Shoptalk february2016 v6

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

Staying Busy Inside Notes from the Prison Cell

How to Sew

Leather Worker of the Month F E BRUARY 2 0 16

Filigree Art of Burnt Spur S I NCE 1984

W W W . P RO L E P T I C. NE T

$6.50

THE LEATHER RETAILERS’ & MANUFACTURERS’ JOURNAL

FEBRUARY 2016

FEATURES 23 Leather Worker of the Month 24 AWA Awards 28 Staying Busy Inside 38 Burnt Spur: Hand-Built, Custom-Made Filigree Art 46 How to Sew Coated Webbing: Tricks of the Trade

38

28

23

Rohn Stearns Custom Leather

Staying Busy Inside

46

IN EVERY ISSUE 4 Laugh Lines 7 Hide Report

Published by Proleptic, Inc. • PO Box 17817 • Asheville, NC 28816 Ph (828) 505-8474 • Fax (828) 505-8476 shoptalk@proleptic.net • www.proleptic.net

12 Goods & Services

Read Shop Talk! online with links to advertisers and online information.

14 Boot & Shoe News

www.proleptic.net

49 News, Notes & Queries

ShopTalkLeatherMagazine

55 Classifieds 2 FEBRUARY 2016

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.

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BEHIND EVERY GREAT PROJECT THERE’S A GREAT MACHINE

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Features: - SmartServo-NP Needle Position Motor - TLG Laser Guide - Flatbed Table Attachment - Swing Down Roller Guide - LED Work Lamp & LED Stitch Light - Chrome plated specialty presser feet - Complete with instructional DVD & user manual - Includes diamond point needles, nylon thread & much more!

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FEBRUARY 2016 3

LAUGH LINES Tickle Your

A young man at a construction site was bragging that he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength, and taunted one of the older workmen. Finally, the older man had had enough and said, “Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is, sonny boy. I bet you eight weeks wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that building that you will not be able to haul back.”

Funny Bone Q A: :

Why do men die before their wives?

Because they want to.

I have never killed a man, but I’ve read many an obituary with great pleasure. — Mark Twain Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes.

Then when you criticize them, you’ll be a mile away and you’ll have their shoes.

We childproofed our home years ago, but they’re still getting in.

A Texan was bragging to an Englishman about how big Texas is. “Why you could get on a train in East Texas on Monday morning, head West all day Monday, continue overnight, and still be in Texas at sunset Tuesday,” he said.

The Englishman replied that the trains in England were just as slow.

Q A:

:

Why don’t Buddhists vacuum in the corners?

:

Q

What did the Buddhists say to the sandwich vendor

at the ballgame?

A

received the sandwich, he gave the vendor a $20

bill. The vendor just smiled when the man angrily

demanded, “Where is my change!”

The vendor replied, “O, One-With-Everything — change comes from within.”

4 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

“You’re on, old man!” replied the braggart. “Let’s see what you got.”

The old man grabbed a nearby wheelbarrow and, nodding to the younger man, said, “All right. Get in.”

Three older women were sitting around and bragging about their children. The first and says, “You know my son, he graduated with honors from Stanford. He’s now a doctor making $250,000 a year in Chicago.”

The second woman said, “You know my son, he graduated first in his classroom Harvard. He’s now a lawyer making half $1 million a year and he lives in Los Angeles.”

The last woman said, “You know my son Morris, he never did too well in school, he never went to any university, but now he makes $1 million a year in New York working as a sports repairmen.”

The other two women asked, “What is a sports repair man?”

Because they have no attachments.

: Make me one with everything! After the man

One Zen student said, “My teacher is the best. He can go days without eating.” The second student said, “My teacher has so much self-control, he can go days without sleep.” The third student said, “My teacher is so wise that he eats when he’s hungry and sleeps when he’s tired.”

The third mother proudly replied, “Morris fixes hockey games, football games, baseball games, tennis matches….”

Q A:

:

Q: A:

How do you fit 10 Amish in a VW Beetle?

Tell them you’re going to a livestock sale.

How was copper wire invented?

Two Mennonites found a penny.

F

our men were bragging about how smart their dogs were. The first man was an engineer, the second man was an accountant, the third man was a chemist, and the fourth man was a government worker.

To show off, the engineer called to his dog, “T-square, do your stuff!”

T-square trotted over to the desk, took out some paper and a pen, and promptly drew a circle, a square, and a triangle. Everyone agreed that was pretty smart. But the accountant said his dog could do better.

He called his dog over and said, “Slide Rule, do your stuff!” Slide Rule went out into the kitchen and returned with a dozen cookies. He divided them into four equal piles of three cookies each. Everyone agreed that was good. But the chemist said his dog could do better.

He called his dog over and said, “Measure, do your stuff!” Measure got up, walked over to the fridge, took out a quart of milk, got a 10 ounce glass from the cupboard, and poured exactly 8 ounces without spilling a drop. Everyone agreed that was pretty smart. The three men turned to the government worker and asked, “What can your dog do?”

Advice from a Country Farmer Most farmers work only half a day; the other 12 hours they do other stuff.

— Roy English The government worker called to his dog and said, “Coffee Break, do your stuff!”

Coffee Break jumped to his feet, ate the cookies, drank the milk, ripped up the paper, attacked all the other dogs savagely, claimed he injured his back during the attack, filed a grievance report for unsafe working conditions, put in for worker’s compensation, and went home on sick leave.

Don’t Squat with Your Spurs On

by Texas Bix Bender

Paperback, 128 pp.

• A Cowboy's Guide to Life •

$6.50 + S/H PROLEPTIC, INC. • P.O. Box 17817 • Asheville, NC 28816 Ph (828) 505-8474 • Fax (828) 505-8476 shoptalk@proleptic.net • www.proleptic.net

DON’T WHIZ ON AN ELECTRIC FENCE

by Roy English

Paperback, 128 pp.

• Grandpa’ s Country Wisdom •

$6.50 + S/H PROLEPTIC, INC. • P.O. Box 17817 • Asheville, NC 28816 Ph (828) 505-8474 • Fax (828) 505-8476 shoptalk@proleptic.net • www.proleptic.net

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SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 5

6 FEBRUARY 2016

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YOU R GLO BAL PERSP ECT IVE

The Hide Report

NOVEMBER 2015 - JANUARY 2016 Selection

Weight (lbs.) wts. vary month to month

November (early)

Price Last Jan 2015 (early)

January (early)

December (early)

Heavy Texas Steers

66-68

$59-60

$62-63.50 $64-66.50

$98-100

Heavy Texas Steers (Hvy)

74-78

$65-68

$68-69

$72-73

$105-110

Branded Steers 66-68

$58-59

$61-62

$60-64

$96-97

Branded Steers (Hvy)

$72-73

$66-68

$71-72

$102-103

Colorado Steers 66-68

$55-56

$57-58

$57-58

$90-94

Butt Branded Steers

$65-67

$69-70

$70-71

$100-103

Butt Branded Steers (Hvy) 74-78

$74-75

$77-78

$77-78

$106-107

Heavy Native Steers (Hvy)

74-78

$76-77

$75-77

$77-78

$107-108

Heavy Native Heifers

50-52

$57-58

$58-59

$59-60

$87-90

Branded Heifers 48-52

$54-55

$55-56 $56-57

$82-86

Heavy Native Cows

$39-41

$45-48

$66-69

Branded Cows 50-54

$31-37

$34-36 $35-37

$56-59

Spready Dairy Cows

$55-56

$57-59

$57-60

$77-79

$56-61

$56-61

$78-81

70-72

66-68

50-54

50-52

Native Bulls 100-110 $55-60

$45-48

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 7

The Hide Report HIDE PRICES LOWER TO STEADY

DEMAND, DEMAND, DEMAND

During the first week of the New Year, Heavy Texas Steers were down a $1.00, and 66/68 lbs. hides selling for $64 and $63. The supply of 72/74 lbs. seemed to exceed demand. Branded Steers were steady to lower, trading at $60-62. Butt Branded Steers were steady at $71-73 for 66/68 lbs. hides.

Heavy Native Steers were steady at $72-73 for 66/68 lbs. hides.

(Editorial by Don Oshman of Hide.net)

15-30,000 DAIRY COWS DIE IN SOUTHWESTERN SNOWSTORMS

In the first days of this year, all we seem to hear is that, with the exception of the automotive business, which is less than 20% of world leather consumption, there is just not enough demand for leather.

There is too much inventory in the Chinese supply chain as well as in the supply chain in Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. Of course, this is a generality and differs largely from tanner to tanner but the bottom line is that we haven’t heard of any tanner that is underbought.

Usually one hears the complaint regarding price. However, what one hears most often is, “We don’t have enough orders.”

Our take on this is that the inroads informally all leather products captured by synthetics over the past 6 to 12 months is not about to vanish overnight. The supply chain needs time to adjust. However, every brand and every retailer wants something new to show to their customers each season in order to create demand for their product. Leather, especially at current prices, should now be poised to get some of this market share back. We could see it as soon as February and, with it, and improvement in high demand.

8 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

An article appearing in Ice Age during the first week of 2016 reported that an estimated 15,000 mature dairy cows died in Texas and another 20,000 in New Mexico according to Executive Director Darren Turley of the Texas Association of Dairyman.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime [storm],” Turley said. There will be less milk coming from the region for a while. “It was unbelievable,” said Andle van der Ploeg, owner of Mid-Frisian Dairy near Clovis. He said snowdrifts on his farm were 14 feet high in spots….

The storm’s primary impact ran about 100 miles from Lubbock, Texas, to Clovis, New Mexico.

AURORA FOODS HAS A NEW OWNER Cattle Buyers Weekly reported that in December, a Japanese company called S-Foods bought Aurora Packing Company, located for 76 years in Aurora, Il. It is the country’s 26th largest meatpacker with a capacity of 630 head per day. S-Foods also owns Fremont Beef Company in Fremont, NE. Sources say that Marvin Fagel, CEO, sold the company for $1 million.

SLAUGHTER EXCEEDS SALES/SHIPMENTS Combined raw and wet blue sales for early January 2016 were 319,600.

Add in an estimated 35,000 consumed domestically and the total figure becomes 354,600. Slaughter for the same was 439,000 cattle, surpassing sales by 84,400 pieces and shipments by 15,000.

ARGENTINE POLICIES SUPPORT LEATHER Less than one month after winning the second round of the Argentina’s presidential election, Maurizio Macri has taken new and revolutionary measures affecting the countries key business sectors, including the leather industry. The newly elected president announced the end of taxes on several agricultural products such as corn, wheat, and soy as well as meat. The leather sector will be affected as well: the government announced that all applicable taxes on industrial products, including leather (both wet blue split and grain that were subject to 15% export tax) will be banned and, it’s highly probable that a special duty for the export of wet salted and wet blue full substance hides, which expired on 31/12/2015, will not be extended. 2016, therefore, is expected to be a year of change for the Argentine leather industry.

The Hide Report HIDENET EXCLUSIVE Q & A WITH CLARKS’ CATHRYN WIDDOWSON Q: Have lower leather prices enabled your stylists to use more leather in their footwear?

A: With lower global leather prices, yes, it has made things easier for designers to use leather which is important for Clarks. However, I think that with higher prices seen over the last two years, it forced us into using more textiles and other materials to protect margins. This has had a lasting effect in as much as we are making the same number of shoes but using less leather in general. Tanners should note this and beware!

Q: Do you find the tanners with whom you regularly deal typically operating at what percentage of capacity?

A: We understand that recent times have been tough for our court tanners, and they are not operating at full capacity. I would say that has to do with customers having more choices of materials in shoes these days. Plus the climate. We have had the

warmest winter so far on record in November and December in the UK. This affects the Autumn/Winter sales which are typically more leather-based than the summer season….

KENNETH COLE PARTNERS WITH EUROPE’S LF BRANDS FOR FOOTWEAR Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. announced recently that it has signed a three-year partnership agreement with Belgian-based LF Brands for footwear. The partnership will launch in seven European countries in the fall of 2016.

Kenneth Cole and LF Brands are producing men’s and women’s Kenneth Cole New York footwear and women’s Gentle Souls footwear that will launch in select European cities in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Benelux.

Founded in 1982, the American company has built a strong global presence through Kenneth Cole owned and operated retail businesses in North America and distributor operated shops in Asia, Latin

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 9

The Hide Report America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.

Meanwhile, LF Brands is a young fashion agency specializing in footwear and accessories. Created

by Ruben Clijsters, who previously worked at Macintosh retail group, it has previously launched other American footwear brands, notably Steve Madden.

Its warehouse is centrally located near Brussels.

WOLVERINE’S BATES FOOTWEAR GETS $27M AFGHAN ARMY BOOT CONTRACT Bates, a division of Wolverine Worldwide, was awarded contracts by the U. S. Defense Logistics Agency to manufacture its Temperate Weather Combat boots for the Allied forces in Afghanistan.

verine Worldwide’s chairman, CEO, and president.

“We are committed to being a leader in providing footwear solutions for all branches of the U.S. military and our privileged to supply these performance benefits inherit in our Michigan-made combat boots.”

By law for U. S. contracts the boots are constructed of 100% American-made materials. They will be manufactured at the Bates facility in big Rapids, MI.

LEATHER GOODS FIRM PITTARDS SAYS SLOWING DEMAND WILL IT PROFITS

The Temperate Weather Combat boots feature Vibram outsole’s and Gore-Tex waterproof-breathable technology. Valued at $27 million, the contracts call for the production of boots in both black and tan colors.

With more than 90% of its sales from exports, Pittards has been exposed to recent turbulent global events and trends. Pittards has published its second profit warning in three months after slowing global economic growth and events such as the Paris attacks suppressed demand for the leather manufacturer’s products.

“Bates continues to produce some of the world’s most technologically advanced footwear for men and women in combat,” stated Blake Krueger, Wol-

The 190-year-old company, based in Yeovil, Somerset, said in a trading update that it expected to make a reasonable profit for 2015 but that the figure would

10 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

The Hide Report be materially below forecasts. The company did not give figures for market expectations. Because Pittards said in September 2015 that demand for its goods had weakened because of slower growth in emerging markets such as Russia and China and wider economic uncertainty. It said then that annual profit would be less than forecast and the trend has continued amid turbulent world events with a further impact on profits.

Pittards employees 220 people in Yeovil and 1700 in Ethiopia, producing leather mainly for sale to makers of upmarket gloves, bags, and similar items. It sells to brands such as Jack Wills and the Gulf where maker Footjoy and also supplies the British armed forces and other armies.

Reg Hankey, Pittards’ chief executive, said, “if you look at the Russian situation and Chinese demand and post-Paris, consumers in Europe being more cautious, and turbulence in the Middle East, it makes most of the big brands a little more cautious that results in slightly weaker demand for everything.”

The last 10 years, Pittards has started making its own

branded goods, and the company owned its first shop in Somerset this year. But with more than 90% of its sales from exports, it has been exposed to global events and trends.

UK manufacturers have reported weakening overseas demand for the goods caused by the weaker global economy and the strength of the pound.…

Hankey said, “UK manufacturing companies all seem to be saying something similar: that order books have slowed up in the last six months or so, and we are no different. But the fundamentals of what we are doing our sound.”

He said the pound’s recent fall against the dollar would help Pittards because more than 70% of the company’s products are invoiced in dollars. Lower raw material prices are starting to boost margins, the company added. [Our emphasis.]

Hankey said Pittards would tighten up on costs but that jobs were not at risk, and the company is recruiting new employees in the UK.

1967

Since

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SHOP TALK!

6/19/13 FEBRUARY 2016 119:42 AM

Goods & Services FEBRUARY 2016

New owner Terri Cocanougher at Ludwig & Marglin Leathers let us know that their web site www.handplait.com has been updated and is now password protected. If dealers would like to contact them at (830) 629-0540 or e-mail them at ludwigandmarglin@gmail.com, Terri would be glad to give the new password and send you a new price list. They have a nice selection of leather, nylon, and rawhide whips.

Shetler’s Collar Shop is offering a 10% discount on some of their buggy, pony, all purpose, and work collars—they do it every spring which is a real good reason to get on their mailing list! Sale lasts through February.

Contact: 5819 Flatiron Rd., Conewango Valley, NY 14726.

Carefree Collars are 100% synthetic, made from PVC, which makes them an unique innovation in the making of horse collars. The collars are made by the folks at Countryside Manufacturing at 504 S. Humbert St., Milton, IA 552570.

These collars come in three styles so far—Buggy (17”-22”), Draft (18”30”), and Adjustable Draft (18”12 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

30”). There are 14 different colors of leather lace available including neon orange, neon pink, yellow, and red.

The folks at Windy Knoll Sewing offer a whole lot of custom services that you might enjoy knowing about. For example, they custom make horse blankets, pads, calf jackets, billfolds, and bags in different sizes and shapes which could be used for travelling bags, totes, boot bags, sports equipment, and riding gear and rodeo gear bags. Maybe even with YOUR company’s name and logo on it!

Just think! They even have bags for volley balls!

They also stock a whole lot of different types of horse blankets as well as harness and collar pads. So you better drop them a line and see what they can make for you. Contact: 70 S. Little Britain Rd., Nottingham, PA 19362, (717) 529-7506, ext. 1.

Argent Express makes all sort of silver products—buttons, slides, conchos, money clips, etc. They have move and their new contact info is: P O Box 117, Folsom, LA 70437, (209) 402-4430, e-mail: conchosmith@hotmail.com.

Regardless of the sort of leather work you do, you need to know about the “notions & findings” available from Sorrell Notions &

Findings. There’s a whole bunch of very useful (and unusual) things for makers of custom boots and shoes, but there are also a lot of hard to find tools and supplies which other types of leather workers might be happy to learn about—like their waterbased contact cement, handy glue pots, summer and winter hand wax, 11 ¾” rub stick, and some very handy refillable marker pins which use leather dye and allow you to do some very precise dying and touchup.

So give it a look at www. sorrellnotionsandfindings.com.

Contact: 217 E. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie, OK 73044, (405) 2825464.

There are reports about the global sewing machine market, as well as reports on specific regions such as Asia, that look at market size, market breakdown by products and types of machines used, demand for needles and parts, review trends, and offer forecasts.

These reports are expensive.

The electronic version costs $5,505 US. The reports are created by Research and Markets, Guinness Centre, Taylors Ln., Dublin 8, Ireland. Online at www. researchandmarkets.com.

Neoprene Sheets Hook & Loop Fasteners Also Available • Laminated with Nylon, Lycra, Terry, UBL…etc.

• Common uses: Wet Suits, Waders, Knee/Elbow Pads…etc.

• 6 Million Yards in Stock • Sizes from 3/8” to 6” • 30 Colors Available

• TPU Laminated Fabrics • Tricot Fabrics • Mesh Fabrics • Hot Melt Adhesive Films • Webbing, Buckles, Elastic, Zippers…etc

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BONDED NYLON THREAD

1-866-415-8223

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Shetler’s Collar Shop Manufacturing a full line of horse, pony and mule collars.

Collar clocks and mirrors also available.

llar lity co A qua asonable at a re ice. pr #99 farm collar with 18” draft.

Write us for a free price list 5819 Flat Iron Road • Conewango Valley, New York 14726

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 13

P EOPL E P ROD UCTS PL AC ES

Boot & Shoe News

SORRELL NOTIONS AND FINDINGS ACQUIRES BOOTLAST.COM

by Liisa Andreassen, Staff Writer

All it took was one phone call. When Terry Glueck, former owner of Bootlast. com, an online supplier for lasts called to tell Lisa Sorrell that he was looking for a buyer for his business, Sorrell jumped at the opportunity.

“I was super excited about buying Bootlast.com and it was very hard to stay quiet about it until it was finally mine,” she says.

The acquisition of Bootlast.com was a natural fit to her existing business which sells glues, leather, tools, and supplies for the leather and shoe trades. And, as a top end boot maker, she knew the leather and supplies she wanted but had trouble finding.

She had heard similar stories from other craftspeople.

“Buying this company was Lisa Sorrell a way for me to Sorrell Notions directly contrib& Findings ute to keeping my trade healthy while ensuring quality lasts—a crucial shoemaking tool—remains easily available,” she says.

14 FEBRUARY 2016

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While she is still learning about her customer base, Sorrell says that since she closed the deal on December 7, 2015, she has sold lasts to everyone from absolute beginners making their first pair of shoes to experienced makers.

“Some of my clients know exactly what model and size they need while others require a little more guidance,” she explains.

IF THE SHOE FITS… Currently, Sorrell is offering cowboy boot lasts, a man’s dress shoe last, and two ladies’ pump lasts. And, if Sorrell sees a trend in demand, she’s happy to add other models and even has a reproduction service so if someone has a last they want copied she can do that too.

Sorrell says that she has a large inventory of lasts in stock, and orders them on a quarterly basis to keep the selection current.

Stock sizes range from 4 to 12 ½ although she can get lasts down to size 1 and up to size 16 1/2, in widths from AAAA to EEEEEE. And orders are filled quickly. If she has the correct last in stock, it is usually mailed the same day that the order comes in. Backordered lasts are added to her quarterly order and shipped as soon as they arrive.

The cowboy boot lasts come in a

WOW! If you’re a custom boot maker, shoe maker or maker of period footwear, you really need to take a look at www. sorrellnotionsandfindings.com.

It has somewhere between 60-70 products for custom makers of footwear, including a lot of hard to find products.

There’s really handy refillable markers which use leather dye for real fine touchup work and edging. They sell contour gauges, shank pullers, water-based contact cements, crimping pliers, a boot making DVD, a boot making tool kit for beginners, shoe and French hammers, double handle knives, insole leather, sole bends, and kangaroo from .6-.8 mm to 1-1.2 mm in 12 different colors. And lasts!

If you can’t get on the Internet and need a printout you can always write: 217 E. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie, OK 73044, (405) 282-5464.

Boot & Shoe News range of heel heights. GC-200 is a roper last with a 3/4” heel and the LS-800 is a cowboy boot last with a 2 1/4” heel. The GC-975, Sorrell’s most popular cowboy boot last, was developed by Greg Carmack. The original GC-975 has a 1 5/8” heel height. The GC-975/125 was modified from the original to have a 1 1/4” heel height, and the GC-975/2 was modified from the original to have a 2” heel height. All cowboy boot lasts have a medium round toe.

The GC-400 is a man’s dress shoe last with a sleek toe and a 5/8” heel.

The DF-610 is a lady’s ballet flat last with a 1/2” heel height, and the DF-600 is a lady’s pump last with a 1 1/2” heel. Both lasts have a medium round toe.

All lasts are made in Mexico and cost $85 a pair, plus shipping.

WHAT’S NEXT? Sorrell says that she is working to merge the two websites--Bootlast. com and sorrellnotionsandfindings.com. One of her top goals for the Bootlast.com site is to add videos. Currently, she produces a monthly YouTube video, “It’s a Boot Life,” that includes helpful tips and techniques. She wants to create a series of short targeted videos on relevant subjects such as how to measure feet, how to fit a last, and how to change the toe shape on a last.

“I’m excited to bring my knowledge of last fitting to Bootlast.com and I look forward to providing lasts for years to come,” she says.

"It makes me very happy to share my favorite products with other craftsmen."

— Lisa Sorrell Sorrell Notions & Findings

CONTACT INFORMATION: Sorrell Notions & Findings 217 E. Oklahoma Ave. Guthrie, OK 73044 (405) 282-5464 www.sorrellnotionsandfindings.com

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FEBRUARY 2016 15

Boot & Shoe News "People who have

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT: RENIA PROVIDING ADHESIVES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS

been using the same thing for many years just aren’t going to suddenly change —

by Jim Tatum, Staff Writer

Renia, an international company which manufactures an array of products such as adhesives for specialty markets and smaller industrial uses, is seeking to increase its market share for its safer, greener, water-based adhesives as well as its less toxic solvent based adhesives, without Toluene and MEK.

The family owned company, which currently employs thirty people, was founded in 1930 in Cologne, Germany. Renia’s corporate headquarters, manufacturing and research and development facilities are still located in Cologne. The company works with distribution partners in more than forty countries around the world, including the United States.

The company originally manufactured such products as floor wax, shoe polish, and leather wet-bonding cement but shifted its focus in the early 1950’s to contact adhesives, according to Dr. Rainer Bu-

16 FEBRUARY 2016

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chholz, president of Renia USA. “We don’t manufacture large batch quantities for larger industries, such as the automotive industry,” Buchholz said. “We are a smaller, specialty company, but for what we do, we have a strong market share, here in Germany and worldwide.”

Before the availability of specialized adhesives for leather craftspeople, the only option for shoe repairers and orthotists/pedorthists were the industrial cements that were offered by the big adhesive manufacturers, according to the company’s website. In 1960, Renia started developing special cements for craftspeople with an emphasis on ease-of-use, safe application, and a wide range of possibilities regarding material combinations. Renia also developed the first one component polyurethane based vinyl cement for craftspeople, according to the website.

Much of Renia’s focus in the early days was in the shoe repair industry. In fact, in post-World War II Germany, shoe repair was a major

you have to show them that it’s worth making the change ... " — Dr. Rainer Buchholz, Renia USA

part of Renia’s market share, he noted, and still is. However, that market has declined over the years, resulting in Renia’s exploration into new markets, Buchholz said.

“Shoes are very much a throwaway product these days. If you buy a cheap pair of shoes at Wal-Mart, for example, chances are, you’re not going to repair them; you’ll just buy another pair,” Buchholz said.

“Consequently, we have had to find additional markets.”

The healthcare field has yielded some interesting and lucrative markets for Renia products, such as

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Boot & Shoe News orthopedic footwear and orthotic inserts, he said. The company also makes adhesives for smaller niche markets in leather working.

“The company manufactures an array of adhesives for different uses,” Buchholz said. “The type of adhesive can vary widely depending on uses and materials.

For example, if someone is making customized items from leather—anything from handbags and purses to handcrafted equestrian saddles—in a home workshop or small business or production facility, we make an adhesive product for their business.”

The company also makes leather dyes as well as adhesives for other materials such as rubber and steel, according to Buchholz.

Renia products are priced on the upper end of the price point spectrum, but Buchholz makes no bones about the company’s as-

Boots that were too small were enlarged by cowboys of the old southwest with corn and water. The boots were filled with shelled corn, then soaked with water and allowed to swell.

“It’s true – you get what you pay for.”

— Dr. Rainer Buchholz, Renia USA

sertion that the product is worth the price.

“It’s true – you get what you pay for,” Buchholz said. “Our price point is on the high end of the spectrum–obviously, we cannot compete with [products from] China or Korea. On the other hand, you may pay a little more for Renia products, but our products are more concentrated which means you actually use less of it. So the same quantity of our product will go farther than a cheaper product.”

One area Renia has focused on in recent years is the development of water-based adhesives which are safer to use than traditional organic solvent-based adhesives, said Buchholz. Solvent-based adhesives contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s); the trend, especially in Europe, has been to reduce the level of VOC’s in the environment. These efforts have been both voluntary and regulatory; since 2007, no more than 25 grams of solvents per pair of shoes may be used, according to the latest VOC directive.

Regulatory issues are not as pro-

18 FEBRUARY 2016

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nounced in the U.S., at least not yet; California has passed some regulations limiting quantities of solvent-based adhesives that can be used in manufacturing. “Europe is probably 30-40 years ahead of the U.S. in that aspect of it,” Buchholz noted.

Buchholz acknowledges that water-based adhesives are not as efficient with some materials and in some procedures. For example, processes that require working with wet or damp leather, such as some aspects of saddlery or attaching shoe soles, may require solvent-based adhesives. However, water-based adhesives have advantages over solvents. For one, the water-based products do not give off obnoxious, toxic fumes like solvent-based adhesives which means one does not have to have a special air filtration system in place to use it. Water-based adhesives are not flammable, which means one does not have to store them in separate fireproof storage containers and areas which can be an added expense as well as an efficiency issue, he noted. Water-based adhesives are current-

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Boot & Shoe News ly more expensive than solvent based adhesives, but they are also more concentrated. In fact, one gallon of water based adhesive can go as far as three gallons of solvent based adhesive, according to Renia’s president.

Buchholz also acknowledges that the company’s potential customers are in many ways creatures of habit—that is, they are not going to try anything just because of some perceived trend. On the other hand, the feedback the company receives from people who do use the products has been positive.

“We understand this is a very hands-on, personal market,” Buchholz said. “As far as the production process goes, the adhesive one uses to manufacture or repair a given item is one of the least expensive elements. People who have been using the same thing for many years just aren’t going to suddenly change—you have to show them that it’s worth making the change—so we are out and about quite a bit. Generally, once we show someone one-on-one that it works, they are much more inclined to purchase it.”

For more information on the company and its products go to www.renia.com.

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 19

Boot & Shoe News

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Rohn Stearns Custom Leather

Rohn Stearns

Fe b r u a r y 2 016

Leather Worker of the Month

Rohn Stearns, Rohn Stearns Custom Leather Congratulations, Rohn! Here’s what Rohn had to say about his work:

I have been working leather for about 40 years as a hobby/business. I make a lot of holsters, they are my specialty. I also makes belts and billfolds and other leather items.

My business is called “Rohn Stearns Custom Leather” and I work out of my home. A lot of my work is stamping with basket weave, but I also enjoy carving. I am going to attach a few pictures of my work and also a picture of me in my basement workshop. I have been doing this so long that I can never remember buying a store bought belt. If you need any more information I can be reached at:

960 Lafayette Ave. Niles, OH 44446 (330) 652-6695 rohnsfineleather@yahoo.com Thanks, Rohn! For your trouble you’ll be receiving a check for $49.94 and a free year’s subscription to Shop Talk!

Now let’s hear from you! Contact us at PO Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 23

AWA AWARDS

2016

The Academy of Western Artists is proud to announce the winners for the 20th Annual Will Rogers Awards for the Cowboy Trappings. The presentation will be held March 12, 2016, in the Brown Lupton Ballroom at Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, TX. The event is open to the public. Tickets and information are available at AWAAwards.org.

For more information about the work of the AWA, please contact: working_cowboy@hotmail.com or call 580-221-8793.

Marc Brogger of Three Forks, MT, is the winner of this year’s saddle maker award. Marc has been building saddles for thirty-three years. During this time, he has become a respected craftsman, known for building saddles that are functional as well as beautiful. He has worked on the CA Ranch for over twenty years, Marc Brogger giving him practical experience in his saddle making. Marc builds saddles for all disciplines, including working cowboys, team roper’s, cutters, and others in the performance horse industries. One of Marc’s saddles is pictured in Bill Reynolds’ book, Art of the Western Saddle, and another is featured on the cover of David Stoecklein’s Saddles of the West. His saddles have also won best of show at several events including the Trappings of Texas.

Gary Dunshee

24 FEBRUARY 2016

The Don King Award this year goes to Gary Dunshee of Alpine, TX. Gary grew up in Tucumcari, NM, and attended Panhandle State University in Goodwell, OK. He transferred to Sul Ross University and went to work at Big Bend Saddlery in 1971 while attending Sul Ross University where he earned a BS in Animal Science.

SHOP TALK!

He is a former team Roper and has branched in Brewster County since 1983, primarily raising Corriente roping cattle as well as beef cattle in Gonzales County. He was the first Texas saddle maker invited to the American Trappings of the West in Flagstaff, AZ, in the 1980’s. He has owned and operated Big Bend Saddlery since 1977 along with his partner, Brett Collier.

Among his many other accomplishments, Gary has curated Trappings of Texas in Alpine since 1986.

He has also served on the Texas Tech Ranch Horse Team and Equestrian Center board of advisors as well as numerous other county, university, and industry boards.

This year’s award-winning braider is Pablo Lozano from Tandil, Argentina. Pablo started studying rawhide braiding at the age of 15 and, eventually, became an instructor at the Heritage Center in Tandil where he permanently resides. He believes in the concept of apprenticeship as a means to Pablo Lozano educate and safeguard this cultural legacy. Pablo represented Argentina in the first international rawhide braiding summit in Montevideo, Uruguay.

In 2004 Pablo and will longtime friend and braider

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AWA AWARDS Armando Deferrari were invited to participate in a rawhide braiding seminar sponsored by the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA) and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Subsequently Pablo’s work has been featured in, Western Horseman Magazine, Range Magazine, and NE Magazine in France.

Boot maker Paul Kruse of Prescott, AZ, did not come from a family of boot makers. Rather, he spent his first twenty-five years repairing boots and shoes. Several of the shops he worked in during that time were in the cowboy country of California where he frequently repaired boots and fell in love with the art Paul Kruse form. When he retired from shoe repair, he moved to Phoenix, and spent the next five years working in a factory for one of the premier holster makers in the US.

26 FEBRUARY 2016

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Eventually, he moved to Prescott and started being asked to make Western boots by different people. Within three years, Paul had a year’s waiting list. His goal as a boot maker now is to bring something new into the world and be of service to those who want a good fit and individual self-expression in their footwear.

The award this year for Master Leather Artisan goes to Kathy Flanagan of Conifer, CO. Congratulations, Kathy!

When her children grew old enough to fend for themselves, leathercraft became a bigger part of Kathy’s life. In the 1990’s, Kathy became an active member of the Columbine Leather Guild. At the Kathy Flanagan 2005 International Federation of Leather Guilds show, Kathy was certified at the Master’s level. She continues to develop your skills as a leather worker in a variety of competitions as well as through teaching, writing and judging.

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 27

Staying Busy Inside:

Notes from the Prison Cell Editor’s Note: The following stories come from men behind bars. The focus of this feature isn’t about why they’re incarcerated.

Rather, it’s about the leather work they do, some of which is pretty good, some of which is hobby quality. Nonetheless, inmates doing leather work make up quite a large segment of our industry and represent a major portion of customers for such suppliers as Springfield Leather which actually has someone on staff just to cater to the needs of inmates.

We also have several more articles on inmates in the works.

One of our staff writers is working on a historical piece about incarcerated leather workers.

She’s also doing one on the programs that different prisons currently offer which include several inmate manufacturing facilities. Stay tuned.

We want to thank everyone who sent us letters and pictures! We really had a nice response which provided an unique insight into the lives of jailed leather workers.

Our apologies for not being able to include material from everyone who wrote in. Also, we apologize for the quality of some of the pictures—they’re not the best but everyone sent what they had available which we really appreciate. Thanks.

Vincent Aguirre #1168848 I’ve been incarcerated for the past 13 years doing a capital life sentence. We have five craft shops on our unit.

One for each building.

This is a 3,200 man unit so you can imagine the waiting list to join—3 to 5 years. We have leather workers, metalworkers, artists, and woodworkers. It’s great because if you need a belt buckle, wood mold, or something drawn, it’s right at your fingertips.

We have an approved vendors list we can purchase supplies from.

We have stores like Springfield Leather, Tandy, Weaver, Garlin Neuman, and plenty more. The only problem we have is, they order only the second Wednesday of the month then it takes 2 to 3 weeks for the money to come off our account to get sent to the store.

We do purchase all our supplies from sewing machines to grinders.

In our shop we have a few Singers, Sailrites, Techsews, and an Artisan. So no problem getting things sewn.

We are not allowed any flammables so we use Tanners Bond, NeoWeld, and Dura-Safe glues. Same with dies; we all love the new water-stain dyes from Tandy.

One of the craft shop rules and TDCJ rules is that you can’t run a business. But you are allowed to make contracts with warders, correctional officers, and law enforcement. A contract is signed and approved. Once it’s paid you start the product. Once it’s finished, they pick it up from the craft shop supervisor, and then she/he transfers the funds to your inmate account.

Rules are vague here. You personally can’t sell any product, but you can send stuff to your family and friends, and they can do what they want with the product. And they can give you any donations they want. Sounds crazy but that’s how things work around here.

The way I learned leather crafting is from a friend. He showed me

28 FEBRUARY 2016

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the basics and told me, “All I ask is that what I show you, you show someone else that enters the craft shop and wants to learn.”

Around six months into my training, I was showing promise and he kicked me out of the nest and said, “Fly on your own.” And I haven’t stopped yet.

I’ve been doing leather work for the past three years and love it. I’m currently making gun cases, rifle slings, portfolios, and many other things. My friend’s mom keeps asking for horse tack so I’m moving in that direction. I’m waiting for a saddle maker or boot maker to land in our shop. When I get a chance I go to other craft shops and admire the work of others, ask questions, and, of course, steal ideas— ha! ha! We all learn from one another and help when we can.

Fletcher K. Mack #698338 Here at the John B. Conley Unit the prison is not what it used to be as far as our leather shop goes (craft shop). We are not getting the hours we need in the shop to improve and perfect our craft.

Being a saddle maker, I require lots of hours, some long days to, to create a saddle. That is my passion, my art. It is what I love to do and besides that, if you have to be imprisoned, being privileged to spend our time in the unit craft shop is a wonderful way to pass time. No hanging out in the cellblock dayroom, watching endless rerun TV.

hand stitching saddle skirts; in fact, I prefer it.

Enclosed is a not so good photo of my latest saddle. It is a 16”seat roper saddle with a 12”swell and 5” cantle. It is built on a Ralide tree and the horn is double wrapped with rawhide for strength. It is definitely heavy duty, weighing in at nearly 40 pounds. The horn is Spanish round braided instead of sewn. I have round braided the entire cantle back before which is about a 30 hour job.

I’ve been doing time since 1993. I started making saddles in 2004. The unit is currently short of staff and therein lies the problem. We used to have the craft shop open seven days a week from 7 AM to 9 PM. Now, we’re lucky if we get 30 hours a week. But I still enjoyed the time we get and count my blessings.

Some prisons no longer have craft shops. We’re fortunate to have a warden who sees the rehabilitative qualities of learning a craft as well as learning how to run a business. We buy our own tools and supplies to produce leather goods and wood products....

I have two sewing machines now. I have a Singer home machine to do small leather goods such as wallets, clutch purse insides, etc. And I just recently bought a Singer 29 K knockoff just for belts and anything thicker. I’m very pleased with it. It would have been nice to purchase an Artisan 3200 BT benchtop stitcher, but it’s out of my price range. Because of the fewer hours in the shop, I’m forced now to “think small”. I don’t mind SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 29

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SHOP TALK!

Staying Busy Inside: Notes from the Prison Cell

George E. Clark #327319 Texas has about 150 different prison units. Craft shops are not quite as prevalent as they once were in Texas, but most units do have some sort of program in place. Eastham has had one for years and the reputation for an active program.

Presently, our shop can hold a maximum of 96 inmates, though I think we only have about 80 to 85 currently assigned. Men craft in different mediums with leather workers and metal workers being the majority, but we have quite a few guys who work with wood and also some artists. Personally, I have been working with leather for about 19 years.

Unlike many state prisons, Texas does not pay the general population inmates any sort of monetary wage with a few exceptions at designated units.

Thus, working in the craft shop is the only legitimate means an inmate has to make any money.

The craft shop is generally open Monday through Friday from about 7 AM to 9 PM so we are able to piddle on those days during our off hours from an assigned job.

All of our supplies, materials, etc. are ordered from vendors who are on our approved vendor list. I noticed in your magazine several who we patronize such as Springfield Leather, American Leather Direct, E. C. Leather, Weaver, Sew What, and a few others.

We submit orders to various vendors utilizing catalogs and once they are approved, we go to a central office to have a check made to include with the order which are drawn from our trust fund account. Thus, all of our orders are sent prepaid and include shipping costs and tax if it applies.

On Eastham, which is an older unit, we are allowed to order various types of machinery, tools, etc. I own an Artisan 3200 heavy duty stitcher, and there are

probably eight or so other heavy duty machines and a number of other smaller machines. The woodworkers have table saws, planers, and more, and the metal workers are also well-equipped.

All equipment is purchased by the individual inmate.

Items produced in the shop can be sold or given away as a gift.

Quite a number of employees working at the unit utilize our services and many have outside outlets. The people in the world can order something from us through the mail and, if they are not able to pick it up at the unit, we mail it to them. For leather workers, the police and law enforcement industry are a big customer here down south as they like to order a full gun rig that is personalized in color or with tooling. This is one of the main areas which I work. Also, many officers want personalized buckle sets that are engraved, and they also are made here by the metal workers, usually out of stainless steel….

I hope some of what I’ve shared is useful to you in some way. Oh, just as an afterthought, when I said Eastham has a reputation for the work we do, I wasn’t joking or bragging. When George Bush was elected President after being the governor of Texas, the wardens and some other officials presented him with a saddle that had been made in our shop.

We do have some exceptionally talented men in here.

In addition to saddles, the leather workers here also make wallets, purses, folios, gun slings, pistol cases, rifle cases, briefcases, and about anything that can be requested by someone.

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 31

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SHOP TALK!

Staying Busy Inside: Notes from the Prison Cell

Rick Fras #460665 My name is Rick Fras #460665.

I am 51 years old I have been a “brick fixture” (a.k.a. guest) of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for almost 30 years (October 1986). I came in here at the ripe age of 23 and never been out since. When I arrived to the unit 30 years ago, I was introduced to the craft shop on a helper’s program. In other words, I worked for another inmate. The hours at that time were from 6 AM to 10:30 PM. It ran two shifts and you were allowed to go to the craft shop when you were off work hours.

The hours today are from 11 AM to 7 PM, six days on and three days off on this unit. This coincides with the craft shop supervisor’s job hours. Every unit has different hours and schedules.

When I was introduced to leather, I didn’t like the craft shop at first. The inmate I was working for then didn’t have much work at the time. I turned my card in and left the craft shop. Then six months later after numerous inmates begging me to try it again, I applied for my own card and got back in. You are given an area 24” deep and 46”wide. You have a tabletop and a locker just below the tabletop to lock your leather supplies in when you leave. There is an electrical outlet that each inmate has at each station. Some craft shops have air supplied to each station and some you have to buy your own compressor. Supplies are bought with my own money and there is an approved vendors list that TDCJ has approved for you to order from.

detectives. After that, I couldn’t sell boots for more than $150 in the TD CJ. Everyone wanted cheap boots but the leather wasn’t cheap. I was writing professionals across the country who are giving me great ideas on the assembly of boots. If it weren’t for boot makers I had been writing, I would not have been that good to begin with. I thank those men who took their time to write 12 page letters to me such as Paul Wheeler of Wheeler Boots and Wild Bill.

I left leather temporarily and became a silversmith. I had a friend talk me into making spurs with him. He made spurs for the Governor’s Cup in 2002 for the first game of the Texans when they became an NFL franchise.

We worked for hours around the clock for two days to get those spurs out on such short notice.

Gov. Perry presented the spurs at halftime. We were ecstatic when we watched it. The spurs and the

I started with $1,000 and bought some leather and a sewing machine. I bought only Craftools from Tandy and I was off and running. Over the years, I have made belts, wallets, and purses.

I even did leather art when I belonged to the Hoosier Guild in Indiana. My sponsor was an Al Stohlman Award winner by the name of Ava Ostrander. I did a few shows and then lost interest in the art department. Eventually, I tried my hand at saddles but found that I didn’t enjoy it as much.

I soon found the fever of boot making. It was a challenge I had been looking for and I wanted the knowledge from it. I found a book from D. W. Frommer on making boots. I was hooked. I made boots for family members, Waco police chief, and a few

SHOP TALK!

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Rick Fras #460665 (continued from previous}

Staying Busy Inside: Notes from the Prison Cell Stephen Martucci #855812

presentation box were made in TDC by three inmates including David Hall, Juan Valdez, and myself. I did this for about a year and progressed from spurs to keychains and belt buckles.

For the past 15 years I’ve been a silversmith and really enjoy this more than life itself so to speak. I have learned so many things reading books to watching videos when I had the chance. I studied Western style engraving. I fill every buckle I make with engravings from border to border, and my clients have included Texas Rangers, chief of police, detectives, troopers, as well as a number of famous musicians such as Bob Wills and country singer Neal McCoy.

Leather workers here do a variety of different wallets, purses, and custom belts. We also have two saddle makers. One is experienced and the other is just starting out. We’re also getting started making boots. The problem we are experiencing is this: a lot of companies do not want to do business with us since we are behind bars. We are having difficulty locating materials and tools necessary to make our products.

A lot of the guys got started like I did. I bought enough tools and materials to get started. I learned from other guys that had been in the craft shop a while. I’m still learning but my quality has improved a lot. Like the other inmates. I make a lot of different purses and wallets. I make biker wallets and send them home to my family to sell for me.

Today, I still make gun rigs for Texas Rangers as well as the buckles that outfit each of them. I make notebook covers as well. Also make pistol grips for 1911’s that are truly handmade. These are not cast but hand forged. I feel that what I taught myself has really paid off. I hope to continue this when the time comes and I am paroled. I will be opening a shop doing leather and metal work.

Here are a few pictures of what I have made over the past three decades. The leather work is the oldest of the pictures and the metal work is within the last year or so.

You may go toRFras@I-scribes.com to see a few pictures I have listed but there are no sales from the site.

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 35

Staying Busy Inside: Notes from the Prison Cell

Samples of work done by

Jimmy Dobecka #1036774

Chris Weatherly #1465878 Everything I have, I own. TDCJ only furnishes us a workstation. I have been in the craft shop for seven years and own two sewing machines, a Singer 500 and an Artisan 3200. I have invested over $12,000, but have made much more.

I mainly make duty belts and accessories for the officers on the unit. The way that works is, the officer will come to me in the shop and decide what he/she wants. I give them a price. When they agree, we then fill out a contract and sign it. They then have 30 days to pay. When they pay, they will bring a money order for the amount of purchase to the warden’s secretary. She will then send a receipt to the craft shop showing that the officer has paid. Then I can start making the product. I cannot start until the officer has paid. Once I complete the product, the officer is notified to come and pick it up. They then sign a pickup slip and take the product.

The money order is then sent to the Huntsville inmate trust fund account to be deposited into my personal account. This normally takes about 10 days.

We are also allowed to make items and send them out to our families.

This originally was my big market, and I still do pretty well out there.

I make a lot of rifle slings, guitar straps, motorcycle bags, etc. The main thing is, I love doing leather work.

Especially building boots and boot repair. The good news is that I’m going home in March 2016, and I plan on starting up a small shop at my house. I have already sent most of my things home.

I’ve only enough material and tools to do a few belt rigs to keep a few dollars in my account.

36 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

Staying Busy Inside: Notes from the Prison Cell

David Anderson #1127957 Boot and shoe making has been my way of life since I learned the craft in a craft shop back in 1992 on the Hughes unit. Sure, I have been out since then, and I even had my own boot and saddle shop that did really well. You see there are no teachers or any type of staff that teach us the trade. We are mostly self-taught, and we pass our skills to each other. The only thing the state gives us is a place to work in. All of our money from sales goes into our inmate trust fund account that we use to pay for materials and help provide for ourselves and our families.

I have been making boots and shoes here on Eastham for the past 12 years.

I do work for the directors, wardens, police, the staff, inmates, their families, and my friends and my family. It’s also a way to help others by being able to donate to local churches and other charitable causes.

Water buffalo

Elephant with calf inlay and overlay collar

S. Dean PoRter #7430532 I am from a small town in eastern Oregon where logging and ranching are the main economy, so growing up around my older brother, a self-proclaimed rodeo cowboy, and my father who was a logger, I had many uses for leather products.

As you may be aware, our prison, Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, OR, has a hobby shop program. After waiting 14 years, I had my chance to get into the program and came in punching and kicking my way into leather crafts with all kinds of new

I’m sure you have heard that if you love what you do for a living, you never work a day of your life. That is what it is for me. I have mastered my craft where I can make a boot with a one piece top that is seamed in the back which gives me more room to do inlays, overlays, collars, you name it, and also makes for a more comfortable boot.

Yes, getting boot and shoe findings are very hard for me to find because many companies will not do business with convicts. When I make an order a check from my inmate account goes with it. I get most of my materials from E. C. Leather, J. Weiner, Weavers, Garlin Neumann, and Columbia Impact for my exotics.

I don’t have any fancy machinery. I have a Singer 31–15 for my top stitching. I have a Singer 29 K 70 patcher, a needle and awl machine for my sole stitching, a bench grinder with different wheels for sanding and finish work. An old pair of lasting pliers to pull everything together. Also 40 pairs of used lasts and am in need of some new or used ones.

If there is anyone out there wanting some special boots, I can do anything you want on the tops, and all mail-in orders are welcome.

Continued on p. 42

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 37

‘I do it all. I can build any kind of adornment a saddle maker wants, from silver caps on nails to custom horn caps with gold initials or brand.”

BURNT SPUR: HAND-BUILT, CUSTOM-MADE FILIGREE ART

— Marilyn Stix, Burnt Spur

Marilyn Stix creates Western-style ornamentation for horse tack, and more, in Nevada’s high desert country Marilyn Martin Stix, who describes herself as a “filigree artist,” lives in an old style, tile roofed ranch house set on forty acres in Fallon, NV., about sixty-five miles east of Reno.

by Lynn Ascrizzi, Staff Writer

“We have bright, bright days. It’s big sky country—Nevada runs a fast second to Montana. I could ride a horse from here, all the way to Carson City, and never cross a fence. It’s really open country,” she said of the rolling, high desert terrain dotted with miles of sage brush and mesquite, a scrub tree that she calls “skeet wood—a nasty bush that stinks like crazy.”

the customer wants. I do it all. I can build any kind of adornment a saddle maker wants, from silver nails to custom horn caps with gold initials or brand. I’m a oneman shop,” she said. Stix also creates filigree work for cell phone cases.

Her passion is creating custom, hand-built-from-scratch, Western style trim for horse tack and related items in silver, steel, copper, brass, and gold. An artist with diverse talents, she also does gun engraving, semi-precious stone cutting, and tool making.

“I know this may sound cocky, but if you can draw it, I can build it. And I’ll redesign a piece so it’s functional and it can work,” she said, with a confidence born from forty years of experience. One of her more recent projects was a copper filigree overlay for stirrups.

“There’s an engraver on every corner. But there are not many people who can make dies and design on paper and cut out a metal design and solder it together— whether it’s a belt buckle with inlaid rubies or a brand done in sterling silver or 18-karat gold—or whatever

“My customers are discriminating buyers who want something a bit above the commercial stuff that’s sold like candy,” she said. She also gets orders when people see one of her belt buckles, bracelets or other work that she’s either wearing or exhibiting in shows.

From right to left: Four steps in the process of hand cutting a sterling silver concho filigree, from the outlined designed to the completed cutout. Courtesy Marilyn Stix.

38 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

WESTERN LEATHER AND EQUIPMENT TRADE SHOW/AUCTIONS EVENT MARCH 14-15, 2016 French Lick Resort, 8670 W State Rd. 56, French Lick, Indiana 47432 Show and Auction in the same 12,000 foot area!

OVER TWO THOUSAND HIDES OFFERED 

Deerskin  Goat  Cow and Deer Suede  Split Leathers  American Buffalo  Sheep  Cow Chap  Embossed Hides  Saddle Skirting  Harness Leathers  Latigo  Belt Strips  Laces  Hair on Hides  Double butts  Whole Hide Upholstery Leather  Assorted Vegetable Tanned Sides & Shoulders in lighter weights  and more!

CONSIGNMENTS FROM MANY TANNERIES AND SUPPLY COMPANIES  Double K  Silvercreek  Troyer Rope  Hand Tools and Equipment  Creaser Machines  Miller Rivet Machine Kwik Print Foil Machine  Hudson 25T Clicker  Sandt 25T (both clickers need work)  Cobra Class 18 Sew. Mach.  Singer 144 Sew. Mach.  100s of Cutting Dies  Harness - Saddlery - Holster - Bag - Purse Hardware  Thousands of Jewel Spots, Rivets, Conchos  Pre-cut belt strips  Leather Laces  Buckstitch Lace  Kydex Sheets  and more! 

NEW MACHINERY FOR SALE FROM COBRA AND TIPPMANN VENDORS Tandy Leather  American-Bighorn-Shotan  Thoroughbred Leather  SRS Leather Co.  Tack Shack  Moser Leather  Auburn Leather  Wickett-Craig  Newman Leather  Frost Knives  Latta Mfg  Cowboy Tack  Big W  Southern Saddlery  Bonnie Oak Saddle Co  Paul Lamb Classic Saddles  Monterrey Makers  R+C Country Tack  and more! 

Tandy Leather will have classes both days for various projects, including carving!

Keystone Leather, Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal, and Work Boot Doctor will have product display tables.

SCHEDULE Monday 1 to 8 pm - Auction begins at 4 pm, dedicated to miscellaneous items, tools, saddles and tack - Any overflow will be sold on Tuesday.

Tuesday 9:30 am - Doors open at 9 am, auction begins at 9:30 am.

COME SPEND THE WEEKEND, AND THEN GET READY FOR THE EVENT! French Lick Resort 888-936-9360, rate is $119 plus tax (Group ID Code 0316WLE), Best Western Plus 800-230-4134, Lanes Motel 812-936-9919.

TERMS OF THE SALE ARE CASH, OR CHECK GUARANTEED WITH A CREDIT CARD. Also a BANK LETTER OF CREDIT (if unknown or not approved by Auction Company). IF YOU USE A CREDIT CARD YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY A 5% BUYER’S PREMIUM AND SIGN THAT MERCHANDISE WAS INSPECTED AND YOU WILL NOT DISPUTE. ALL UNKNOWN BUYERS MUST ALSO HAVE A FINGERPRINT ON FILE, (WHICH WE DO ON SITE). NON Dealers will be subject to Indiana Sales Tax. You must bring your tax ID to not be charged. Cox Auctioneers are licensed and bonded in favor of the Great States of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, and authorized to do auction in many other states as well. All buyers are welcome!

We have limited space, so if you would like to show or consign in the auctions CONTACT JAMES COX at 513-889-0500, fax to 513-894-3844, or email Jimnwestern1@aol.com, and we can add it to our online advertising campaign.

Feel free to call us for an updated fax listing of items consigned.

For auction updates, go to www.auctionzip.com (ID 8433)  www.moserleatherco.com SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 39

She creates her one-of-a-kind work in her 24’ by 60’ workshop. “It’s all sheet rocked—it’s top of the line. It’s the nicest shop you can imagine, just 35’ from my back porch. Most people would cry like babies if they had a shop like mine—anvils, grinders, buffers, small hand engravers,” she said.

Both her home and workshop are heated with wood.

She also owns a number of jewelry and engraving tools manufactured by Glendo LLC, based in Emporia, Kan. “You can’t beat GRS for any type of jewelry making tools,” she said of the tools Glendo makes. “They also sell great tool stock. It’s such a high carbon steel.”

Detail of a cooper filigree overlay that Marilyn created for a large show stirrup. Ever flower in the filigree has a brass screw center.

In her workshop, you can also find four or five engraving blocks and chase hammers and chisels. And she owns the latest hand tool from Lindsay AirGraver of Kearney, NE. “It comes with a little piston inside the hand piece, which you just need to squeeze. You don’t need a foot pedal. I use it to engrave steel spurs.”

A skilled design master, Stix also takes on repair work, including jobs that many artists would not dream of tackling. “Suppose you had a turquoise ring with the stone broken in the middle. Picture this. You’ve got to take that bezel away from the stone without cracking or breaking it. I can clean up this crack and cut a piece of silver that goes across it, lengthwise, so it looks like it was made that way. And then rework that bezel all around the ring,” she explains.

She takes pride in her quality work. “I don’t put silver on steel buckles. I make them out of solid sterling silver or silver clad.” A lot of conchos and small buckles used for headstalls or breast collars are silver clad which is a sterling silver cold rolled onto nickel. “Sterling silver is very soft, but to make it more functional, it is applied on a nickel back at the foundry. They sell it in sheets only 6” wide. You can’t buy it wider than that. If you want a 12” x 12” wide sheet, the foundry has to make a custom order.

40 FEBRUARY 2016

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Gold sheets only come 2” wide. I do a lot of gold work too. I’ve been working in gold for years,” she said.

To obtain jewelry making supplies, she orders online from such places as Santa Fe Jewelers Supply in Santa, Fe, NM, and Rio Grande, suppliers based in Albuqurque, NM. She often displays her filigree work, such as diamonds, hearts, spades and “These are buckles, on headstalls, sadhandmade items. dles, and martingales built by leather worker George They don’t come off Garcia, also of Fallon, NV. an assembly line.”

“These are handmade item; they don’t come off — Marilyn Stix, an assembly line,” she said, of her art. Garcia owns Si Burnt Spur erra Way Leather in Fallon. “He builds everything from cell phone cases to saddles. He builds all my headstalls from English leather,” she said.

Stix has exhibited her work at shows like the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, NV, and in Lake Tahoe area Continued on p. 52

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 41

Staying Busy Inside: Notes from the Prison Cell (continued from p. 37}

Editor’s Note: While most prisoners cannot actively market their work, that is not the case at the OSP Hobby Shop. Inmates there have their own business cards, e-mail, and web site. S. Dean Porter (Bench #46) has his own 26 pp. catalog (Porterbuilt Custom Leather) on the web which lists billfolds, biker wallets, bags, belts, buckles, suspenders, holsters, pistol cases, logging gear, welding gear, back packs, and more.

42 FEBRUARY 2016

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S. Dean PoRter #7430532 ideas and a team player’s attitude. At the time we had about 12 or so benches devoted to leather crafting. I bugged the other men with their unfinished projects and soon found myself working on 13 wallets that needed lacing. Later I found duty belts, rifle slings, purses, belts, and more all in need of lacing and tooling. I spent many nights watching my friends, Shawn and Ron, tool leather, looking at different applications, airbrushing dyes, and putting it all together.

The men the shop are eager to help each other out and, amazingly, we turn out some very good products which are really works of art, unique to each crafter’s style and design.

My day begins at 5 AM each morning. Following breakfast, I find myself in the prison industries furniture factory where I have worked since 1999. I lead the boring area where I train men in all the necessary skills for laying out the CNC machines and custom furniture designs. I typically use my 45 minute lunch break to run and exercise. Shop tools are turned in at 1:15 and by 1:30 I am making my way to the hobby shop and my lonely leather bench. I will stay most nights until 8:30 PM. Usually I wish I could work all night.

I’m fortunate to have the opportunity of working in the hobby shop.

I am 55 years old and all the sports have taken their toll on my body.

But I still wake up every morning ready to get to my little leather bench in my corner of OSP. The skills I have learned will carry me for the rest my life whether I’m free or still doing time. Leather work is in my blood.

I’m including a catalog and some pictures of some of the projects I’ve worked on. None of this would be possible without my friends the shop and the warden, J. Premo.

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by Liisa Andreassen, Staff Writer

Tips & Techniques from the Professionals

How to Sew Coated Webbing: Tricks of the Trade Sewing coated webbing can be a challenge at times, but, like anything, once you know what you’re doing, it’s a lot easier. We turned to a few pros to see how they handle sewing this tough material when it comes to lubrication and the right combination of needle and thread size. Here’s what they had to say.

Slow Down Ron Ohayon, owner of Raphael Sewing Machines Inc./ TechSew, recommends a #277 bonded nylon thread for the top thread and bobbin thread. For the needle, he uses a size 25 or 26 diamond point or triangle point.

“Running the thread through a lubrication pot helps when using larger thread sizes,” he says. “It helps to protect from overheating and also helps the thread to pass through the material to create proper tension. The lubrication pot should be filled with silicone thread lubricant too.”

He adds that the thread size must always be matched with the proper needle size. Here are some commonly used thread/needle size combinations for heavy duty sewing machines:

n

Needle 22 or 23 with thread size 138 Needle size 25 with thread size 207 or 277 n Needle size 26 with thread size 207, 277 or 346 n Needle size 27 with thread size 277, 346 or 415 n

“The triangular point needle allows the thread to quickly pass through and to keep the hole open for proper thread tension,” Hoffman says. “We prefer not to use any lube in the oil pot because it leaves a residue on the moving parts and creates service issues.”

The owners of the Leather Machine Co, are affectionately known in the industry as Cobra Dave and Cobra Steve. They also recommend a bonded nylon thread – one that is pre-lubed.

“With today’s modern threads there is no need to lube, unless of course you want to. The bonded thread is stronger and more durable,” they say.

Sewing at low speed is best because high speed creates friction on the needle and the thread could burn, he says. “The machine should be equipped with a powerful servo motor and speed reducer for best sewing speed control.”

The TechSew 5100 is one of the most popular machines for sewing heavy duty coated webbing, harness, nylon straps, holsters, saddles, and more.

No Lube Needed Scott Hoffman, vice president at Hoffman Brothers, provides technical knowledge for sewing and die cutting.

He suggests using a Ferdco PRO 2000 with bonded nylon thread. He prefers to use size 346 thread on top and 277 in the bobbin. His needle of choice is the Schmetz 794S triangular point, size 230.

46 FEBRUARY 2016

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Cobra Class 4 sewing two layers of Biothane totaling ½” thick with a #277 thread and a size 27 Schmetz needle.

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They suggest using a #277 thread with a round point needle that is one or two sizes larger than the needle you would normally use – in this case – a 27. The reason for using a larger needle is that it will poke a larger hole so there is more room for the thread to loop easier. The needles they sell are Schmetz and Organ.

“The same size thread can be used for top and bottom.

A #207 thread would require a 25 or 26 needle. The size mostly depends in the thickness of what is being sewn,” they explain.

Finally, Mose Miller of Miller’s Wholesale Harness has been sewing for more than forty-eight years. He recommends American & Efird polythread. He says that it’s similar to the old-fashioned linen thread and is great for abrasive materials. It’s strong and does not rot. It’s also pre-lubed, like many threads today, so using a lubricant is not necessary.

Custommade Knives & Tools for Leatherworkers

“For sewing something like coated webbing, I’d use a 207 thread – top and bottom – with a 230 diamond point needle,” Miller says. “A diamond point will not deflect as much and makes it easier to pull the thread back up. While bioplastic materials can be tough, they’re pretty friendly once you know how to handle them.”

Leather Machine Co. 2141 E. Philadelphia St., Unit U Ontario, CA 91761 (866) 962-9880 www.leathermachineco.com TechSew Sewing Machines (Raphael Sewing) 155 Port Royal Quest Montreal, QC H3L 2B3 (866) 415-8223 Miller’s Wholesale Harness 1793 Old Gradyville Rd. Columbia, KY 42728

48 FEBRUARY 2016

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Contact Information

Hoffman Brothers 1795 Birchwood Ave. Des Plaines, IL 60018 (800) 323-9120 www.hoffmanbrothers.com

■ New Handles Danny Repair ■◉Sharpen Round Knives ◉ Stitch Groovers Marlin ◉ Custommade Tools Knives ◉ Bench Knives

(254) 842- 5405

◉ Stock Tools ◉ Old Blades Reshaped

1550 County Road 207 ■ Blanket, TX 76432

FEB RUARY 201 6

News, Notes & Queries ON THE LOOKOUT. . .

THE BEST DEAL IN TOWN Are you a supplier of machinery, tools, hardware, nylon or leather? Are you looking for new customers? Do you make finished goods, and are you looking for new wholesale accounts?

We can help.

My Buyer’s Guide! reaches a lot of retailers, manufacturers, and custom shops which are good potential customers. In fact, it reaches 16,000 different businesses. That includes about every tack shop in the US, every harness shop, every saddle shop, every English saddle shop, and every Western store.

It also reaches manufacturers of holsters, cases, climbing gear, dog goods, safety equipment, belts, personal leather goods, custom boot makers, and every shoe repair shop in the US. So My Buyer’s Guide! really is reaching the right audience for you—and it reaches 1,000’s of shops and manufacturers that CANNOT be reached any other way. Honest. Of course, the directory is also online at www.mybuyersguide.net – it’s completely searchable so folks can find your products; moreover, your ad is hot linked back to your own web site for immediate access. That’s pretty handy.

What does this all cost?

The cost for a 1/8th page ad is $189, and, if you need it, we can design one for you. The cost for that would be about $20.

So what are you waiting for? After all, this really is too good to miss.

Deadline is March 6, 2016—let us hear from you and thanks! Please contact: My Buyer’s Guide!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, e-mail: info@mybuyersguide.net.

*Greg Hunt at Hunt Harness, (920) 387-5057 is looking for a few hame clips with split rings for show harness made by Herman Springer—can anyone help?

Greg also wants to find out about any major manufacturers of military harness dating up to WWI. He’d also be interested in getting ahold of old photos of the facilities.

Please give Greg a shout if you can help and thanks! Perhaps the folks at Ft. Myers near Washington, DC, could help. Maybe even Ft. Riley in Kansas. *Philip John Slovacek (#1546893) at Wallace Pack, 2400 Wallace Pack Rd., Navasota, TX 77868, is looking to purchase a used stitcher and would prefer a bench top model. If you’ve got something he might use, please drop John a line.

46TH ANNUAL GET-TOGETHER

HARNESS

MAKERS’

The Get-Together was held this past July 17, at Miller’s Harness Shop in Arthur, IL. Pat Martin travelled the most miles to attend. Ora Knepp was recognized as longest in business—since 1959. Glen Davis at Hawkeye Harness from Bloomfield, IA, was newest in business with just 1.5 years under his belt.

Enos Schrock and Dab Kauffman, both 92 years old, were the two oldest harness makers present. A total of 21 companies donated door prizes.

The 47th Get-Together will be held this year on July 15 at Keystone Harness & Tack in Drewmore, PA. The annual consignment auction will be on July 14 at Windy Knoll Sewing in nearby Nottingham, PA. See you there!

WEA CANCELS SPRING MARKET Western & English Atlanta has canceled its Spring 2016 market due to a lack of exhibitor participation. Roger Tully, CEO of Tully Markets, the producer of the market, said, “After ten years of providing this vital market to the Southeast, and after more than twenty years of there being a market in Atlanta for the Southeast, it is disappointing that the economy has apparently caused the manufacturers to cease their support of this market. It is unfortunate because the Western industry truly needs Continued

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 49

News, Notes & Queries this market and many of the Western retailers looked forward to doing their shopping here. . . .”

WEA will leave open the option to hold its fall and spring markets should manufacturers again show an interest in supporting future events. For more information, please contact: info@tullymarkets.com.

NEW LINE OF THERMAL TOOLS FROM PROLEPTIC Proleptic, Inc, reports that it’s recently developed a number of thermal tools heated by butane which makes the new products completely portable. The refillable tools are designed to be used by woodworkers, leatherworkers, farmers, hikers, campers, trail riders, and fabricators using different types of webbing.

Proleptic has also developed a new “Hot Knife” attachment for its Pro-Thermal line of electrically heated tools.

Another new portable, butane-powered product being carried by Proleptic is their Click 2 Cook stove (Bella Tavola BT-5000). The cost is $39 plus SH and does NOT come with fuel which must be purchased locally. It weighs only 3 lbs. 6 oz. and comes with a hard plastic carrying case. It will run 1.25 hrs. on high and 2.5 hrs. on low.

A fuller report is expected in the March issue of Shop Talk! so please stay tuned!

50 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! FEBRUARY 26-28 16th Southwest Leather Workers Trade Show, Prescott, AZ. Hosted by Leather Crafters Journal. Contact: 222 Blackburn St., Rhinelander, WI 54501, (888) 289-6409, www.leathercraftersjournal.com MAY 20-22 Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show, Sheridan, WY. Hosted by Leather Crafters Journal.

Contact: 222 Blackburn St., Rhinelander, WI 54501.

(888) 289-6409, www.leathercraftersjournal.com.

JUNE 15-16 Weaver Leather Consignment Auction.

Contact: 2540 County Road 201, Millersburg, OH 44654, (800) WEAVER-1, www.weaverleather.com.

JULY 14-15 47th Annual Harness Makers’ GetTogether and consignment auction. Auction on 14th at Windy Knoll Sewing, Nottingham, PA, (717) 529-7506. Get-Together on 15th at Keystone Harness & Tack, Drewmore, PA, (717) 284-4565 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

FROM

News, Notes & Queries

TRANSLATION PROJECT WITH AMARA

Tandy Leather announces a new customer service working in partnership with Amara, an award-winning project of the Participatory Culture Foundation (PCF).

Amara’s mission is to ensure that all online video content is accessible to everyone regardless of hearing loss or language barriers.

With Amara, Tandy Leather has begun to create closed caption subtitles for the new “Learning Leathercraft” with Jim Linnell video series, as well as some of the more popular tutorial YouTube videos by George Hurst. The Amara platform enables volunteers from around the world to translate the subtitles into many languages, increasing the accessibility of leathercraft resources on a global level.

Tandy Leather invites multi-lingual leather crafters to join in this pursuit of developing more international learning opportunities for leatherworkers. For more information, visit www.amara.org/en/teams/tandyleather/

TANDY BOOT CARE LINE INTRODUCED Tandy Leather has introduced its new Tandy Boot Care line of products to condition, protect, and prolong the life of leather goods. The new product line includes a selection of cleaners, conditioners, and treatments, as well as several new boot lace varieties.

The Tandy Boot Care line provides a wide variety of dressings, polishes, oils, cleaners, conditioners, repellents, saddle soap, and more. In addition to treatments for traditional vegetable tanned leathers, the line also offers specialized products for suede, sheepskin, and rubber boot care. Many of these goods are silicone, solvent, and petroleum free and will be available for international markets.

Among the new laces available are Loggers Laces and Kevlar Boot Laces. The Loggers Laces are genuine oiltanned cowhide laces specially formulated to withstand the toughest conditions. These laces meet NFPA standards for protective clothing and equipment for wildland fire fighting. Kevlar Boot Laces offer a high tensile strength fiber and are flame resistant, making them an excellent choice for firefighters and welders.

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 51

Continued from p. 40

Oh, and did we mention her forty dogs? “I raise pugs and corgis, all registered AKC. I use the corgis to rustle up the goats. Almost all my corgis are good working dogs,” she said. Raising dogs and horses supplements her income.

SIGNS OF EARLY GIFTS Born in Golden, CO, Stix grew up one of three kids in a household headed by her mother, a single parent who was half Choctaw and half Irish/English. Her mother was a quarter horse trainer. “She couldn’t read or write, but raised us three kids. We followed the racetracks. When you do that, you’ve seen it all as a child.”

As a pre-teen, she described herself as “age 12 going on 55. We moved thirty-six times, living in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. I went to school in all those states. I didn’t get my GED (high school equivalen-

Old style sterling silver Mexican poinsettia ornament for a leather tapadero.

park shows, such as the Annual Candy Dance Arts & Crafts Faire in Genoa, NV. “At park shows they let you set up once a year to exhibit. I take a tent and take my work,” she said.

When heading to a show, she packs all her handiwork in a bright yellow, 1956 Ford panel truck that she restored herself. “It’s lowered, with no door handles. It’s all leaded in. Electric poppers pop the doors open. I don’t know how many hundreds of hours I’ve put into it.”

CRITTERS On top of the engraving and other shop work, Stix owns twenty-two quarter horses and fifty milk goats. “They keep my ditches clean,” she said, of the goats. “I have some irrigated land. I have a tractor I use to take them hay and clean the stalls. I get up at 3 a.m. and work until 7 a.m. to take care of my animals. In winter, I have to go out and break all the ice on the water troughs.”

Two of the quarter horses are stallions, and every spring she breeds from ten to twenty mares. “I’ve done this all my life. At age 71, people expect you to be the grandmotherly type and overweight. I weigh 106 and am 5’ 2” tall,” she said.

52 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

We stock over 1,000 types & colors of leather!

New & Improved Full Color Catalog Upon Request

FeatURINg: Chap Leather (125 colors available),

embossed Cow Sides, garment & Hair-On Hides, genuine Buffalo, genuine Salz Latigo, Harness Leather, Metallic Cow Sides, Patent Leather, Skirting, Strap & Upholstery Leathers Complete line of decorative accessories & full line of leather crafting tools.

Become a Preferred Customer:

Benefits of becoming a preferred customer: Very best pricing for the leathers you use the most. Receive immediate notification of leathers going on sale. Added luxury of choosing only leathers that interest you, thus eliminating unwanted emails. Notification of new products and services as they become available ensures the personal service you deserve.

Logon to

l 595www.hidehouse.com Monroe St., Napa, CA 94559

800-4LEATHR (800-453-2847) Fax: 800-255-6160

WHOLESALE cy diploma) until I was age 52,” she recalled. But somehow, everybody made it through. “Mom was never on welfare and none of us were on drugs or went to jail,” she said.

It helped that Styx was an exceptionally gifted and talented child. It’s likely that her innate intelligence, sharpened by tough times, kept her from slipping into the pits of failure. “I could build things by hand. One day, when I was just a kid, I watched a sign painter at work. One day, he handed me a brush—a French quill—and stood me in front of a sign and told me to draw a line. So I did. He said: ‘Not bad for a kid.’ “

& RETAIL

We make custom show stall curtains with decorations Also tack box covers, table covers, etc.

• Horse blankets & sheets, shipping boots, harness bags, hay bags, & related items • Reflective bands • Carriage covers 4285 TOWNSHIP ROAD 628 Millersburg, OH 44654

Phone: 330-674-0879

The sign painter became an informal mentor. “He showed me how to make a living,” she said. By age 14, she was painting signs on her own and did pin striping on cars. “It was a way to make a living and help the family. My oldest brother picked it up too. . . . I can remember, many times, not having enough to eat. Maybe that’s why I learned to do so many things,” she said.

FOR MORE INFO Burnt Spur Marilyn Stix 12255 Carr Ln. Fallon, NV 89406 775-217-6177

burntspur89406@gmail.com www.facebook.com/burntspursilver

Whip Manufacturing

50”, 60”, 66”, 72” in stock  Colors  Custom Orders

Leather, BioPlastic & Brahma Webb Harnesses

N aLL sizes N

Available for Large & Small Production Runs  Private Labeling  On Time Delivery 

X

Center Square HarneSS

246 Forest Hill Rd., Leola, PA 17540 • (717) 656-3381 SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 53

Nylon Webbing

Thread

 Medium and Heavy weight webbing ¾″- 1 ½″   Color matched nylon bonded thread 92-346 

9415 W 300 S • Topeka, IN 46571• 260•593•0044

54 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

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

EXPERT MECHANIC WANTED: Must have working knowledge of the Campbel-Bosworth Cyclone sewing machines. Preferably in the Tri-State area (Texas), but not necessary. Call John at (718) 445-6200, M-TR, 7am2pm EST. (R&B)

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: New subscribers from Wyoming, New Mexico, Nevada, and Colorado. Now is the time to renew! Give us a call at (828) 505-8474, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net or visit www.proleptic.net.

WANTED: Complete tool collections. Contact: Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 5058474, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net.

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.

LOOKING FOR WHOLESALE OUTLET to sell leather belts and/or other handcrafted leather products.

Contact: Dan D. Troyer, 10896 Rt. 28N, Brockway, PA 15824.

EXPERIENCED SADDLE MAKER AND/OR CHAP MAKER NEEDED in historic Hamley & Co. saddle shop.

Must be able to relocate to Pendleton, OR. Call Penny at (541) 278-1100, option 1.

E OU R BE ST BU Y! CL AS SI FI ED S AR of pot en tia l bu yer s Re ach 1,0 00 ’s for as litt le as $2 6.5 0!!

LACE, LACE, LACE CLOSEOUT!!! 5/32” gold foil apx.

11 yds. $2; 3/32” brn. plastic 100 yds. $4; 3/32” tan kangaroo 25 yds. $4; 3/32” tan kangaroo 25 yds. $4; 3/32” tan kangaroo 25 yds. $4; 3/32” black kangaroo 50 yds. $7.50; 3/32” brn. kangaroo 50 yds. $7.50; 3/32” black kangaroo 50 yds. $7.50; 3/32” med. brn. leather 25 yds. $4.50; 3/32” med. brn. leather 25 yds. $4.50; 3/32” dk. brn. vinyl 50 yds. $3.50; 3/32” tan kangaroo 50 yds. $4.

ALL FOR $39 plus SH. Contact: Proleptic, Inc., P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, shoptalk@ proleptic.net.

CLOSEOUTS FOR SALE. All types of hardware: buckles, dees, snaps, rivets. All types webbing, colors and widths.

Light weight leathers. Scrap leather. Latigo, russet, and colored leathers. Discontinued and overstock items. Call for pricing. Contact: Michael Schrekenhofer (501) 3299471 ext. 305.

FOR SALE: Union Lock Stitcher #6195. Good condition.

Used very little for 25 years. $3,000 or make offer.

Contact: Yoder’s Tack Shop, 30904 Perch Lake Rd., Evans Mills, NY 13637.

INTERNET BUSINESS FOR SALE. Manufacturing and retail sales of specialized livestock tack and supplies.

Includes exclusive patterns and designs, inventory, large customer base, 37 years in business. Owner retiring.

Serious inquiries only. $385,000. Call: (541) 451-4345.

SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 55

CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE: Union Lock Stitch. #6195. Good condition.

Used very little for25 years. $3,000 or make offer.

Contact: Yoder’s Tack Shop, 30904 Perch Lake Rd., Evans Mills, NY 13637.

FOR SALE: Randall Edge Beveller with stand. Extra knives and wheels. Excellent condition. Contact: Christie Saddlery, Alvord, TX, (940) 427-3260. E-mail: lcox@ christiesaddlery.com.

SINGER PATCHER 29-4 SEWING MACHINE. Good condition. Guaranteed to work. $400. Contact: Ruben Yoder, Yoder’s Collar Shop, 25090 County Hwy J66, Davis City, IA 50065, (641) 442-2517.

WESTERN SADDLE BUSINESS FOR SALE LOCATED IN IDLER, AL. Includes business, builsings, and equipment.

Two buildings connected totaling 6,100 sq. ft. Ready for buyer to start building saddles. Call for a very good price. Rocking-R-Saddlery, (423) 280-5971 or (256) 6328882.

FOR SALE: Industrial Pfaff box stitching machine with stand and electric motor in working condition, $450.

Standard River spot setter with stand. Fully automatic, 110v, excellent condition. Setup for 3/8” spots with ½” parts included. $2,000. Contact: Mud Creek Leather, LLC, 9415 W 300 S, Topeka, IN 46571, (260) 593-0044.

LEATHER UNLIMITED. Quality wholesale leather distributor since 1970 including oak, deerskin, garment, rawhide, oiled cowhide, furs, and more. Quality leather goods, leather tools, black powder gear, all steel clicker and mallet dies. Complete Internet catalog at www.

LeatherUnltd.com or call (800) 993-2889 for quality leather and friendly service from a USA family-owned and operated business. (R&B) LIQUIDATING ENTIRE INVENTORY. 7 hvy. Duty sewing machines—Cobras, Artisan, Juki’s. 2 embossing machines. 12” USMC splitter. 12” Aperture band knife.

2 creasers. Singer 112 dbl. needle. 14” strap cutter. 3 Standard Rivet spot machines. 5 nylon hole burners.

2 chap machines. 5 cargo trailer container loads of saddles, bridles, halters, leads, etc. No reasonable offer refused. Contact: Ben Day, Western Specialties, 3106 Cedardale Rd., Mt. Vernon, WS 98174, (360) 708-4201.

ARGENT EXPRESS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS of custom conchos, rosettas, scraf slides, and pins has moved. New address: P O Box 117, Folsom, LA 70437. Phone (209) 402-4430. Visit our eBay store at: Conchosmiths Argent Express, seller: quintasper or e-mail: conchosmith@hotmail.com.

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

56 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

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.

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) 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) 932-3795. (R&B) FOR SALE: Juki Pro 2000. Like new. On stand with clutch. Ready to use on line shaft. $4,200, Contact: G.R.T. Saddlery, 149 Chestnut Rd., Dayton, PA 16222.

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.

Simplifying Leathercraft.

We have redesigned our labels to help you better identify the steps involved in preparing, coloring and finishing your next leathercraft project.

Look for the color coded stripe and use Fiebing’s to create the project of your dreams.

Prep

Dyes

LEATHERWORK: A Manual of Techniques

Antiques

PAPERBACK, 160 PP.

$29.95+S/H

• Solid beginners/intermediate book. Practical & Detailed.

• Practical discussion of how to make patterns.

Edge Finishes

• Covers working with heavier veg leather.

• Chapters on: hand sewing, built-up work, carving, stamping, lacing, light & heavy leather projects.

ORDER TODAY! PROLEPTIC, INC. P.O. Box 17817 • Asheville, NC 28816 Ph (828) 505-8474 • Fax (828) 505-8476 shoptalk@proleptic.net • www.proleptic.net

Top Finishes

www.fiebing.com SHOP TALK!

FEBRUARY 2016 57

CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE: NICK-O-SEW 441. Used very little. Priced to sell. Contact: Moreland Acres Harness, 3942 Moreland Rd., Fredricksburg, OH 44627.

CUSTOM ORDERS: belts, suspenders, holsters, pistol cases, rifle slings, purses with holsters, clutches, welders arm protectors, and phone cases. We guarantee satisfaction. Please contact: Porterbilt Custom Leather, 2605 State St., Salem, OR 97310, (503) 378-2514 or e-mail: osphobbyshop@gmail.com.

BOOT & SHOE BUSINESS FOR SALE: DAVIS CUSTOM BOOT located at 1209 E. 11th St., Quanah, TX 79252. Contact: (940) 839-6537 for more information.

FOR SALE: Landis 12K. Clean, runs smooth. $1,800.

Contact for photos. (406) 531-2589, e-mail: howard. knight@montana.com.

ESTABLISHED 26 YEAR old business in San Antonio, TX. One man operation with inventory of apx. 350 pair 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 rate of $650/month. Retiring.

(866) 250-3350 or (210) 215) 9158 or e-mail: info@ shiplerboots.com. $150,000.

FOR SALE: Landis 12L Aristocrat, Landis Line Finisher, Adler patching machine, Singer long arm patcher 29K, heel wheel by Auto Soler, Continental McKay stitcher; Singer tabe machine, lots of parts and shoe supplies.

Would like to sell all together for $3,500 or best offer.

Please call Kent From at (308) 249-3091, Sidney, NE 69162.

58 FEBRUARY 2016

SHOP TALK!

The “Word of the Day” is: anodyne

 Custom Shops • Saddle Makers • Harness Makers 

Pro-Saddler Hammer Long 7 ¹/2" head allows you to work in narrow spaces and makes tacking up easier.

11 ¹/2” hickory handle • Approx. 8 oz.

Wholesale Pricing Available

Made in the USA!

S/ H

Pro-Concho Turners

Remove & Install Decorative Conchos Quickly!

$29+00

for Conchos 1 /8" & Larger 1

S/ H

for electric drills only

Sizes: 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4" $36+50

S/ H

$4250 +

Pro-Concho Turner

English & Round Punches 7

/8", 1", 1 1/8", 1 1/4" $4150 +

1 1/2", 1 3/4", 2"

Individually Handcrafted & Polished

S/ H

$46+50

S/ H

5% Discount on Complete 22-Piece Set

Pro-Concho Turner II for Conchos 1" & Smaller

$2600 + S/ H

Extra Grippers Lg: $265 Sm: $235

Proleptic, Inc.

PO Box 17817 • Asheville, NC 28816 | Ph. 828.505.8474 • Fx. 828.505.8476

SHOP TALK! FEBRUARY 2016 www.proleptic.net • shoptalk@proleptic.net

59

ADVERTISERS INDEX A. Lyons & Co. Inc......................................20 American Leather Direct........................26 Beachy Blacksmith...................................44 Beiler's Mfg. & Supply..............................11 BioThane.........................................................6 Bogle Greenwell Machinery Corp.........20 Booth & Co., Inc.........................................17 Bowden Saddle Tree....................................9 Brayer............................................................44 Brodhead Collar Shop..............................53 Buckeye Blanket........................................53 Buckeye Engraving...................................44 Buckle Barn USA........................................16 Buena Vista Blankets..............................47 Buggy Builder's Bulletin..........................17 C Loy’s Leather..........................................43 C. S. Osborne & Co....................................30 Campbell-Randall......................................25 Center Square Harness..........................53 Champion Halters.....................................43 Chino Tack...................................................45 Chupp Blacksmith Shop.........................11 Chupp Bros. Wholesale...........................20 Coblentz Collar...........................................47 Danny Marlin Knives.................................48 Double K Leather Sales, LLC.................45 Fairview Country Sales...........................13 Fiebing Leather..........................................57 Fine Tool Journal........................................44

George Barta Hide Co..............................43 Gfeller Casemakers, Inc..........................44 Goliger Leather Co....................................21 Hadlock & Fox Mfg. Co............................19 Hansen Western Gear.............................47 Harness Hardware....................................48 Hastilow..........................................................5 Hermann Oak Leather................................... .......................................... inside front cover Hide House..................................................52 Hillside Harness Hardware.....back cover IHS ELP, LLC................................................17 Intemational Sheepskin & Leather.....40 Kalico Products..........................................11 Kelly-Larson Sales....................................17 Landis Sales & Service...........................17 Leather Crafter & Saddlers Journal....57 Leather Machine Co. Inc., The.................... ...........................................inside back cover Ludwig & Marglin Leather.......................13 Mark Staton Co..........................................18 Maverick Leather......................................19 Mid-River Sales..........................................54 Miller's Wholesale Harness...................21 Moser Leather...........................................39 Mud Creek Leather...................................54 Mules & More.............................................17 N & A Harness Shop.................................47 Nettles Country Store.............................43

Ohio Plastics Belting Co.........................17 Ohio Travel Bag ..........................................54 Perfectix Plus LLC.....................................13 Precision Saddle Tree..............................41 Proleptic, Inc...................5, 21, 27, 44, 45, ................................. 54, 57, 59, back cover Raphael Sewing Machine/Tech Sew........ ................................................................... 3, 13 Renia USA, Inc............................................25 RJF Leather.................................................13 Shelton-Reynolds, Inc.............................15 Sheridan Leather.......................................34 Shetler's Collar Shop...............................13 ShoTan..........................................................22 Small Farmer's Joumal............................22 Smoke & Fire Co........................................22 Sorrell Notions...........................................45 SouthStar Supply......................................22 Springfield Leather...................................50 Steel Stamps, Inc.....................................15 Sugar Valley Collar Shop.........................44 Sun Bias, Inc................................................21 Sunrise Supply...........................................34 Sweat Pad Shop................................ 22, 43 Tennessee Tanning Company...............48 Texas Custom Dies...................................22 Toledo Sewing...............................................1 Weaver Leather.........................................32 Western Mule Magazine.........................21

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