Only the finest full-grain leather is selected for use, and from each hide, just 35 percent is up to saddle standards. From hide to fully mimosa-tanned leather, ready for cutting, is about 13 weeks. Compare this to the popular plastic saddles of today, where it is estimated that less than 10 percent of the work is done by hand. After bring constructed and checked for weather resistance at the Birmingham factory, all prototype models and on-going randomly selected saddles undergo a tortuous testing at the plant in Nottingham. In the most brutal test, a 280 lb. weight is applied to the frame, and then the saddle is bumped one million times.
Rejects are surprisingly rare.
There are currently 45 employees, producing from 600 to 800 saddles per day. Vintage Brooks saddle collecting is on the rise, with condition and rarity being paramount. Clearly, it is uncommon for a company to be in business after 129 years, and unusual to find it creating a product that has remained essentially unchanged, and yet is still viable in today's market. This could only come about through impeccable designs and an unflinching commitment to quality materials, both long-standing tenets of the Brooks organization. The author wishes to thank George T. Flegg and the Brooks Saddle Co. for graciously providing materials for this article.