Shop Talk May 2015

The Leather Retailers' and Manufacturers' Journal

May 2015

Shop Talk!

With Boot and Shoe News

Alain Eon

Vintage Western Saddle Collection

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Mose Miller Wins Grand Prize .

a

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N & A Turns 25

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BioThane Comes of Age

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Kali Leather Life

Copper Prices

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Absorbine Buys Leather Therapy Follow me...

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Shop Talk! |

The Leather Retailers’ and Manufacturers’ Journal

with Boot & Shoe News

Laugh Lines 5 Hide Report 9 News, Notes & Queries 45 Classifieds 59

Pg. 14

Read Shop Talk!

Online with links to advertisers and online information www.proleptic.net ShopTalkLeatherMagazine

Goods & Services.........................21 Kalico: Keeps on Keeping On..........14 N & A Harness: Celebrates 25 Years...26 Alain Eon: Vintage Saddle Collection...30 BioThane: Coated Webbing............40

Pg. 30

Cover credits: Photo of Alain Eon by Nick Pernokas.

Shop Talk!

published by Proleptic, Inc. P.O. Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816 Ph (828) 505-8474 | Fax (828) 505-8476 www.proleptic.net

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. Shop Talk! is the official monthly publication of the Saddle, Harness, and Allied Trades Association (SHATA). SHATA members receive a $4 discount on annual subscriptions. For more information on subscriptions, advertising rates, or SHATA membership, contact us at (828) 505-8474 or www.proleptic.net

Laugh Lines may be something of a bitter- sweet experience for some—I feel your pain!!! But remember—laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry alone.

Boo hoo hoo!

Wow—what fun! Hiring new employees! It’s something we all LOVE to do. It’s kind of like getting one of those Mysterious Presents at a Fun Fair for $5— you know, the ones with all the question marks on the outside of the box. You really don’t know what’s inside until it’s too late and then Ka-BOOM! Like the other day. We hired a gal to help out in the office and, during the interview, I asked her could she do so and so, and she replied, “Why sure! I’ve had lots of experience with that!” And I said great, stop by the bunkhouse and sign up, see you bright and squirrely tomorrow!

So the next day rolls around and the new gal shows and I said great! Now can you do so and so like we talked about yesterday? I’m needing to do that. And she said, “Do you think somebody might help me get started. My skills are a little rusty.”

[Our good friend Darcie G. at Springfield Leather (home to the coolest guy in leather, Kevin H.) sent what she’s termed, “Something of a personal experience.” The names have been changed to protect the guilty.]

Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Officer asked a young engineer fresh out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “And what starting salary are you looking for?”

The engineer replied, “In the region of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package.”

The interviewer then inquired, “Well, what would you say to a package of five weeks of vacation, four-

Rusty!! That doesn’t cover it by half! Her “skills” weren’t rusty but more like “non-existent.” WD-40 was NOT going to fix this.

Like the old man use to say—ask a silly question, get a silly answer.

So enjoy these jokes about new employees which Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

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Provided courtesy of Shop Talk!

American Saddlery / Big Horn / ShoTan / Tuffy / Crump

60th Year Celebration Sale!

To celebrate his 60th year in the saddle business Jack Hughes is offering a huge Spring Round-Up Sale featuring everything from saddles and tack to hardware, pads, leather, and much more! The Discount range is from 25% to 50% off on many items and will apply on existing inventory only. Orders will be filled on a FIRST to PURCHASE basis until sale stock is depleted.

New dealers are welcome! Apply at American Saddlery / Big Horn / ShoTan at 1001 East 38th Street. Chattanooga, Tennessee 37407. Or, call Josh, Bonnie, Tammy, Andy, or Kent at 800-251-7288. All items can be viewed at our warehouse and plant facility. Please call if you plan on visiting us here in Chattanooga so that we can make plans to have our sales staff assist you.

Saddle Sale Items – MADE IN THE USA – Become A Dealer!

American No. 948 1 / 16” Brown Only Visit or CALL for Price

American No. 936 1 / 16” Dark Oil Only Visit or CALL for Price

Big Horn No. A00209 2 / 16” Brown Only

American No. 1550 1 / 17” Rich Chest Only

Big Horn No. A00863 16” Med Oil Only

American No. 1740 1 / 16” Rich Chest Only

Big Horn No. A00300 1 / 17” Camo Green

American No. 939 16” Rich Chest Only

Big Horn No. A01686 1 / 16” Rich Chest Only

American No. 736 16” Rich Chest Only

Big Horn No. A01685 17” Rich Chest Only

American No. 1606 1 / 16” Med Oil Only

Big Horn No. A00295 16” Brown Only

American No. 127 16” A-Fork

DEALERS! MANY MORE CLOSEOUT AMERICAN & BIG HORN SADDLES AVAILABLE

LEATHER DEALS FOR ALL – You Do not have to be a dealer!

CHECK OUT THESE LEATHER SPECIALS: 9/10 oz Indian Tan Leather Grade A $6.35 ft 5/7 oz Indian Tan Leather Grade A $5.95 ft 8/10 oz Brown Latigo Leather Grade B $4.00 ft 13/15 oz Black Skirting Grade TR $118 per side 13/15 oz Black Harness $160 per side 9/11 oz Jumbo Shoulders Grade B $4.75 ft 3/4 oz Elephant Print Cowhide All colors $6.50 ft 3/4 oz Alligator Print Cowhide All colors $5.95 ft 3/4 oz Ostrich Print Cowhide All colors $5.50 ft 3/4 oz Stingray Print with Eye All colors $6.50 ft 13/15 oz Mahogany Strap Grade B $118 per side 13/15 oz Golden Strap Grade B $118 per side 13/15 oz Chocolate Strap Grade B $118 per side 13/15 oz Russet Skirting Flesh Side Buffed - Big Sides Grade 3 $109.00 per side 13/17 oz HNS Hvy steer Hide Skirting Premium US Hides $185 per side

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HARDWARE SALE FOR ALL! - No Dealership Required For Leather & Hardware Sales -

No. 2402 Basket Brow Band Headstall Sad Brown CALL No. 2401 Basket Brow Band Headstall Sad Brown CALL No. 3458 Brow Band Headstall CALL No. 3455-1 S/W Tooled Brow Band Headstall M/O CALL No. 2317 Medium Oil Brow Band Headstall CALL No. 2264 Diamond Spot R/C Brow Band Headstall CALL No. 2310 Buckaroo Lite Oil Headstall CALL No. 2303 Shaped Ear Headstall Brown CALL No. 2304 Shaped Ear Headstall Light Oil CALL No. 2143 Brow Band Headstall Shell Tooling CALL No. 2133 Sliding Ear Headstall Burgandy Latigo CALL No. 3443 Furturity Knot Headstall Plain L/Oil CALL No. 2307 Shaped Ear Headstall Harness Leather CALL No. 2306 Furturity Knot Headstall Med Oil CALL Harness Leather Reins – PADS - & MUCH MORE!

No. 10040 1 1/4 inch O ring Nickel Plated $.05 each No. 10030 1 1/2 inch O ring Nickel Plated $.08 each No. 19533 1 inch #5705 Buckle Nickel Plated $.12 each No. 19531 3/4 inch #5705 Buckle Nickel Plated $.10 each No. 19560 1 inch Double Bar Web Buckle $.15 each No. 11110-31/2 3 1/2 inch Heavy Dee N/Plated $.75 each No. 1327 1 inch Halter Square / Three Slot $.33 each No. 13696-1 3/4 inch Halter Square / Two Slot $.25 each No. 100170 1 inch Swivel $.35 each No. 10052 3/4 inch #5 Buckles Nickel Plated $.10 each No. 10054 1 inch #5 Buckles Nickel Plated $.10 each We also are closing out additional buckles, rings, dees, clips, and many other pieces of hardware! CALL!!

Call and Let us Know when you’re coming to check out our VIP Section! - 800-251-7288 Leather and Hardware Buyers - Call Now to Order – No Dealership Required for Leather & Hardware!

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MAY 2015

Shop Talk!

teen paid holidays, full medical and dental, company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every two years, say, a red Corvette?”

ported for his first day of work. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake, gave him a broom, and said, “Your first job will be to sweep out the store.”

The engineer sat up straight and said, “WOW! Are you kidding?”

“But I’m a college graduate!” the young man replied indignantly.

The interviewer replied, “Yeah, but you started it.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that,” said the manager. “Here—give me the broom and I’ll show you how.”

The manager of a large office noticed a new employee one day and told him to come into his office.

“What’s your name?” was the first thing the manager asked the new guy.

“Al,” the new guy replied.

The manager scowled and said, “Look—I don’t know what kind of namby-pamby place you worked at before but I don’t call anyone by their first name.

It breeds familiarity and that leads to a breakdown in authority. I refer to my employees by their last name only—Smith, Jones, Baker—that’s all. I am to be referred to only as Mr. Robertson. Now that we got that straight, what’s your last name?”

The new guy sighed and said, “Darling. My name is Al Darling.”

“Okay, Al, the next thing I want to tell you is . . . .”

A young man hired by a supermarket re-

**Experience is directly proportional to the amount of equipment ruined. **Experience is what causes a person to make new mistakes instead of old ones. **Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

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A book every leatherworker should own

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Several weeks after a young lady had been hired, she was called into the personnel manager’s office. “What’s the meaning of this?” the manager asked. “When you applied for the job, you told us that you had five years’ experience. Now we discover that this is the first job you’ve ever had!”

“Well,” the young woman said, “in your ad you said you wanted someone with imagination!”

”

828-505-8474 shoptalk@proleptic.net

www.proleptic.net 98 |

MAY 2015

Shop Talk!

The Hide Report

your global perspective

The following articles originally appeared on www.hidenet.com, the leading source of news about the global hide and leather markets. The information is dated from the middle of April 2015. Enjoy—the good news is that hide prices continue to ease.

Hide Prices Continue to Decline Sales of Heavy Native Texas Steers sold as low as $8485 mid-April. 62/64 lbs. sold $1-2 higher in some cases. Branded Steers dropped $3-5. Butt Branded Steers were down $2-3. Heavy Native Steers were also down $1-2. Heifers trading was limited due to a comparatively small supply and weaker demand. Hides sold at $76-77, off $1-2.

Federally Inspected Slaughter Federally inspected slaughter including Saturday, April 18th, was estimated to be 533,000. This is up from 502,000 the week before. The total for same weekly period last year was 565,000. For the year to date, slaughter is 8,194,000, down 7.5% from a year ago or a difference of 666,000 head.

Brazilian Leather Sector Marks Increase in Exports During March 2015, Brazilian leather sales to foreign

markets reached US $225 million which represents an increase of 1% compared to the same month last year. In comparison to February this year, there was an increase of 30.5%

Mexico—Theft Is Hurting Leon Tanners The theft of full truckloads of raw hides and finished leather is causing a decrease in production in Leon, Mexico’s most important leather producing area.

Fabian Collazo Rosales, president of Cicur, the Mexican tanning industry trade association, told media that every month thieves attack three or four trucks carrying loads of leather valued at US $60,000 each.

Thieves prefer to steal wet blue or raw hides because it is easier to resell.

“If all the attacks were reported, we would be talking about a robbery a day. Tanners are facing an additional cost of $650 for every truck that comes from a port or from the US border to Leon to pay for security, and nobody dares try to bring a truck in without security,” Collazo said.

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MAY 2015

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Stahl Director Sees Strong Future for Automotive Leather Mike Tomkin, director of sustainability at the leather chemicals manufacturer Stahl, spoke about the automotive leather industry at the International Council of Tanners in Hong Kong.

“We see a very exciting future for automotive leather,” Tomkin said, “but also a few threats, and it’s important to pay attention to these threats and address them.”

He said Stahl’s tracking of this market shows that 150,000 hides per day go into making automotive leather around the world. This means that this segment of the leather industry is 15 times the size it was 35 years ago. Tomkin explained that the main

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MAY 2015

driver of this growth is the amount of money original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can make from putting leather into the interiors of their vehicles.

“They are able to charge around 2,000 euros more if the car has a leather interior,” he said, “when the extra cost for the OEM is probably 200 or 300 euros.

This represents a fantastic margin, and this is the real driving force for the growth in automotive leather.”

And while Stahl firmly believes this growth will continue, Tomkin said that possible threat include the need for the leather industry to put across effectively to OEM’s the sustainability credentials of leather, including information on the progress tanners have made in traceability, reducing the presence of volatile organic compounds in the chemicals they use and making sure leather can contribute to the recyclability of cars. a

Shop Talk!

Selection

Weight (lbs.)

February (early)

March (early)

April (early)

Price Last April (early)

Heavy Texas Steers

62-64

$98-100

$95-98

$88-90

$106-107

Heavy Texas Steers (Hvy)

72-74

$107-108

$104-106

$101-102

$115-117

Branded Steers

62-64

$96-98

$95

$88-90

$106-107

Branded Steers (Hvy)

72-74

$106-108

$102-103

$99-100

$114-116

Colorado Steers

62-64

$94-96

$92-94

$88-90

$105-106

Butt Branded Steers

62-64

$104-105

$102-107

$97-98

$112-113

Butt Branded Steers (Hvy)

72-74

$107-108

$102-104

$106-110

$117-119

Heavy Native Steers (Hvy)

72-74

$108=110

$105-107

$108-110

$120-122

Heavy Native Heifers

48-52

$87-90

$85-87

$81-82

$98-101

Branded Heifers

48-52

$82-86

$83-85

$77-78

$97-98

Heavy Native Cows

48-52

$68-71

$69-72

$68-69

$87-89

Branded Cows

48-52

$58-61

$65-67

$63-66

$77-80

Spready Dairy Cows

48-52

$77-79

$79-82

$77-79

$91-95

100-110

$80-83

$78-82

$77-79

$101-104

Native Bulls

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MAY 2015

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Leather SPECIALS

Here are a couple specials from the folks at Double K Leather Sales, 205 N. Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301, (636) 493-1833, sales@ doublekleather.com.

--1,000 sq. ft. cardinal red, full grain 3 ½-4 oz.

Sides. Drum dyed. $2/sq. ft.

--1,000 sq. ft. fushia pink, full grain 3 ½-4 oz.

Sides. Drum dyed. $2/sq. ft.

Please send us your leather specials and closeouts!

Shop Talk!, P O Box 17816, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, e-mail: shoptalk@ proleptic.net.

Family Owned and operated Since 1970 Wholesale Leather Distributor Featuring:

7155 Hwy B, PO Box 342 Belgium, WI. 53004 920-994-9464 Customer Service 920-994-4099 24 hour FAX 800-993-2889 Orders service@leatherunltd.com email

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Free NEW 92 page wholesale leather supply catalog with order. ($5 w/o order)

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MAY 2015

Shop Talk!

Copper Prices

1967

Since www.kellylarsonsales.com

Ostrich Caiman Crocodile Nile Crocodile Nile Croc Backstraps Outsole / Insole Bends Pre-Cut Outsoles Elephant Hippo Giraffe Stingray Python Goat Skins Heels Welt

1812 Reliance Parkway • Suite G. • Bedford, TX 76021 Ph: 817-399-0044 • Fx: 817-399-0040 Email: elarson@kelly-larson.com

NEW AND IMPROVED Hame Bender • Adjustable blocks on top bar • Bends all hames from Buggy Hames to Stainless Steel Pulling Hames with ease A must for fitting your hames to the collar For more information and a complete catalog on hames and harness hardware, write to: Chupp Blacksmith Shop Ltd. 9107 Township Road 609 Fredericksburg, Ohio 44627

Shop Talk!

85263 Chupp ad 3.5x4.75 1

MAY 2015

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6/19/13 9:42 AM

KALICO PRODUCTS KEEPS ON KEEPING ON

Family-run leather lotion business is gaining new ground three years after the passing of its founder

by Lynn Ascrizzi, Staff Writer

A

drive through the Cajun countryside of southern Louisiana will take you past fields of sugarcane, crawfish ponds, pecan trees, and giant live oaks draped with Spanish moss. And, if your wandering brings you about 12 miles south of Lafayette, you just might bump into a small town called Milton, a slow kind of place where traffic stops to wait for tugboats to chug past the drawbridge that spans the meandering Vermillion River.

Milton also happens to be the only place on earth where the small business, Kalico Products, LLC, produces a leather conditioner called Kali Leather Life. These days, the family enterprise is run by Germaine “Poppy” Matthews, wife of the company’s late founder, Newman Dewitt Matthews. “It’s the same formula he started with,” she said of the leather lotion that is made today.

Sold in retail stores in 26 U.S. states, the pleasant smelling lotion is marketed in a bright yellow bottle whose remarkably plain label, printed with straightforward, dark brown lettering, has proven to be an effective hallmark for the brand. “The bottle is well known and recognized,” Matthews said.

Among other things, the conditioner keeps leather resilient, without leaving an oily residue, and protects it from splitting and cracking. It also resists mildews and molds. Company literature explains that the versatile protein lotion can be used on all kinds of fine and exotic leather, such as ostrich, alligator, snake, kidskin, and cowhide. It also works well on leather boots, saddles and tack, car seats, jackets, sporting goods, such as baseball gloves, and even helps replenish oils in vinyl.

Photo courtesy of Kalico Products Germaine "Poppy" Matthews, owner and operator of Kalico Products, LLC, of Milton, LA., took over runnng the small family business after her husband and company founder, Dewitt Matthews, passed away in 2011. The small company makes a leather conditioner, Kali Leather Life, and the sprayon leather cleaner, Step One.

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MAY 2015

Shop Talk!

“People don’t realize you can put it on your leather slippers or on horse hoofs to make them softer. There are all kinds of applications,” she said.

Applying it is as simple as pie, she explained: “I squirt it onto the leather and wipe it on with my hands or a soft bristle brush. I leave it on for a few minutes, or better yet, wait an hour two to let it soak in. Then, I wipe it off with a soft terry cloth towel or washrag. There will be dirt on the rag. A lot of people don’t realize how much dirt is in your leather. This product pushes the dirt to the surface.”

She recommends that the lotion is applied with the hands. “It is not harmful to your skin, unless you’re extremely sensitive. If you apply it with a rag, you don’t get as much lotion on the leather.” She cited a material safety data sheet (MSDS) that was compiled last year for the company. It reports that the neat’s foot oil, used along with other ingredients in the product, contains less than 1% petroleum. The leather lotion’s other ingredients are proprietary.

“. . . I’ve picked up new customers. . . . We’re sending out 2 oz. samples of the lotion to people on the fence about the product, so they can see if they want to buy a bigger bottle. The customers give them out to their customers. Then they’ll come back and buy.”

—“Poppy” Matthews, owner/operator, Kalico Products

Since the leather conditioner cannot pass through a sprayer, the company also manufactures a lighter, more liquid version called Step One, a leather cleaner that comes with a spray application. “It’s used primarily for saddles and tack. If you have a really old, dirty saddle, you can spray the entire saddle.

In two hours, you can come back and rinse it off with a hose or wipe it down, and get off the dirt

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Springfield Leather Company is so much more than just a leather store!

Springfield Leather Company 1463 S. Glenstone Springfield, MO 65808 1-800-668-8518 www.springfieldleather.com

Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

| 15

Photo courtesy of Kalico Products Bottles of Kali Leather Life, ready to be shipped. The leather lotion is made by Kalico Products of Milton, LA. The small company wholesales the conditoner to retail stores, automotive dealers and leather workshops in 26 states.

residue. Then, you reapply the lotion conditioner,” she said.

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY Kalico Products is open for business 24/7. “I’m always checking my answering machines. No matter what time you call, we’ll get back to you . . . . The

16 |

MAY 2015

business is in a very friendly area. You can come on down. We’ll be glad to talk to you,” Matthews said.

Official business office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Central Standard Time), Monday through Wednesday. Kalico’s office is located in the same, 700 sq. ft. building in Milton where its products are manufactured.

Shop Talk!

If you call the office, you will talk to either Matthews or company sales manager and executive secretary, Donna Czarnikow.

“She’s my technical adviser. I have a worker I trust very much.

She is a life saver,” Matthews said. She and Czarnikow (pronounced CHAR-NI-KO) are pretty much running the whole show. “We have three employees, if you include the accountant,” Matthews said.

“It’s definitely a growing business. Our phone doesn’t stop. We’re getting e-mail orders all the time. We do what we can to fill orders and get them out as fast as we can.”

— Donna Czarnikow, sales manager, Kalico Products

In her multi-tasking role, Czarnikow wears a lot of hats. “I do the bottling. I mix the ingredients in big, 10 gallon buckets at a time. Then I transfer the mix to a pumping station, attach that pump to the bucket, and transfer it to individual bottles. I’m doing the packing also. And I do the invoicing, shipping, package labeling, and answering the phone. ‘Miss Poppy’ takes the packages to FedEx and UPS,” she explained.

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She always refers to her boss as “Miss Poppy.” And don’t be surprised if she addresses you in the same charming way, with the formal “Miss” or “Mr.” perched in front of your first name like a bird on a willow branch. “It’s must be a southern custom. I was raised to do this. To treat someone with respect,” she said good-naturedly.

Business promotion is basically by word of mouth. “It just gets around,” Matthews said.

“We’re making a profit,” Czarnikow added. “It’s definitely a growing business. Our phone doesn’t stop. We’re getting e-mail orders all the time. We do what we can to fill orders and get them out as fast as we can.”

Currently, Kalico Products wholesales to approximately several hundred customers. The company does not have a Web site, but, if you type Kali Leather Life in your computer’s search window, a number of retail businesses that carry the conditioner will pop up, such as Big Bend Saddlery in Alpine, TX, (www.bigbendsaddlery.com), Ranch Outlet in Lafayette, LA. (www.ranchoutlet.com/), Brenham Saddle Shop in Brenham, TX (www.brenhamsaddleshop. com/) and Cowboys in Scott, LA. (www.cowboyslafayette.com).

Also, a number of workshops, such as Dan Freeman Leather Works in Middlebury, VT., and holster and boot makers use the brand. Czarnikow said, “Southern Leather Co. of Houston, TX, distributes the lotion to shoe hospitals all over the Houston area. We have orders from car dealerships like Lexis, Jaguar, Toyota, Lincoln, and Cadillac. It’s nice when it’s a

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Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

| 17

local order. ‘Miss Poppy’ can drop off orders and make sure their inventory is OK.” Bottles come in various sizes, from 2 oz. samples to 32 oz. Wholesale prices for individual bottles range from $2.52 (2 oz.) to $20.79 (32 oz.). Kalico’s leather cleaner, Step One, comes only in quart sizes and wholesales for $12.60.

“We recommend a 40 % markup. We do not do retail. We ask stores to buy one case at a time,” she said. For instance, one case holds 25, 2 oz. bottles or 9, 18 oz. bottles. In 2014, the company sold 14,581 bottles of the lotion in various sizes,” according to Czarnikow.

A LIVING LEGACY Before business founder Dewitt Matthews had developed the leather lotion, he worked for a company that supplied production fittings for oil fields. Before that, he worked on offshore oil platforms, and later, as a third-party inspector for oil companies, his wife said.

“But the oil field business comes and goes,” she noted. “At one time it slowed up, and he had time to think about the conditioner-cleaner. He was very persistent and persevering.”

Her husband, who grew up in Brownsville, TX had been raised with horses and had maintained saddles, bridles, and reins. The business all started with his alligator boots, she recalled.

“He was not happy with saddle soap or neat’s foot oil. He went and bought every book he could find on

leather, studied that, and experimented. It was really funny. He would send me out for hand creams and mix them. It took him a number of years to develop the lotion. Eventually, he found a chemist to come up with the base for his formula.”

She and her husband worked together on the family business for about 20 years. “We would go to gun shows. We did craft shows. We set up tables. My husband would explain the product. After a while, I learned it,” she said.

Then, only a month after celebrating their 40th anniversary, her husband passed away on Sept. 27, 2011. He was age 68. His obituary stated that he was a member of St. Joseph Church in Milton, had graduated from the University of Southern Louisiana with a B.S. degree in physical education, and that “he enjoyed life, travel and being with people.”

“We started off with attached labels. Now, we’re getting the bottles printed. Everything we’ve done since he [Dewitt Matthews] passed is to increase productivity.”

— “Poppy” Matthews, owner/operator, Kalico Products “He had heart issues. He didn’t wake up one morning,” Matthews said. “We were just moving into a new home in nearby Maurice and had been prepping the bedroom and bathroom. He never moved in.” They also had been getting ready to take a road trip to the Boot & Saddle Makers Trade Show (“The Roundup”), held annually in Wichita Falls, Texas.

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MAY 2015

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Shop Talk!

The loss left her and their two daughters, Kathryn and Alicia, devastated. Yet, as time passed, it turned out that the struggle she endured to keep her husband’s business alive also helped to keep her going.

“It was like a legacy that he left me. Like an insurance policy. I had a reason to get out of bed every morning. It was not like I was left alone, a grieving widow. I had to think of all the things that had to be done,” she said.

Surprisingly, soon after he passed, company sales surged. “People thought we were going out of business and were stocking up,” she said. Slowly, she began to make changes to streamline production. “We started off with attached labels. Now, we’re getting the bottles printed. Everything we’ve done since he passed is to increase productivity.”

Currently, Kalico’s sales volume is comparable to the level it had reached right after her husband passed.

“It is getting better, slowly creeping up,” she said, an increase that reflects her work to broaden the customer base.

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“Now, I’ve picked up new customers. My husband had gathered a big customer list from car dealerships, motorcycle shops, shoe repairs, and stores that carry Western products. We’re sending out 2 oz. samples of the lotion to people who are on the fence about the product, so they can see if they want to buy a bigger bottle. The customers give them out to their customers. Then, they’ll come back and buy. I have had great customer feedback,” she said. Czarnikow added, “We are getting new customers all the time.”

Looking toward the company’s future, Matthews has formed a business partnership with her oldest daughter, Kathryn Fresh, whose husband, “Pate” Fresh, is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and currently serving in Hawaii. “He is working toward retirement,” his wife said, an event that is to occur within the next two years.

Matthews said she frequently consults with her sonin-law about business matters. “He is very involved with the business,” Czarnikow added, “even though

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Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

| 19

he is far away. We’re looking forward to his retiring and joining in with us.”

“Pate” Fresh graduated with a B.A. degree in history from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA, and earned a master’s degree in management at Webster University in St. Louis, MO. “Even when Dewitt Matthews was running the company, the plan was that eventually, I would step in and head up the business,” he said. “It’s a huge step to make this commitment to retire. I think Poppy and Donna are doing great. After we return home, I will need to learn the business cycle.”

He also sees some room for improvement, he added, particularly in the area of marketing. “We’re in 26 states, so there’s 24 more states to get into. I’ll be coming home, and we’ll continue on.”

For more information, contact: Kalico Products Germaine “Poppy” Matthews P.O. Box 28 Milton, LA 70558 (337) 856-8772 kalico.llc@gmail.com

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MAY 2015

Shop Talk!

Goods & Services INVENTORY and EQUIPMENT and UPDATES

* BioThane is now producing a black reflective tape which can be ordered with grooves in ¾” and 1” widths. It comes in hi-gloss or semi-gloss finishes. In the daytime, the back tape appears to blend in with the black coating but at night, it gives off a noticeable reflection when light shines on it so people can see you! Call BioThane for a free sample at (800) 487-2358 or visit www.biothane.us. BioThance is constantly improving their current product line as well as coming out with new items so stay in touch!

There’s a handy little pamphlet that gives quick *explanations about how to fit a collar, how to bend

hames properly for the best fit, how to measure for a collar, and how to measure correctly for harness.

This is just the sort of thing that customers would enjoy getting! The pamphlet was put together by the folks at N & A Harness, Chupp Blacksmith, Bowman Harness, Coblentz Collar, and Fairview Country Sales—all of whom advertise in My Buyer’s Guide! and most of them also advertiser in Shop Talk! So

give one of them a call or drop them a line and see if they have copies to share—you’ll be glad you did! can still purchase Tanners Leather Oil from *AGSYouFootwear Group and what a great product! It’s

a nice, light weight oil which does not leave a sticky residue and staining is not a problem which makes it perfect for English and Western saddle seats, jockeys, etc. It does not tend to darken leather much so it really is perfect for leather which may come in contact with clothing—like belts and shoulder straps.

It’s also very good to condition reins and lines with.

Good for shoes and boots as well. Give it a try.

It comes in spray bottles as well as several different sizes of jobs, up to a gallon.

Contact: AGS Footwear Group 11234 Air Park Rd. Ashland, VA 23005 (800) 446-3820 www.agsfootweargroup.com think there’s a shop in the US or Canada *thatI don’t at one time or the other hasn’t owned a Singer

sewing machine of some sort. What good machines that last and last and last! Now if you have a Singer and ever needs parts, needles, supplies, or service, probably the best place in the world to go is Pilgrim Shoe & Sewing Machine Co., 150-V New Boston St., Woburn, MA 01801, (800) 343-2202, www.pilgrimshoemachine.com. They have the largest inventory of Singer parts in the US as well as parts and supplies for lots and lots of different types of sewing machines, skivers, and other leather working equipment. Give them a call!

Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

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* We recently heard from the folks at Hardtke Leather who let us know that they “are doing fine

and very, very busy.” Good news. Hardtke continues to carry the very best leathers tanned by the very best tanners in the world. They focus on buffalo calf, Italian calf, kangaroo, shrunken shoulders and sides, and veg tan shoulders.

Their exotics include alligator, ostrich, python, and ring lizard. Hardtke has a warehouse in El Paso but the office is not open to walk-in business. A new web site is coming soon. The best contact is Jay Hardtke at jay.hardtke@gmail.com, (972) 803-8953.

If you are making quality boots, bags, or personal accessories, then Hardtke is a good supplier to know about.

SouthStar Supply now carries Consew servo *motors—3/4 hp and you can use the same mount-

ing holes. Cost is around $120. Of course, SouthStar carries all sorts of gizmos and supplies for most any sewing operation—lights, lubes, needles, etc. They have these nice cloth weights that weigh 4 lbs. and measure 10” long which would be great to hold big sides of leather in place. Handy.

Lots of scissors—including left hand ones. Also zipper jigs, brushes, tweezers, oiling bottles, etc. Get on their mailing list and contact: P O Box 90147, Nashville, TN 37209, (800) 288-6739, www.southstarsupply.com.

Double K Leather has some surplus machinery *including a Randall belt embosser, a big United

clicker, and a Mitsubishi PB-8100 post machine. For all the details, contact: 205 N. Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301, (636) 493-1833, www.doublekleather. com.

*

The Colorado Saddle Makers Association (CSMA) has come out with a loose leaf book of about 90 helpful tips on leather working from 21 different contributors. It’s dandy and handy! And books are available to non-members for $30 plus $3.50. Contact Kay Orton to order your copy—(970) 487-3279, email: kay@hotmail.com.

*

There’s a new book out by the talented Jim Arndt (Cowboy Boot Book, annual boot calendar, etc.) called Buckaroo Boots—128 pp. of boots worn by 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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4thual MDY Consignment Auction Ann Saturday, May 23, 2015 Consignments wanted up to May 22, 2015

Horse & Harness Shop Related Items Buggies • Harnesses • Saddles • Farrier Tools Harness Making Equipment • Tack & More Located at

MDY Horshoeing and Harness Shop 1455 S 1100 W • Middlebury, IN 46540 For More Information, Call (574) 825-8161, x 1

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MAY 2015

Shop Talk!

little Cowboys and little Cowgirls. As my office manager says, “It’s soooo cute!”

I got a feeling any woman who picks a copy up will want to take it home. Cost is $14.99 retail plus SH. Wholesale pricing is available. Book is hardback and measures 7 ¼” x 7 ¼”. Contains dress boots as well as good old work boots for them kids that started riding and roping early.

hard-to-find supplies at a reasonable price which is why everyone—no matter what you do—needs one of their fantastic catalogs.

Now if you get in something extra special and need really primo truck handles, corners, leather handles, caps, or straps, then you might want to look at what’s available from Van Dyke’s Restorers. Two things always true about Van Dyke’s—the hardware, molding, furniture parts, knobs and pulls, kitchen accessories, etc.—1) they are of incredible workmanship and 2) they are stinking expensive.

But they do have some weird accoutrements that you might enjoy knowing about like the truck accessories—

Order yours today— Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 5058474, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net.

When it comes *to hardware, locks,

corners, and nails for trunks, a very good first choice is Ohio Travel Bag. OTB continues to offer such a wonderful variety of

Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

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Van Dyke’s also has some nice (and expensive) embossed leather and fiber chair seats:

So get a catalog and be impressed—I promise you this: you will be. Contact: P O Box 52, Louisiana, MO 63353, (800) 558-1234, www.vandykes.com.

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MAY 2015

a gizmo that I was given at WESA in Janu*aryHere’s

by Judy at Just Merino Sheepskin.

It kind of looks like an ID tag but what it actually is a flash drive which pops up so you can stick in your computer, and on the flash drive is Judy’s entire product catalog which you may also review at www. jmsproductsusa.com. I think Judy’s daughter actually makes these things so if you want to know more, call (800) 323-WOOL. They are also pretty good for scraping frost off the windshield.

*

Northern Tool + Equipment is a good supplier of all the supplies, tools, and equipment you need for any machine shop or repair shop of any sort as well as the garden and farm. They put out a 562 pp. cat-

Shop Talk!

alog so there’s everything from saw blades and hammers to welding supplies and generators.

They carry a lot of gas engines.

Northern even sells tractors. If you can think of it, they probably carry it so Northern Tool is a really handy source to know about for those miscellaneous tools and supplies that even saddle and harness shops need around.

Contact: P O Box 1499, Burnsville, MN 55337-0499, (800) 556-7885, www.northerntool.com.

*

The place for those huge fabric farm buildings is Farmtek—they have the frames and material for everything from small storage sheds to cattle barns. Lots of equipment and supplies for nurseries and plant houses— hoses, valves, sprayers, pumps, etc. They carry those nice big fans which are great to have in the shop on a hot summer day! Cows and horses enjoy them too.

Contact: 1440 Field of Dreams Way, Dyersvile, IA 52040, (800) 327-6835, www.farmtek.com. a

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CALL A DISTRIBUTOR AND ORDER BLACK REFLECTIVE TODAY! fairview 330.359.1501 bioharness 844.282.8753

Shop Talk!

beilers 717.768.0174 Yonies 610.273.7370 aaron martin 519.698.2754

MAY 2015

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N&A Harness Shop Celebrates 25 Years

by Virginia Perry Daffron, Staff Writer

Back in 1989, Noah Miller decided to turn his hand to manufacturing BioThane harness for his neighbors in Holmes County, OH. At the same time, he also took whatever harness repair jobs came his way, fixing up traditional leather harness as well as those made from then-new-fangled coated synthetic webbing.

When a synthetic webbing harness broke, Miller found that the damaged component was a part made with both leather and synthetic material. He reasoned that the problem came down to maintenance: a leather harness requires regular upkeep such as

cleaning and conditioning while synthetic coated webbing needs little more than an occasional wash with a hose. Where synthetic and leather components were used together in one harness, the leather parts were not receiving the attention they needed to give long service and therefore were the first to fail.

While he stresses that leather and synthetic are both quality materials which have their place in harness making, Miller realized that combining the two in

Jim Kehoe’s Percherons In N&A Harness at the World Percheron Congress, October 2014

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MAY 2015

Shop Talk!

one harness was asking for trouble. He set out to develop the first fully synthetic harness: a harness in which lines and components would all be made from synthetic materials sharing the same maintenance requirements.

Twenty-five years later, Noah Miller has accomplished his goal of creating a fully synthetic harness—and a whole lot more besides. Today his two youngest sons work alongside him at N&A Harness Shop, along with five additional employees. Even this crew can’t handle the full volume of work so Miller contracts with several other shops to help out with production.

Making Harness Miller’s sons Wayne and Vernon Miller direct the harness making part of N&A’s business, manufacturing driving, work, and show harness using BioThane® coated webbing and their own line of molded urethane components. The Millers are excited about their new and improved show harness with advanced features which are being used by many exhibitors in major draft horse shows such as the Horse Progress Days in Mount Hope, OH, and the World Percheron Congress (held in Springfield, MA, in 2014).

BioThane®’s new semi-gloss Beta® product is proving very popular for driving lines. Before this style of coated webbing became available, N&A used BioThane®’s super heavy Beta® for lines, but the new product has a nice feel for driving and matches very well to the semi-gloss harness components.

Jim Kehoe, an N&A Harness customer for over fifteen years, owns JK Percherons in Moravia, NY. His teams work on the farm, show all over the United States, and appear in parades and special events. At least twenty harness from N&A hang in Kehoe’s barn. “I depend on the consistency of N&A’s harness,” says Kehoe.

“When I’m hitching up a six-horse team, I don’t want to worry about variations in quality or fit. Everything Noah Miller and his crew produces is up to the same high standard, which makes my life easier.”

Even though Kehoe hasn’t bought a complete new harness in several years, he often needs components and accessories for his teams’ many events and ap-

pearances. When he was preparing for the World Percheron Congress in West Springfield, MA, in October, Kehoe realized he needed several items only a few days before the show. Miller’s crew turned his order around in three days, ensuring Kehoe had what he needed for that important event.

Miller’s BioThane® harness work so well for JK Percherons that the operation doesn’t use leather at all anymore. Kehoe tells Shop Talk! that his BioThane® harness are washed after every use, often right on the horse. Kehoe and his staff take the draft animals to the wash bay wearing their harness and clean both at once.

Kehoe also likes N&A’s prices. “I don’t have to wonder if Noah is giving me a good deal on what I buy from him. His prices are very fair for the quality of his product, and I know he will give me a break on a large order if he can,” Kehoe remarks.

“He’s just a really nice guy to do business with,” concludes Kehoe.

Wholesale Harness and Tack Components In addition to making and repairing harness, N&A also designs and sells components to other manufacturers of products which incorporate coated synthetic webbing. Noah Miller takes care to avoid competing with his harness and tack making customers by limiting his trade show and auction activity to wholesale shows. If he attends a retail trade show or auction, it’s as a spectator rather than an exhibitor.

Miller’s company designs, manufactures and wholesales molded urethane components including: • Blinders: N&A’s first product, and still one of its biggest sellers, blinders are available in a range of colors and sizes.

• Slide loops: this very popular item is available in many colors. While black remains the most popular, N&A recently added yellow to its range of colors, which also includes white, red, three shades of brown, blue, purple, and green.

• Molded ends on traces Unlike leather, coated webbing retains its original shape over the life of the product. While this characteristic of coated webbing has its benefits, it can also

Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

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Molded Parts Developed by N&A

lead to rubbing and discomfort. To overcome this problem, N&A molds some specialty components to build lasting shape and contour into straps like cruppers, breast plates, hip straps, face pieces, and the crowns of bridles. This is an innovation original to N&A.

Harley Troyer of Troyer Harness and Equipment Co. has purchased harness and components from Noah Miller’s operation for over twenty years. While he has done business with a number of smaller shops, Troyer finds himself returning to N&A Harness time and again for their workmanship, quick turnaround times, and good business practices.

“Really, I can’t say enough about Noah Miller and his family,” explains Troyer. “We get so many compliments on the products they make. When the harness arrives, people are very pleased with the quality.”

Though Troyer Harness still offers leather harness, 90% of their customers have switched to BioThane® for its ease of maintenance, light weigh, and lower

N&A Harness makes lightweight, durable, easy care and affordable work harnesses

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MAY 2015

cost. “We have some older customers who have always used leather,” says Troyer. “After switching to BioThane®, they say they wish they had made the change years ago.”

Although traditional black is by far the most popular color Troyer sells, sometimes orders for the bright colors do come his way. This past summer, he sent a totally red harness created by N&A Harness to Mexico City.

Troyer recently visited Miller’s shop in Ohio for the first time. From another room, he heard Noah Miller’s voice. Even though the two had never met in person, Harley Troyer recognized that congenial voice immediately from many years of ordering and chatting over the telephone.

Specialized Equipment for Working With Coated Webbing When Noah Miller first started making harness with BioThane® webbing, he needed specialized equipment that didn’t yet exist. Necessity being the mother of invention, Miller worked with closely with a machine shop to develop equipment to his own specifications. Soon enough, other shops began contacting Miller to ask if they could purchase specialized equipment for their own use which led to a new line of business.

Today, N&A Harness manufactures and distributes equipment such as: • Seal-O-Matic: N&A’s very first piece of equipment, this tool was developed to seal the cut ends of coated webbing.

• Spotters • Staplers • Riveters • Punches

Shop Talk!

N&A Harness in the show ring at World Percheron Congress, October 2014

• Torches • Strap cutters • Hoods for venting fumes produced by heating synthetic materials Just as with any material, having the right tools makes all the difference. Miller believes that anyone using heat to shape or cut a urethane product especially needs proper ventilating equipment to avoid inhaling toxic or corrosive fumes.

Twenty-Five Years in Business Reflecting on twenty-five years of building a successful business, Noah Miller notes that maintaining a loyal customer following and finding new customers is a challenge but an interesting challenge which he enjoys. N&A Harness does a fair amount of advertising, and the company also enjoys a great reputation with plenty of word-of-mouth referrals.

To celebrate this milestone year, N&A threw a customer appreciation supper at the Harness Makers’

Get Together in Fredericksburg, OH. Customers from near and far received a commemorative insulated tote bag in thanks for their support. Miller wants any customer who didn’t receive a bag to be sure to get in touch to request one. He and his crew are more than happy to send one out to you.

As in any industry, new products are always coming on to the market. For his own harness making, Miller says the BioThane® product remains the only one he feels comfortable using.

Noah Miller and N&A Harness continue to thrive on innovation, trusted material, and loyal customer which all add up to a legacy worth celebrating on this anniversary year.

For more information about N&A Harness, or to request a free catalog, contact Noah Miller at: 6009 Township Road 419 Millersburg, OH 44654 Voice Mail (330) 893-1024 Fax (330) 893-0112

Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

a | 29

My Vintage Western

by Alain Eon, Montrouge, France

Afghan saddle

[Several months ago we asked Alain if he’d do an article for Shop Talk! about his extensive collection of restored antique saddles; what follows is the result of his efforts—thank you, Alain! In addition to being a talented saddle maker himself as well as a noted restored of collectible saddles, he is also the author of Restoring Vintage Western Saddles, an excellent guide on how to give old saddles and other leather goods a new lease on life.]

I

began collecting old time saddles around 1980’s before I built old time style saddles for friends and myself (20 saddles). My first one was an old Afghan saddle. One day a friend of mine called me, asking if I was interested in an old tree for sale in an antique store. I bought this saddle but didn’t know nothing about it. Some years later, when I visited the Hermès Museum in Paris, I discovered three similar ones, and the curator gave me more information about Afghan saddles.

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MAY 2015

Fred Mueller saddle circa 1925

Shop Talk!

n Saddle Collection Later, a friend and US collector, Ken Spain, from Aledo, TX, sent me an old Fred Mueller saddle circa 1925.The saddle was in very poor condition, but I was able to restore it for a better look.

This was the first saddle that I have restored and took me a lot of time, but I liked to work on this famous old saddle. Another interesting old one was this fancy Main & Winchester saddle sent to me by my friends Jim & Sharon Myers (J&S Old West). After a lot of work the old saddle looked very nice.

silver parade saddles which were too expensive for me.

I am not a really collector; my interest is much more to give another chance to those famous working saddles damaged by time and weather.

Actually, I have more than sixty old saddles in my collection and still have around five saddles waiting to be restored. Some are very interesting some other less. I enjoy finding information or old documents concerning each of my restored saddles. My pleasure is also to use some of them for riding.

You will find here a small part of my collection because I didn’t find pictures for all of them.

Like Olsen-Nolte, R.T. Frazier, Porter, Herman Heiser, Collins & Morisson, Geo. Lawrence, Meanea, Al Furstnow, Ortmayer, Reisacher, and several other famous makers.

After that I bought interesting old saddles from friends, collectors, sellers on eBay. I didn’t have enough money to buy old collectible saddles in good condition, but I learned enough on the Fred Mueller and the Main & Winchester saddles to continue to restore other ones. I wanted to collect old working saddles but not fancy

Early Mexican saddle 1800’s style with mochila.

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Another early Mexican saddle circa 1860 Great Plains saddle tree circa 1875 with original Sam Stagg rigging.

Texas mochila called “Machere” circa 1870.

Same saddle N°22 found in the McConnell catalog and sold for $11.33 at that time.

Some other interesting Old West items from my collection:

ACME patented metal stirrups.

Fancy wooden oxbow stirrups.

James Clark. Stamped “J .Clark, San Jose, California 1868” on fork cover.

Old cowboy boots 1900.

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I have also more than thirty early saddle trees, old California spade bits, a lot of old wooden & metal stirrups, early spurs, old saddlery catalogs, famous maker stamps, metal horns and Old West items like watch fobs, old cowboy and saddles pictures, etc.

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MAY 2015

| 33

Over the years, I have found interesting documents for several of my old saddles like maker photos, old advertising, and saddle pictures in early catalogs. I like to do research on them. As the famous saddle historian Lee M. Rice told me one day: “To restore an old saddle is almost the same as meeting the maker” I learned a lot about the artistic & fantastic work of the saddle makers of the past century with my saddle restoration, discovering something new on each one. The saddle stamped “HHS” circa 1880 is certainly the brand of a ranch stamped on several leather pieces.

J. H. Wilson (James Hunter), Denver, CO, circa 1895. This is the same saddle found in their catalog from this period.

Knox & Tanner, Rawlins, WY, circa 1895.

Interesting S.D. Myres, Sweetwater, TX, circa 1895 made before Myres moved to El Paso. I found a small card glued on one saddle tree bar with the customer’s name, saddle tree style and size, and saddle maker’s name.

Smith-Worthington circa 1905. I found the same saddle pictured in their catalog. Name stamped on the left front jockey “Pico De Hierro”. Maybe the maker.

Two famous Hamley saddles, one made in 1910 and the other in 1944 “Rolls Royce” model. Authenticated by documents from Hamley Co. with customer’s & saddle maker’s names, prices & dates.

"I learned a lot about the artistic & fantastic work of the saddle makers of the past century with my saddle restoration, discovering something new on each one."

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MAY 2015

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MAY 2015

| 35

Hamley Co., Pendleton, OR, kept in their history book good information about all the saddles they made in the past. With the stamped number on the back of the cantle, they are able to give you a certified document full of interesting information about your old Hamley saddle for a reasonable price.

US Packer’s saddle 1917 model stamped on fork cover “USTC03” and “US CAV.” on skirt.

Arizona Saddlery, Prescott, AZ, 1920, nicely carved with a fancy padded seat.

Western Saddle Manufacturing Co., Denver, CO, circa 1935, fully carved.

1920 Gopher Brand saddle made by Dodson-Fisher Co., Minneapolis, MN. Before

After

By Alain Eon Alain is one of the foremost restorers of collectible saddles in world. He shares all his secrets about how to restore worn out and "dead" leather in his new 64 page book. His methods are practical and easy to understand.. $45.00 + $3.25 SH Order your Copy Today: Proleptic Inc.,

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MAY 2015

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2015

| 37

This half size saddle I made has been inspired from the early Ayers .

Hess & Hopkins, Rockford, IL, circa 1940, stamped on borders & studs.

Mexican saddle circa 1940, nicely carved.

Nice saddle pad.

This saddle has been used during many years at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade.

No maker name.

My next restoration project will be to give a new life to this famous early saddle: 1870’s, Alexander Ayers, San Jose, CA. This has a great Martin Harr saddle tree, Petaluma, CA. Original label glued under rawhide on back cantle.

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MAY 2015

Here is 1875’s Sam Stagg rigged, loop seat saddle. It has a maker stamp in several places but not found yet exactly who is the maker. I need to clean the stamp.

I have an important library collected for more than forty-five years with some rare saddle books and documents about famous makers.

I am also a NBSSCA member and got a lot of good information over the years from friends who are saddle collectors and saddle makers.

My main interest is old saddles from 1800’s to 1940’s. Difficult to find an early one in not too bad condition at reasonable price. All of them have a lot of history to tell.

It is interesting to discover how famous saddle makers worked at early periods and how their artistic work was fantastic. I can spend hours and hours looking how they put a fork cover perfectly in place or any other saddle piece.

The leather was not the same that we find today. Much time was taken for the tanning process. I saw that on most of my old saddle restoration work.

I am always enjoy restoring another famous old one.

Alain Eon [Alain may be contact at 168 Rue Maurice Arnoux, Montrouge, France 92120, e-mail: alain.eon@free.fr.] a

Shop Talk!

a

Alain Eon

a

by Nick Pernokas, Senior Feature Writer

I

n his youth, Alain Eon was lured by the siren call of the American West. In 1969, at the age of twenty-two, he did something about it. Traveling from Paris to Dubois, Idaho, Alain went to work for the CM Ranch.

"My dream came true when I went to the States to be a cowboy," remembers Alain.

This is my latest half-size saddle I made with an early California style circa 1870’s. It’s made on a “Lite Ride” tree from Chicago Stockyard Saddle Tree and made with Hermann Oak leather.

One of Alain's jobs on the ranch was to clean and condition all of the saddles. It took some time to do all fifty of them, and, as Alain worked, he gained an appreciation of not only the variety of Western saddles but the various men who had built them. One of the cowboys at the ranch built some of his own equipment, and Alain was inspired by him to learn more about leatherwork. On a trip to Sheridan, Alain met Don King and watched him work. Alain spent a year in the United States learning as much as he could about cowboying and leather work. He even was an extra in the Lee Van Cleef film, "Barquero".

Alain returned to Paris and a job in the printing industry. He brought catalogues back with him and started ordering leather tools.

Alain's first saddle took him a year to build, and he did not think it was very good. His second one was better. Later Alain read How to Make Cowboy Horse Gear by Bruce Grant and Lee Rice with whom he began to correspond with by mail. Lee critiqued Alain's work which helped him tremendously. Eventually, gun collectors in France began to ask Alain to build authentic reproduction holsters for their guns, and Alain even reproduced the tooling from old American saddles of the 19th century.

In 1980 he began to collect and restore vintage American saddles. In 1999, he participated in the "World of Horses" exhibition that was put on by Hermes in Houston. Part of Alain's collection was on display there.

"To restore a saddle is almost the same as meeting the maker," explains Alain. "I enjoy giving a second life to old saddles that have been used for many years."

Saddle restoration work is easier for Alain to do because he has to start and stop frequently. He feels that it is hard to do this if you're building a new saddle. Over the years, he has become known as one of the leading experts on saddle restoration and has even written a book entitled, Restoring Vintage Western Saddles. It's available in English and French. If you do any saddle repair, you need this book Alain and his wife, Jeanne, live in an apartment near the center of Paris. They raised two children and have a grandson. In Alain's office there are twenty-six saddles from his personal collection. It also houses posters, stirrups, bits, and memorabilia. Many books and catalogues about cowboy gear fill shelves on the walls.

"My wife says that sometimes when she comes in my office, she can hear cattle and horses," laughs Alain.

Many more saddles are housed at Alain's summer house in the center of France. It is there that Alain has his complete saddle shop. He also has trees and leather waiting for him to build more saddles. A friend nearby has a ranch where Alain can ride after he finishes a restoration.

Alain has also had an illustrious career in the printing industry. Paris is a center for both art and fashion, and Alain has worked in both of them. He has designed catalogues for fashion houses like Cartier, Hermes, and Chanel as well as for many of the museums in Paris.

Alain has also served as the president of the CCFI which is the professional association of printers in France. Alain finds time to help others as well. He is the Vice President of The Friends of Karen Association which helps children with multiple handicaps through seven centers in France. Of course, Alain is one of the founding members of the ECGMAA Association.

"I am very proud to have so many friends in the United States in the saddle business," says Alain." Many of them have helped me." And Alain has returned the favor many times over.

Alain can be found at www.alain.eon.free.fr and on Facebook.

Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

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Coated Webbing Comes of Age

by Virginia Perry Daffron, Staff Writer First developed as an alternative to leather in harness making, today’s synthetic coated webbing is used in a diverse array of products from medical devices to baby stroller straps to safety harness and sporting equipment. As the technology of applying coatings to synthetic webbing has evolved, so too have the uses for this versatile material.

Ethan Boron, president of BioThane Coated Webbing Corp., says the potential for new uses continues to expand. “I’m excited about where this industry is going,” Boron comments. “We have some great new products in the pipeline, and we are looking forward to rolling them out over the next several years.” Boron’s 60-person manufacturing operation, based outside of Cleveland, OH, is a driver of innovation in developing new coating technology, new uses, and new markets for coated webbing.

What’s So Great About Coated Webbing?

Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat or tubular strip. Originally developed for military use and woven from cotton or flax, most modern webbing is

Above: 1. Custom emboss patterns, 2. Basket weave for belts and 3. Reflective colors with Edgeguard.

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MAY 2015

made from synthetic fibers such as nylon, polypropylene, or polyester.

The idea to improve upon synthetic webbing by adding a coating to it came from a famous maker of racing harness, Walsh Harness Co. of Wisconsin. In 1977, Walsh approached B.F. Goodrich Company to ask the giant manufacturer to add a plastic covering to the lightweight webbing Walsh had begun using for racing harnesse. Overwhelmed by the demand for all sorts of new plastic products, Goodrich offered the project to a small group of its employees, who took it on as a sideline in one of the founders’ basements.

Frank Boron, former CEO of BioThane and father of the current president, was one of those early Goodrich workers who took on the challenge. Dave Satink, owner of Ohio Plastics Co. and a certified public accountant, was another former Goodrich employee who became involved in the venture.

Once the new coated webbing reached the market, harness and tack makers quickly recognized the many advantages of the product: • Easy to clean: the smooth coating keeps dirt and grime on the surface of the webbing, where it is easily washed away with soap and water.

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• Durable: the coating resists abrasion. Specialized coatings have been developed to prevent deterioration from UV rays and damage from certain chemicals.

• Waterproof: since coated webbing cannot absorb water, it stays flexible at freezing temperatures, resists liquid stains, and is light in weight even when wet.

Coated webbing can be produced in almost any color, and it can be printed, stamped, embossed, tooled, punched, and sewn with ease.

Advances in Coating Technology BioThane stays true to its engineering roots with an ongoing commitment to research, development, and product testing. The company’s research facility employs two polymer scientists who perform a range of hardness, abrasion, UV resistance. and water resistance tests in BioThane’s specially equipped research laboratory.

“Adhesion is the real name of the game,” says BioThane president Boron. “Getting the polymers to stick to the webbing is the primary engineering challenge we face and we have gotten very good at it.” Boron notes that it’s nearly impossible to separate the coating from the webbing it covers on many BioThane products, even with tools.

BioThane is also proud of its quality assurance department which is staffed by five employees who ensure that each batch of coated webbing product is totally consistent with the company’s standards.

Now that the fundamental challenge of adhesion has been largely overcome, the coated webbing industry is developing new coatings with specialized properties for targeted uses. BioThane G2, for

example, is a new technology to add an ultra lightweight coating to webbing. This coating gives the user a much more flexible and comfortable experience while maintaining BioThane’s characteristics—durable and easy to clean. Medical, safety, and sporting goods markets are discovering the advantages of BioThane G2.

Beta® 580, a semi-gloss BioThane product, is the company’s masterpiece for equine markets. Boron explains, “This material looks and feels exactly like leather. It is softer and more flexible than ever before, with performance characteristics that are the best on the market.” This product has a “true” leather grain pattern embossed in the coating which completes the “just like leather” impression of harness, tack, and belts made from the material. Additional products incorporating the grain characteristics, color, and feel of this material will be reaching the market in the near future.

Coated Webbing Finds New Uses It’s not surprising that makers of harness and tack were some of the earliest, and remain some of the

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Manufacturers of Leather, Nylon or Biothane Products like Halters, Harnesses or other Equine or Pet Related items. Distributors of Harness & Saddlery Hardware. Leather, Leather Oils, Biothane & Nylon Webbing plus other Equine Products.

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MAY 2015

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most enthusiastic, users of coated webbing since the material was developed in response to a need in the harness making industry. As the technology and manufacturing processes for coating synthetic webbing have matured, many new uses have been developed.

Another new market for the industry is athletic equipment. Ridell, a manufacturer of football, baseball, softball, and other sports equipment, needed to create a football shoulder pad that could be removed in the event of a potential spinal cord injury without moving the player.

BioThane has seen a lot of interest in coated webbing from manufacturers of pet products such as collars, leashes, and training aids. Printed collars with camouflage designs are popular for hunting dogs, while other products incorporate reflective tape to increase visibility and night time safety.

BioThane’s Reflective - Edgeguard product has even been used to mark bears that have been radiotagged for research. The reflective webbing, which is easily seen at distances of up to 100 yards, alerts hunters that these bears are not to be taken during the hunting season. The durability of the product means that it stands up to the abuse meted out by a bear’s life--even for mothers of three cubs!

“You can’t put shoulder pads in an MRI or CT scan machine because of the metal on them,” says Mike Rose, Riddell’s protective equipment design specialist. “For lack of a better product, we were using common bike lock cable. However, it’s metal and the coating on it eventually dried out and cracked.”

BioThane developed a solution that incorporates a combination of various BioThane® coated webbing products to create a cord that allows the shoulder pads to be removed instantly and with no physical disruption to the injured player.

Coated webbing with a reflective strip is also popular for buggy harness used by members of the plain communities on public roadways.

Hot Right Now BioThane’s Boron says that he is seeing a lot of interest in patterns that are embossed right into the surface of a coating. Effects such as graining, grooves, and decorative patterns that emulate

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MAY 2015

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tooling are all possible. BioThane also uses dye sublimation printing to add patterns and motifs to the surface of the webbing before the coating is applied. The sky really is the limit when it comes to customizing coated webbing these days!

While black and brown are the mainstay colors of the harness making industry, other users enjoy the multitude of bright colors that can be achieved. The endurance trail riding community has embraced coated webbing for its light weight, color choices, and easy with which it may be cleaned. BioThane offers an astonishing 65 different colors for its products, and the company is always tweaking and adding colors to its lineup.

With all the widths, thicknesses, colors, and specialty coatings it produces, BioThane offers between 1,500 and 2,000 different products at any given time.

From its humble beginnings in an Ohio basement to a material that now accounts for more than 90% of all new harness manufactured worldwide as well as a host of emerging new uses, synthetic coated webbing has definitely come of age as a high quality, versatile product that is here to stay.

To learn more, please contact: BioThane USA 34655 Mills Rd. North Ridgeville, OH 44039 (877) 588-2358 www.biothane.us

Milton Sokol & Co. Inc. ~ Demar Leather Company Established 1927

Russet Vegetable Tanned Leathers:

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127-25 Metropolitan Avenue  Kew Gardens, NY 11415 Ph: (718) 441-2226  Fx: (718) 441-2299  email: sales@msokol.com Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

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SHELTON-REYNOLDS, INC.

11516 N. Port Washington Rd., Suite 1A, Mequon, WI 53092 sales@sheltonreynolds.com

First Quality & Closeouts

 Nylon Halter, Harness & Collar Webbing  Nylon Sling and Tie-down Web  Urethane & Vinyl Coated Webbing  Seatbelt Webbing Seconds  Polypropylene Webbing  Hook & Loop – Sew-on & Pressure Sensitive  Derby Rope, Shock Cord  Vinyl Fabrics - Laminates & Coated  Sewing Thread - Nylon & Polyester - all sizes  100% Acrylic Marine Fabrics  Truck Tie-down Web 1"- 2" - 3" - 4"  Clear Vinyl Tent & Boat Window  Rope - Nylon & Polyester  1/8" Nylon Parachute Cord for Braiding  Canvas - All Styles & Weights, Natural,

BioThane is now producing a black reflective tape. It can be ordered with grooves in ¾” and 1” wide BioThane with hi-gloss or semi-glass finishes. In the daytime, the black webbing appears to blend in with the black coating, but at night it gives of a noticeable refection. Distributors are stocking up so try some today!

Flame Retardant, Water & Mildew Resistant

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For wholesale service, contact us at 1 (800) 325-7950 or fax us at (314) 421-6152 Or contact the nearest distributor listed below: El Paso, TX, Bowden Leather Company 915-877-1557 Ventura, CA, Goliger Leather Company 800-423-2329 Napa, CA, Hide & Leather House 707-255-6160 Billings, MT, Montana Leather Company 406-245-1660 Portland, OR, Oregon Leather Company 503-228-4105 Amarillo, TX, Panhandle Leather Company 806-373-0535 Sheridan, WY, Sheridan Leather Outfitters 888-803-3030 Mt Hope, OH, Weaver Leather, Inc 800-WEAVER-1

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MAY 2015

Springfield, MO, Springfield Leather Company 800-668-8518 Calgary, AB, Canada, Caledon Sales Ltd 403-252-0232 Botany, NSW, Australia, Birdsall Leather 011-612-9316-6299 Toowoomba, Qsld, Australia, Toowoomba Saddlery 011-617-4633-1855 Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan, Craft & Company Ltd. 011-81-3-5698-5511 Taito-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, Kyoshin Elle & Co., LTD 011-81-3-3866-3221 Maniwa, Japan, Star Trading Company 011-81-8-6742-8004 What Firminy, France, Logis de Cordes 33-04-61-19-16

St. Louis, MO Since 1881

Legends Are Made Of. www.hermannoakleather.com

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News, Notes & Queries

Business and updates and happenings

May Events Our apologies for running late this month but we’ve been trying to get the buyer’s guide to press and that’s a big rock to push! There follows mention of a couple nice events scheduled during the month of May and we wish we had gotten the information earlier because you never know when there’s going to be glitch. What we really appreciate and ask people to do is send their ads and notices about scheduled events 60 days prior to the auction, trade show, or seminar they’re putting on. That way, people have time to make plans. Thanks.

The nice thing is that these are annual activities which will take place in 2016 as well so you can plan now to attend!

8149 Twp. Rd. 662 | Dundee, OH 44624 Ph: 330.359.0147 | Fax: 330.359.0196

Z Manufacturers of Z • Old Style formed steel eveners • Pipe Eveners & Neck Yokes • Clevis & Tongue Hardware

Dealers’ Inquires Welcome The American Donkey & Mule Society Established 1967—Serving Longears and their owners for over 40 years.

World’s Largest Single Source of Information and Services for all sizes of Donkeys, Mules & Zebra Hybrids.

Home of the BRAYER magazine, The Original All-Breed Longear Publication 112 pages bi-Monthly. $23 US, $30 Canada, $35 overseas Ck, MO, Paypal, MC/Visa ADMS, PO Box 1210, Lewisville TX 75067 (972) 219-0781 Email lovelongears@hotmail.com ** www.lovelongears.com

*Open house at Sheridan Leather and Douglas Tools during the Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show, May 15-17. You are also invited to their annual reception on May 15, 6-9 pm. You may contact Sheridan Leather at 2047 Coffee Ave., Sheridan, WY 82801, (307) 674-6679. www.sheridanleather.com *MDY Annual Consignment Auction in Middlebury, IN, near Shipshewana, at 1455 S 1100 W, Middlebury, (574) 825-8161 x 1. Scheduled for May 23.

Boot & Saddle Contests are BACK! Hey—good news! Jim Taylor will be handling the saddles and Mike Vaughn will take care of the boots at the Roundup this year. Some categories have been added. Buckles or plaques will be awarded to win-

SUN BIAS, INC.

INDUSTRIAL SEWING SERVICES 1718 N. 1ST. STREET ** MILWAUKEE, WI. 53212 Serving the needle trades 90 years.

POLYPROPYLENE WEBBING Firsts & Seconds. 28 colors on Firsts 59/60” NYLON FABRICS Firsts & Seconds Urethane Coated. 60 colors on 1000-Denier & many other fabrics.

HOOK & LOOP Sew on 1/4” to 6”, some widths in 35 colors.

P. S. (Stick on) 5/8”-5” Rubber & Acrylic.

SPECIAL Hook/Loop. Call for prices ELASTICS Woven H D 1” thru 3” & Ex H D, also knitted & braided types.

PLASTIC & METAL HARDWARE for webbing & miscellaneous items Grommets Washers 3 colors & Snaps 39 cap colors.

Firewood Bundle Webbing Handles Automated Hot/Sear Cutting on webbing, Elastics and Hook & Loop. For no-fray ends use Hot cutting on webbing for belt tip ends.

2-1/4” Electric Webbing & Rope Cutters for cut it yourself.

Self-Locking Nylon Ties (Cable Ties) 4” thru 15”.

BIAS or STRAIGHT CUT fabric binding tape slitting SINGLE & DOUBLE folded Bias Tapes * 200+ colors.

CORD EDGE PIPING 200+ colors & Asst. Cord Fillers for horse blankets.

Up to 200 Catalog color pages available.

Save paper order as needed from our catalog index pages and the latest changes by e-mail in the same day to sales@sunbias.com (or USPS mail takes longer) TOLL FREE NATION WIDE 1-800-425-4747 • FAX 1-414-265-5353

MOST IN STOCK MATERIALS ARE SHIPPED WITHIN 24 HOURS. MASTER CARD,*VISA,*DISCOVER & E-CHECKS

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MAY 2015

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ners but no money or prizes. Details will be posted soon!

Please contact Kathy Kimmel at Kimmel Boot at 2080 County Road 304, Comanche, TX 76442, (325) 356-3197, www.bootandsaddlemakertradeshow.com.

So get started on making the prettiest pair of boots or saddle possible and bring it to the Roundup this year in Wichita Falls, TX! It’s the best.

My Buyer’s Guide is Here!

And it is a dandy!!

We work on that silly thing all year long, checking and triple checking all the info that goes into it so it’s correct as possible.

My Buyer’s Guide! reaches about 16,000 shops, retailers, and manufacturers each year. It’s got everything that retailers and manufacturers need to stay in business and it’s mighty easy to use. There’s not a lot of flipping back and forth, and the only people we list are bona fide manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers.

Also--the directory is online and completely searchable at www.mybuyersguide.net.

You should be getting it any day and you’re going to love it!

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MAY 2015

Leather Therapy Sold There’s a confirmed report that Leather Therapy of The Plains, VA, a manufacture of cleaning and conditioning leather products, was recently purchased

by W. F. Young, makers of Absorbine liniment for horses. W. F. Young is headquartered in East Longmeadow, MA, (800) 628-9653, www.wfyoung.com.

Garland Tony Dies Garland Toney, Sr., died April 12, 2015. Garland retired after working 58 years in the English equestrian industry. As a resident of Richmond, VA, he worked for famous companies like Crump Co. for 18 years then Richmond Harness Co. and then later moved to Shelbyville, TN, where he became president of Blue Ribbon Saddlery, an English-based company.

After returning to Richmond, he started Saddlery Trade Associates and represented companies such as Courbette Saddlery, Devon Aire, Tailored Sportsman, and Shires of England. He died peacefully at age 84.

Big Spring Tool Sale Big Plop If you’ve ever been in a cow pie manufacturing facility (aka “field” or “cow pasture”), you’re familiar

colonel carter’s merchantile, inc.

Clicking Service • Sewing Full Service Leather Craft Supply Store Dealer for C.S. Osborne & Co. Leather Machine Co. Barry King Tools Tandy Leather Factory Top Grade Leather Hermann Oak Wickett & Craig Thoroughbred Leather

Colonel Carter’s Merchantile, Inc. 26575 W. Commerce Dr. Unit 507 Volo, IL 60073 847-270-0806

www.colonelcarters.com

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with that wet sound which accompanies pies being made—plop, plop, plop. That’s kind of how the Big Spring Tool Sale went—plop!

You know, we’ve been having tool sales in October for a while now and I am here to tell you that the phones—both lines—ring off the hook for the first two weeks. We can’t take orders fast enough nor get them out the door. However, printing that catalog does cost quite a bit and we always have the sale online as well.

So last fall I got this great idea of cleaning out the corners and having a tool sale online this spring.

I’d save the cost of printing a catalog! Great! And that’s what we did and what we learned is that it didn’t work.

There were several reasons. We’ve changed servers recently and we also switched our web site from Cake to Wordpress so the site doesn’t work like it used to. Those things caused problems which we eventually fixed but not before losing sales. But the BIG thing was that a sale of over 1,000 lots is just too tedious to look through—it’s much easier with a printed catalog. Much. I mean, who has hours and

hours to look at a sale that large? No one.

So that’s what we’ll do this fall—we’ll keep the sale online and then print a catalog in October. Which will give us time to add about 300-400 more leather stamps and clean up a few more tools that have been collecting and need to find a new home!

Stay tuned. And if you’re looking for some real deals (10-15% lower than our normal prices), please visit www.proleptic.net. Thanks. PLOP! If I Had Only Known How many times have your head and thought with a certain amount of regret coupled with self-disgust, “If I had only know!”? As folks say, hindsight is 20/20. So why not lend a helping paw to those younger men and women coming into the trades and share some of the things you’ve learned over the years? Doesn’t have to be world shattering. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was to move the tack tray closer to my work so I wouldn’t reach so much—brilliant! Thank you, Everight!

Now it’s YOUR turn to pass along what you’ve learned so please drop us a line about things like

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ordering leather, running a business, working with customers, how to charge, your favorite round knife, etc.—whatever has made your life and work a little bit easier over the years and just might help the next generation to avoid some of the same pitfalls.

Thanks!

Drop us a line at Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net.

Exit Strategy The question is: Do you have one? Let’s face it—it’s pretty easy to get into business. You buy a few tools, make up a little sign, and you are off to the races!

But what happens after 20 years? 30? 40? And you want to sell that monster you’ve built up? See what I mean?

You’ve put a whole lot of time, sweat, and money into the business and you’d like to cash in your chips at some point and benefit from that investment. Truth be told—most people can’t or won’t and what happens is that they get old, they stop working, and they have nothing to show for their efforts.

Maybe they’ll have a little auction and sell their shop for pennies on the dollar.

Is that what you want to do?

Selling a saddle shop or harness shop or boot shop isn’t exactly like selling a sandwich shop. There aren’t that many potential buyers for one thing and most folks just don’t plan far enough ahead. They wake up one morning and they don’t feel like going into the shop anymore—now what? If they don’t have a buyer lined up, then they are SOL. So it behooves you to have a plan! Can you live off of your Social Security? Do you know what that amount is? Do you have any retirement saved up?

What kind of monthly bills are you responsible for?

Can you just lock the door when the time comes and walk away?

If you are thinking about selling at some point, then you need to look down the road at least 5 years, maybe 10. Maybe you need to hire someone and groom them to take over. You certainly need to keep your finances in order and all your paperwork on file like tax returns etc. so it’s readily available to any perspective buyer who is going to want to take a real close look at your books.

Bogle Greenwell Machinery Corp.

Since 1953

3100 E. Main, Grand Prairie, TX 75050 (972) 262-8652 or (972) 262-3101 Fax (972) 262-3251 Leather Machinery, Dies & Supplies Representatives & Distributors for:

Indusco Acme Staple Co. Adler America Inc. Chandler Machine Co. Manufacturers Supplies Co. Campbell Bosworth Machinery Co.

Consolidated Sewing Machine Corp.

Hudson Machine Co. Randall Leather Machine Corp.

Western Supplies Co. Quick Roll Leaf Mfg. Co., Inc. Schaefer Machine Company, Inc. Ferd, Schmetz Needle Corp.

Fortuna Machine Co. New England Needles Inc. Jado Machine Co. Pfaff Pegasus of USA, Inc. Juki AmericaSinger Machine Co. & many more

Sale or Lease of New & Used Machinery www.boglegreenwell.com

H

ANSEN

WESTERN GEAR

Conchos Saddle Trim Hand Engraved Silver Products “For those who want the very best”

HansenSilver.com

209-847-7390 Marie, Tim & Kelleigh Hansen

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800-970-7391 Oakdale, CA 95361

Shop Talk!

FROM SPRINGFIELD, IL:

So don’t delay—it is NEVER too early to plan for your retirement or for the possible sale of your business. Plan your work and work your plan!

Extra Good Rural Heritage If you haven’t seen a copy of the April/May Rural Heritage you need to get a couple copies and put them on your front counter for customers to enjoy. There’s a real useful article on “Adjustable Collars”. It really is quite extensive and informative.

Very good teaching tool.

Approximately 70 mile

1. Start out going north on S 9th St/I-55 Bus N toward E Adams St.

Harness Maker’s Get-Together 2015

2. Turn right onto E Madison St/IL-29/IL-97. Continue to follow IL-97 E.IL-97 E is just past E Jefferson St (If you reach E Mason St you've gone a little too far.)

Gary Miller at Miller’s Harness called into let us know the correct number to contact him about the 5. Merge onto US-36 E via EXIT 133A on the left toward Decatur.

Get-Together is (217) 543-3238. The address is 6. Turn right onto IL-32.

431 100 Arthur, ILabout 61911.

The (If youN are County on US HighwayRoad 36 and reach CountyE, Road 150 you've gone 0.1 miles too far.) is scheduled foris just July 16th and 7.consignment Turn left onto E Highwayauction 133/IL-133. Continue to follow IL-133.IL-133 past W Middle St. (If you are on IL-32 and reach 2000 N Rd you've gone about 0.9 miles too far.) the Get-Together is on the 17th.

8. Turn left onto N County Road 100E.N County Road 100E is 0.3 miles past Moses Rd.

3. IL-97 becomes I-72 E/US-36 E.

4. Take the US-36 E/US-51 S exit, EXIT 133A-133B, toward Decatur/Pana.

(If you are on E State Highway 133 and reach County Road 200 you've gone about 1 mile too far.)

There follows a handy map through the corn fields to the Get-Together so you don’t get lost.

9. 431 North County Road 100 East, Arthur, IL 61911 (If you reach County Road 450 you've gone about 0.1 miles too far.)

Article on “Hanging Harness” which explains how properly to store it in the barn. There’s yet a third article entitled, “Harnessing & Hitching Refined.” Again, it’s informative and a good teaching tool to use with customers who have questions.

RH is also a good place to advertise if you sell collars, collar pads, halters, or harness. Contact: P O Box 2067, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2067, (319) 362-3027, www.ruralheritage.com.

OVERVIEW: Springfield, IL to Arthur, IL

431 N. County Rd 100 E. Arthur, IL 61911

a r n H e s A s Shop d n a N

Request your Catalog today!

6009 Township Road 419 • Millersburg, OH 44654 • Voice Mail (330) 893-1024 • Fax (330) 893-0112 Shop Talk!

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And here’s a listing of hotels in the immediate vicinity: *Comfort Inn Arcola—(866) 264-5744 *Best Western Plus Green Mill Village—(866) 267-9053 *Holiday Inn Express Tuscola—(866) 272-4856 *Baymont Inn & Suites—(866) 276-6393 *Super 8 Tuscola—(866) 279-5332 *Days Inn Mattoon—(866) 281-6817 *Baymont Inn Mattoon—(866) 286-0843 *Super 8 Mattoon—(866) 295-5798 *Hampton Inn Mattoon—(866) 298-0996 *Holiday Inn Express Mattoon—(866) 313-6242 *Comfort Inn Mattoon—(866) 608-6760

Sew What Supplies?!

400 Travis Ln., Unit 28, Waukesha, WI 53186 (800) 390-9503

Zippers YKK Hook & Loop Thread Webbing trucker tiedown nylon halter polypro Shock Cord/Cording  

Nylon Fabrics cordura Elastic pack cloth Fiebing Products oxford cloth Grommets Vinyl Coated Mesh Hardware Vinyl Coated Truck metal Tarp plastic Imitation Sheepskin 

www.sewwhatsupplies.com

Silver Screen Legend XVIII

This year the, Silver Screen Legend XVIII Colt single-action six-shooters are engraved with the brands of thirteen famous cowboys of the silver screen—Rex Allen, Gene Autry, Holalong Casssidy, Wild Bill Elliot, Monte Hale, Buck Jones, Joel McCrea, Tom Mix, Monte Montana, Dale Robertson, Roy Rogers, and two for John Wayne.

This is the 18th year that the Happy Trails Children’s Foundation has raffled custom pistols provided by Colt’s Manufacturing. The engraving was done by Conrad Anderson of Rocktree Ranch, who also made the spots, conchos, and buckle sets. The grips were carved by Bob Leskovec of Precision Pro Grips. Jim Lockwood made the holster rig, and Ron Love donated the prop cartridges.

Tickets are $10 each or 11 for $100. The drawing will be held December 12, 2015. You do not need to be present. Please order your tickets by calling, toll free, (855) 788-4440.

The Happy Trails Children’s Foundation, which was started by Dale Evans and Roy Rogers, is home to children who need your help and is located at 10755 50 |

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Apple Valley Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308, www. happytrails.org.

Plan Now for Pendleton The next Pendleton Show is scheduled for this coming November 6-7, in Pendleton, OR, and hosted by the folks at Sheridan Leather Outfitters at (888) 8033030, www.sheridanleather.com.

Western Leather and Equipment Trade Show Jim Cox reports that his auction and trade show this past March in French Lick, IN, went pretty well.

The dates for the next show is March 13-15, 2016. If you’d like to be a vendor please contact Jim for all the details. There will also be a one day show and auction on March 18 in Xenia, OH, next year.

Jim is planning to host another event this year in Miami, OK, toward the end of September. There is also an event scheduled for the middle of November in Webster, FL. You may contact Jim at 1405 Boyle Rd., Hamilton, OH 45013, (513) 889-0500.

Big Summer Book Sale Get ready! It’s coming in the June issue and will include all the wonderful titles we carry, each with a whooping 15% discount! Wow! Take advantage of this great annual sale and SAVE! Knife Sheaths Wanted We are still wanting to do an issue which shows the different sorts of knife sheaths people make—big and small, fancy and plain. So please send us a few nice pictures of your work and a little information about yourself—thanks!

Contact: Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net.

English Saddle Making & Fitting Classes The North American Saddlery School is really starting to offer quite a few classes that aren’t available anywhere else in the US—so let’s take advantage of these great opportunities!

Free Flea This July!

Time to clean out your corners and reduce inventory! Send us your list of the stuff you want to get rid of as well as specials and closeouts. There is no charge for this! Please contact: Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, fax (828) 505-8476, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net.

Whutchu waiting for!

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There is a saddle and bridle making class scheduled for April 27-May 1, in Clear Spring, MD. A saddle fitting class will be offered on May 1-3, in Hagerstown, MD. Then on May 4-8, there’s an onsite and bench adjustment course that will also be held in Clear Spring, MD. Get all the details by contacting USA Courses, 1684 Hendershot Rd., Warfordsburg, PA 17267, (717) 294-6757, e-mail: info@saddleryschool.com, www.saddleryschool.com.

Martin Carriage Auction Martin Auctioneers will be having their fall auction this coming October 16-17, at the Lebanon Fairgrounds in Lebanon, PA. For all the details, call (717) 354-6671, www.martinauctioneers.com.

Leather Workers Behind Bars Shop Talk! has a number of readers who are guests at a variety of state and federal prisons, and we’d like to find out more about their lives as leather workers behind bars. What’s it like? Are supplies hard to come by? What about machinery? How did

they become leather workers? What do they do with the work that they produce?

We’d like to hear from you. If it’s possible for one of our writers to interview you by phone, please let us know. Or please send us your story along with any pictures you may be able to send to: Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, e-mail: shoptalk@proleptic.net. Whatever you send will be returned.

Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you.

Leather Worker of the Month If you’d like to be considered for this monthly honored, please send us a picture of yourself, a couple pictures of your work, and a few words about yourself—that’s it! Pretty easy. If you can’t send a pictue of yourself for whatever reason, that’s OK. If you’re chosen, then we’ll send you a check for $49.94 PLUS give you a free year’s subscription to Shop Talk! Now that’s a deal!

Please send you information to Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, e-mail: shoptalk@ proleptic.net.

On the Lookout. . .

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

*David Weinburg at (413) 331-2711 is looking for a manual for a F40 Hudson clicker. I’d try United Global at (508) 923-6001. *Dale Lutke at D&S Harness, Hudsonville, MI 49426, (616) 481-6189, e-mail: miniharness@aol. com is looking for a source of this piece of hardware:

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

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Mose Miller Wins Grand Prize!!

We are pleased to announce that our Grand Prize for identifying the sewing machine on p. 52 in the April issue will be going to Mose Miller of Miller’s Wholesale Harness! Congratulations, Mose!

Mose will be receiving 150 lbs. of prime horse feathers PLUS his entire family will receive an ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP to Columbia, KY! —Here’s the machine Mose properly identified:

Here’s another drawing of the entire head—

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MAY 2015

This is a Campbell Cyclone Sewing Machine that was made by the Campbell Bosworth Machinery Co. which Barry Schiller bought in 1955 and moved to Florida when the Randall Leather Machine Co. split. Subsequently, the company was purchased by the Naegle family and moved to Yoakum, TX. We have a number of operator’s manuals for the Cyclone and one is dated 1914. In the June 1989, issue of The Harness Shop News, we published a review of heavy sewing machine but offered little information about the machine. My impression was that there were only a few hundred copies of this machine ever made and was considered quite expensive. It is a needle and awl machine and has an excellent reputation as being a real hoss.

Campbell Randall in Texas still services this machine as well as carries parts, needles, and awls.

You may contact them at 401 Irvine St., Yoakum, TX 77995, (800) 327-9420, (361) 293-7015, www. campbell-randall.com. Apparently, the Cyclone is still used by manufacturers around the world.

Shop Talk!

Mark Your Calendar Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show will *be 22nd held in Sheridan, WY, at the Sheridan Holiday Inn, May 15-17. Hosted by The Leather Crafters Journal, 222 Blackburn St., Rhinelander, WI 54501, (888) 289-6409.

Weaver Auction is scheduled for June 17*18,The in Mt. Hope, OH.

Pendleton Leather Show, Pendleton, OR. No*vember 6-7. Hosted by Sheridan Leather Outfitters, (888) 803-3030, www.sheridanleather.com.

Southwest Leather Workers Trade Show will *be 15th held at the Prescott Resort & Conference Center in Prescott, AZ. Hosted by The Leather Crafters Journal, 222 Blackburn St., Rhinelander, WI 54501, (888) 289-6409.

Get-Together will be held on July 16*17 Makers’ at Miller’s Harness Shop, 431 N. County Road 100 E, Arthur, IL 61911, (217) 543-3238.

The next Custom Boot & Saddle Makers’ *Roundup will be this coming October 2-3, in

Wichita Falls, TX. For all the details, please contact Eddie or Kathy Kimmel at 2080 County Road 304, Comanche, TX 76442, (325) 356-3197, www. bootandsaddlemakerstradeshow. com.

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Boot & Shoe News

PEOPLE and PRODUCTS and PLACES

Help Wanted!

Little’s Turn 100

That’s what we hear from boot maker Mike Vaughn.

He’s looking to hire somebody with experience yesterday. You may contact Mike at 2390 Orchard Rd., Bowie, TX 76230, (940) 872-6935.

Don’t tell the folks at Little’s Boots in San Antonio but we’re throwing them a big party next month and dedicating the June issue to them with a huge lead story. It should be pretty big fun so stay tuned.

New Buckaroo Boot Book

Goods & Services

You’re going to love it! There’s a new book by Jim Arndt (Cowboy Boot Book) that’s hard cover, color, and 128 pp.

It’s full of the cutest pictures of boots worn by little Cowboys and Cowgals. Contains dress boots as well as good old work boots for them kids that started riding and roping early.

Friends, you better give a look at “Goods & Services” this month because there are a whole lot of goodies there that you are going to want to know about.

Like Tanner’s Oil. It is the perfect light weight oil for boots and shoes and other leather goods that come in contact with clothing like handbags and briefcases.

The measures 7 ¼” x 7 ¼” and costs $14.99 plus SH. Get yours today. Contact: Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, e-mail: shoptalk@ proleptic.net.

Now if you ever get something in that you can’t repair yourself but would like to find someone who can, then just give us a call and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction. Same thing goes for any custom work you or a customer needs done.

(828) 505-8474.

111th SSIA Convention This year’s convention will be held on July 25-26 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL. You can call (888) 421-1442 to reserve your room.

Custom made

produCts

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

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From Our Library New From Jim Arndt

Clod-kickin’ style for little cowboy feet! Well-worn small-scale vintage boots, cute-as-can-be for little cowboy and cowgirl feet.

New from Proleptic, Inc. Wheels Across America, Vol. 2

Hardback with dust cover.

134 pp. Color. Over 400 photos of historical carriages, wagons, hearses, stage coaches, commercial vehicles, and more.

Chapters include:

Buckaroo Boots Hardcover. 128pp. Color 7 1/4” x 7 1/4” $14.99 +SH

Boots and the kids who wear them.

Plain • Fancy • and Really Cute Proleptic, Inc. • P.O. Box 17817 • Asheville, NC 28816 828-505-8474 • Fax 828-505-8476 • www.proleptic.net

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MAY 2015

“Museums & Private Collections,” “Manufacturers, Distributors, Dealers, Jobbers & Agents,” “Contemporary Craftsmen,” and “Carriage Art.”

$34 plus S&H

Proleptic, Inc.

P.O. Box 17817 • Asheville, NC 28816 Ph: 828-505-8474 • Fax: 828-505-8476

www.proleptic.net

shoptalk@proleptic.net

Shop Talk!

Classifieds

Buy or sell or trade

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 Wanted: New subscribers from Oregon, Washington, North Dakota, and Wyoming. 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) 505-8474, 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.

Wanted: Equestrian and Western work including prints, posters, paintings, etc. Contact: Shop Talk!, P O Box 17817, Asheville, NC 28816, (828) 505-8474, www. proleptic.net.

For Sale 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.

Leather Unlimited. Quality wholesale leather distributor since 1970 including oak, deerskin, garment, rawhide, oiled cowhide, furs, and more. Quality leather

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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.

For Sale: New blades for 6” hand cranked splitters; Standard Rivet #2 spot setters with staple dies; A-G flip top embosser; Fortuna top feed skiver; and more. Call for complete list of sewing machines and equipment. Buy, sell, trade. Can deliver. Contact: Roy Peakes, 5 Sibley St., Auburn, MA 01501, (508) 769-8899.

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.

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.

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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.

Wholesale Harness & Supplies! Brahma web, PVC sheeting, PVC belting, nylon webbing, nylon thread and hardware. We manufacture a full line of synthetic harness parts. In stock for immediate shipping, including blinds, gig saddles, molded curved crowns, cruppers, winker stays, and lots of die cut parts, etc. Ask for your FREE catalog! Contact: Countryside Mfg., 504 S. Humbert St., Milton, IA 52570.

Shop Talk!

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.

CA 92082. (760) 749-5755. Fax (760) 749-5355. E-mail: olsmoothie@sbcglobal.net. (R&B)

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: 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.

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) For Sale: Tools for the Professional—Ol’ Smoothie swivel knives, blades, stamping tools, and more. Contact: Chuck Smith Tools, Smith & Co., P O Box 2647, Valley Center,

www.theleatherguy.org for all your leather, tool, and supply needs. Friendly, helpful staff at (507) 932-3795.

(R&B)

Shoe & Boot Help Wanted! Experienced boot maker wanted immediately. Contact: Mike Vaughn Handmade Boots, 2390 Orchard Rd., Bowie, TX 76230, (940) 872-6935.

Total shoe repair equipment for sale. All supplies go with it. Price $5,500. Contact: Gerald Manor, Portland, IN, (260) 726-4172 or (260) 726-4343. Mon/Tues/Thurs/ Fri. Noon to 4 pm.

The “Word of the Day” is alacrity.

CHINO TACK Saddle Trees: Stirrups: wooden or iron, rawhide covered Rawhide: natural, bleach, black, red, etc.

Saddles: Casa Zea Blankets: assorted and solid colors

1-800-696-4649

www.chinotack.com • chinotack@gmail.com

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ADVERTISERS INDEX American Leather Direct....................60 American Saddlery/Big Horn...............6 Beachy Blacksmith.............................45 Beiler’s Mfg. & Supply........................41 BioThane.......................................25, 57 Bogle Greenwell Machinery Corp.....48 Bowden Saddle Tree..........................47 Brayer..................................................45 Brodhead Collar Shop........................52 Buckeye Blanket.................................56 Buckeye Engraving............................12 Buckle Barn USA................................16 Buena Vista Blankets.........................42 Buggy Builder’s Bulletin....................20 C.S. Osborne.......................................37 Campbell-Randall...............................58 Center Square.....................................20 Chino Tack..........................................61 Chupp Blacksmith Shop....................13 Coblentz Collar...................................50 Coblentz Supply.................................19 Colonel Carter's Merchantile.............46 Danny Marlin Knives..........................41 E.C. Leather.........................................24 Fairview Country Sales......................59 Fiebing Leather.....................................2 Fine Tool Journal................................46 Gfeller Casemakers, Inc.....................17

Goliger Leather Co., Inc.....................19 Hadlock & Fox Mfg. Co......................10 Hand Plait Leather..............................61 Hansen Western Gear........................48 Hastilow . ............................................22 Hermann Oak......................................44 Hide House..........................................53 Hillside Harness Hardware..back cover International Sheepskin.....................20 J.M. Saddler........................................24 I.H.S......................................................19 Kalico Products..................................36 Kelly-Larson Sales.............................13 Landis Sales & Service......................23 Leather Crafters Journal....................59 Leather Machine Co., Inc., The..........63 Leather Unlimited...............................12 Lewis Sales Co...................................17 Mid-River Sales...................................18 Milton Sokol........................................43 M D Y Auction.....................................22 Mules and More, Inc...........................41 N & A Harness Shop...........................49 Nettles.................................................. 11 Nick-O Sew..........................................33 Ohio Plastics Belting Co....................17 Ohio Travel Bag..................................54 Perfectex Plus LLC.............................22

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Precision Saddle Tree........................35 Proleptic.......................................8, 36, 58 RJF Leather.........................................52 Raphael Sewing Machine/TechSew............ ..............................................9, back cover Rural Heritage.....................................50 Sam Troyer..........................................18 Sew What?..........................................50 Shelton-Reynolds, Inc........................44 Sheridan Leather................................55 Shetler’s Collar Shop.........................20 ShoTan.............................................6, 48 Small Farmer’s Journal...................... 11 Smoke & Fire Co.................................42 Southstar Supply................................46 Springfield Leather.............................15 Steel Stamps.......................................23 Sugar Valley Collar Shop.....................9 Sun Bias, Inc.......................................45 Sweat Pad Shop............................12, 42 TechSew/Rapheal Sewing Machine............. ...............................................9, back cover Texas Custom Dies.............................54 Toledo Sewing......................................3 Wayne Jueschke.................................12 Western Mule......................................42 Wickett & Craig...................................51

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MAY 2015

Shop Talk!

Shop Talk!

MAY 2015

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Shop Talk!

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