock for immediate shipping. We also stock Brahma webbing, Bio sheet, belting, nylon webbing, thread, and hardware. We manufacture and stock a full line if synthetic harness parts and supplies. Free catalogs available. Contact: Countryside Manufacturing, 504 S. Humbert St., Milton, IA 52570.
WANTED: BENCH EQUIPMENT. Any condition. Skivers, splitters, pressers, spotters, etc. Also parts and pieces— bolts, frames, springs, blades. We pay shipping. Contact Shop Talk!, P.O. Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net.
SADDLE BUSINESS: Machinery and inventory for sale. Hydraulic press, USMC splitter. For full list of all inventory, please call (256) 597-2001. Wish to sell entire inventory together. HITCHING POST SUPPLY has horsehair and mohair cinch cord available in natural and dyed colors. For use in pottery, braiding, hitching, and more. Instructional books and DVDs at www.hitchingpostsupply.com, Call or e-mail Hitching Post Supply for new wholesale and retail catalogs at vickie@hitchingpostsupply.com, (800) 689-9971 or (360) 668-2349 (outside USA). KREBS SKIVER BLADES new. $200 plus SH. Made in US. Double tempered. Contact: Proleptic, Inc., P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, shoptalk@proleptic.net
S CLASSIFIED ST BUY! E B R U O E R A
uyers ..... b l a ti n te o p f o ’s Reach 1,000 $26.50!! s a e tl lit s a r fo
INSTALL AND REMOVE CHICAGO SCREWS quickly and easily in the shop or on the trail. $16.95 + $4 S&H. Call for wholesale pricing. Contact: JP’s Bridle & Equine Tool, 26266 E. County Road 700 N., Easton, IL 62633. (309) 562-7266. E-mail: jp-equinetacktool@casscomm. com, www.jptacktool.com.
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 57
CLASSIFIEDS FOR ALL YOUR LEATHER NEEDS. Call Moser Leather (800) 874-1167 or (513) 889-0500. You can visit our website at www.moserleatherco.com. (R&B) FOR SALE: THE PRO-CONCHO TURNER: The only one in the U.S. Makes removal of decorative conchos a snap! Used with electric drill. Take the fuss and bother out of a difficult job with the Pro-Concho Turner! Saves time, makes money! Rubber gripper protects the concho and makes removal or installation easy. Only $29.00 plus $3.95 S&H, 6-inch steel shank, and rubber gripper. Ready to use! Contact: Proleptic, Inc., P.O. Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net. FOR SALE: “Making Harness: A Step-by-Step Guide”, $58 plus $5.50 S&H. Specs and instructions on how to make and repair six styles of harness from pony to draft, driving, team wagon and mule. Contact: Proleptic, Inc., P.O. Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net, www.proleptic.net. FOR SALE: RANDALL SPLITTER. $1,200. Excellent working condition. 100% full blade. Call Texas Saddlery at (903) 765-2600 or e-mail: dmartin@txsaddlery.com. FOR SALE: Pricing Guide: “How to Establish Prices for the Saddle Maker and Leather Worker.” Only $39.95 plus $4.50 S&H. Contact: (828) 505-8474. (12/12)
The “Word of the Day” is: partisan FOR SALE: New and used Adler, Brother, Consew, Juki, Pfaff, Singer machines for sewing bio-plastic, canvas, leather and nylon. Available in single or double needles, standard, long arm, flatbed, postbed, cylinder arm. Contact: Bob Kovar, Toledo Industrial Sewing Machine, 3631 Marine Rd., Toledo, OH 43609, (866) 362-7397 or (419) 380-8540. (11/10) WWW.THELEATHERGUY.ORG for all your leather, tool, and supply needs. Friendly, helpful staff at (507) 9323795. (R&B) NEED HELP PRICING? The “Green Book” Guide to Pricing Repairs and Western Tack. American Saddle Makers Association. Contact us at (719) 494-2848 or www.saddlemakers.org. (1/17)
405 FM 3083 RD., CONROE, TX 77301 USA TEL: 936-539-1400 ~ FAX: 936-539-1411
WWW.CAMPBELL-RANDALL.COM 58 SEPTEMBER 2016
SHOP TALK!
1-800-327-9420
SALES@CAMPBELL-RANDALL.COM
CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS FOR SALE: Prominent, reputable wholesale/ retail leather holster manufacturing company established in 1972. Manufactures leather law enforcement equipment, concealed carry, Western, competition, and specialty cases. Located in Oregon, employs 4-7 employees. Owners wish to retire. For detail, contact: donlbrown46@gmail.com or (503) 407-9448. HARDWARE CLOSEOUTS! Misc. SB hdw. 376-38 SB mule face plate with very nice finish. $1.75 ea. ST ¾”. Beta PK and VI $.40/ft. 7 1/2’ ss trace chains, $59/pr or 5 or more prs. For $57/pr. Bio mini breast strap driving harness made with durable 401 and 101 material. CB and SS hdw. Single hip and neck strap—no holdbacks included, $115. Wholesale. Contact: Woodland Harness Shop, 505 S. Fork Ridge Rd., Liberty, KY 42539 or call (606) 787-2076.
BOOT & SHOE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WESTERN BOOTS sales and repair business in San Antonio, TX. Great climate, economy, and customers. Plenty of boot sales and repair work. Established 28 year old business. One-man operation with inventory of apx. 350 pairs of top of the line all leather Western boots. Great boot repair business. Complete line of immaculate boot repair equipment. Could be expanded to include saddle repair. Sale includes website (www.shiplerboots.com) and company name. Guaranteed lease in current location for one year at $650 per month. Retiring. (866) 250-3350 or (210) 215-9158, e-mail: info@shiplerboots.com. $175,000. BUSINESS FOR SALE: Davis Custom Boot located at 1209 E. 11th St., Quanah, TX 79252. Contact: (940) 8396537 for more information. WANTED: Experienced Shoe Repair Person. Successful applicant will perform shoe and boot repair at established premier shoe store of forty years. Will train to next level of orthopedics and custom shoe making. Opportunity for complete management of shoe repair shop. Pay/ hours based on experience and training required. Located in northeastern Ohio. E-mail resume to: cobblerscorner2003@yahoo.com. For more information contact Heather or Kathy at (330) 482-4005. FOR SALE: Shoe repair equipment. Finisher, Auto Soler, Landis K Stitcher, Adler patcher, shoe lasts, hand tools, and other small tools. $3,000 for all. Contact: Ervin S. Beachy, 1300 State Route 1901, Marion, KY 42064,
FIND US ON FACEBOOK! ShopTalkLeatherMagazine SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 59
ADVERTISERS INDEX American Leather Direct........................24
Hadlock & Fox Mfg. Co............................28
Precision Saddle Tree.................................3
Beacon Hollow Blankets.........................39
Hansen Western Gear................................7
Proleptic, Inc...... 6, 30, 45, 57, back cover
Beiler’s Mfg. & Supply..............................45
Hastilow/NASS..........................................47
Ray Holes Leather Care..........................27
BioThane......................................................38
Hermann Oak Leather..............................52
RJF Leather.................................................10
Bogle-Greenwell Machinery Corp...........9
Hide House, The.........................................41
Sew What?! Supplies...............................11
Bowden Saddle Tree....................................8
Hillside Harness Hardware.....back cover
Shelton-Reynolds, Inc................................9
Brayer............................................................16
IHS ELP, LLC................................................20
Shetler’s Collar Shop...............................40
Brodhead Collar Shop..............................22
International Sheepskin.........................49
ShoTan..........................................................20
Buckeye Blankets.....................................13
Kalico Products..........................................42
Small Farmer’s Journal............................53
Buckeye Engraving...................................11
Kelly-Larson Sales....................................13
Smoke & Fire Co...........................................7
Buckle Barn USA........................................47
Kimmel Boot................................................25
Sorrell Notions & Findings.....................22
Buggy Builder’s Bulletin..........................19
Landis Sales & Service...........................12
Southstar Supply......................................17
Campbell-Randall......................................58
Leather Machine Co., Inc., The...................
Springfield Leather...................................50
Chino Tack...................................................22
...........................................inside back cover
Steel Stamps, Inc.....................................42
Chuck Smith Tools....................................13
Mark Staton Co..........................................12
Sun Bias, Inc...................................................9
Chupp Blacksmith Shop.........................39
Maverick Leather......................................42
Sweat Pad Shop....................................... 20
Coblentz Collar...........................................44
Milton Sokol................................................43
TechSew/Raphael’s Sewing.................... 31
Cox Auctioneers/Moser Leather.........48
Montana Leather Co................................59
Texas Custom Dies...................................54
Danny Marlin Knives.................................40
Mules and More.........................................47
Toledo Sewing...............................................1
E.C. Leather.................................................44
N & A Harness Shop.................................14
Troyer's Harness Shop............................43
Evener Shop, The......................................53
Ohio Plastics Belting Co.........................22
Wayne Jueschke.......................................49
Fairview Country Sales...........................11
Oregon Ag....................................................36
Weaver Leather........... inside front cover
Fiebing Leather..........................................33
Ohio Travel Bag...........................................15
Western Mule.............................................13
Fine Tool Journal........................................17
Orion Calf, LTD............................................26
Wickett & Craig..........................................18
Gfeller Casemakers, Inc..........................10
Pendleton Leather Show...........................8
Y-Knot Lace................................................47
Goliger Leather Co....................................46
Perfectex Plus, LLC..................................13
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Shop Talk! published by Proleptic, Inc. P.O. Box 17817 Asheville, NC 28816 (828) 505-8474 shoptalk@proleptic.net www.proleptic.net 60 SEPTEMBER 2016
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Reduce - Reuse - Recycle Recycling old magazines, catalogs, and newspapers is one of the easiest ways to help the environment. To increase the supply of recoverable wood fiber and to reduce the demand on regional landfills, Shop Talk! urges its readers to support recycling efforts in their communities. Shop Talk! is printed with only vegetable-based inks.
SHOP TALK! SEPTEMBER 2016 61
SEPTEMBER 2016 P.O. BOX 17817, ASHEVILLE, NC 28816
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