The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-01-15
AMERICAN SADDLES.
They Are Inferior to Those Of
English Manufacture.
Cowboys and Hcrders the Principal Users
Of Saddles In This Country, Hence
Only the Rougher Ones
Are Made.

Are Made.
"Does Cincinnati make many saddles?
Well, should say so!'' was the exclama-
ton of large dealer upon being ques-
toned on the subject by Times-Star
reporter.
"Why, do you know" continued he,
'sthat Cincinnati, in addition to making
100000 sets of harness, turns out 10000
saddles annually? These saddles are
worth, on the average, $5 each, making
100000 the value of the yearly output.
"We do not make any very fine sad
dies, though, as we follow the usual
American way of getting the goods
upon the market as quickly as possible.
Even if we did desire to improve our
saddles, which we do not, we would
have to import the leather, for there is
none manufactured in this country that
is by any means as good as the En-
glish. Our saddles are for rough usage;
for cowboys, herders, etc., in which
business the English make would last
no time at all. We export saddles to
England, and to all parts of the world,
and we import English saddles, just as
every other country in the world does.
The two do not conflict in any way, as
each is used by a distinct class of people.
"Why do the English excel us? Why,
they pay more attention to outdoor
sports than do any other people, and
thus they have come to consider the
comfort and durability of their trap
pings. Horseback riding is indulged in
a great deal more in England than in
any other country in the world. They
have class of professional pleasure
seekers which we do not maintain. The
demand for English saddles and brides
is not mere whim, as many suppose,
but a strictly common-sense idea, in
spired by their superior merit.
"The finest American saddle made
does not sell for more than $50, while
the English make go up as high as $3.50
apiece, and they are worth it. There
are numerous fine saddles in use in this
city, but they are not Of our make.
SIT is peculiar fact that Americans
practically do not ride horseback; they
are too mindful Of their ease. They
own blooded horses, but they are most
ly drivers"
Out on West Sixth street, near Park,
is little frame house where on the top
Of the roof has stood for fifty years
wooden saddletree. Mr.. Trotman, the
old proprietor Of the house, is dead, but
| his place has been taken by James Bar
lker, thorough Englishman, whom the
reporter found whiting away at frail
saddletree. "Yes, the English make
the best saddles" said he. Americans
make only rough, heavy ones. They
have not the fine material used by their
| English cousins. make saddletrees
Just as they do in England, where I
learned my trade. and Of the same ma
| terial used there. The wood must COM
bins hghtness with strength, and 30 I
use only the best Of seasoned oak. Hero
Il race saddletree made of oak that
weighs but one and one-half ounces.
| Here is park saddletree that weighs q
pound. From that they range up to
several pounds. They make trees Of
leather to some extent. Lightness and
easy fitting to the horses back are tho
two great points desired in saddle.
The trees can not be shaped well by
machinery, and SO the ancient trade Of
the saddler is not destroyed completely.
! turn out two dozen trees per week
right along. My trees are equal to the
English make, which, in fact, they are,
and they are used on some of the best
horses in the country.
"You see, the tree is the foundation
of the saddle, and the shape of the fln-
ished saddle depends upon the shape Of
the tree. Saddles are made more fat
than formerly, the hump in front being
reduced to almost nothing. The Amer
| ican way Of manufacture Is to tack q
piece of hogskin over the tree, put pad
ding upon that, and tack on the cover.
The English method is to put over the
tree layer Of strained netting as q
foundation. This secures q springy
seat, and upon it is placed whatever
padding is desired, and cover Of hog
skin is placed over it ALL"
"The Americans can not equal the
English in saddles" said Prof. Leon de
Gisbert. "Here is an English saddle
and bride that have used constantly
for six years, and here is an Ameri-
can saddle six months old. The former
is as good as new, while the latter is as
good as no saddle at all. There are
some saddles made near Boston that
are good, but they are in reality En-
glish. The finished saddle is taxed
heavily, but the separate parts have
little duty on them. An Englishman
noticing this moved his establishment
to this side and imports the saddle in
pieces, simply setting them up here.
The English saddle fits close to the
horses back, is longer and is more COM
Portable to sit in than the American
make. If any one thinks for moment
that this preferment is simply freak
of the Anglo-maniac's, let him just try
| the two and decide for himself"