The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-22
AMERICAN SADDLES.
They Are Inferior to Those OF
English Manufacture.
Cowboys and IIerdcrs tho Principal Users
OF Saddles In This Country, Hcnoo
Only tho Roughcr Ones
Arc Made.

Well, should say so" was tho cxclama-
ton OF Il large dealer upon being uues-
toned on the subject by u Times-Star
reporter.
why, do you know" continued he,
that Cincinnati, in addition to making
100000 sets of harness, turns out &C, 900
saddles annually? These saddles are
worth, on the average, SIS each, making
100000 the value of the yearly OUTPUT
I'VE do not make any very fine sad
dies, though, as We follow the usual
American way of getting tho goods
upon the market as quickly as possible.
Even if wo 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, hcrdcrs, 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, rs
each is used by Il 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 tho
comfort and durability of their trap
pings. horseback riding is INDUCED In
great deal moro in England than in
any other country in the world. They
have n class of professional pleasure
seekers which we do not maintain. The
In md f,r.E 1,c1. IL
Is not mere whim, as many suppose,
but strictly common-sensc idea, in
spired by their superior merit.
THE finest American saddle made
does not sell for moro than $50, while
the English make go up rs high as $3.50
apiece, and they are worth it. There
arc numerous fine saddles in use in this
city, but they are not of our make.
ut is n peculiar fact TINT Americans
practically do not ride horseback; they
are too mindful OF their case. They
own blooded horses, but they are most
ly drivers"
Out on West Sixth street, near Park,
is Il little frame house whore on the top
of tho roof has stood for fifty years n
wooden saddletrcc. Mr.. Trotman, tho
old proprietor of the house, is dead, but
his place has been taken by james Bay
lser, thorough Englishman, whom'thc
reporter found whiting away at frail
saddlctrce. Eyes, 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. 1 make saddletrces
just as they do in England. whore 1
learned my trade, md of the same ma
tcrial used there. The wood must COM
bine lightness with strength, and so /
use only the best of seasoned oak. Hero
is race saddlctrec mado Of oak that
weighs but one and onc-hnlf ounces.
Here is park saddlctrcc that weighs n
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 the
two great points desired in saddle.
The trees can not be shaped well by
machinery, and SO the ancient trade of
the saddlcr is not destroyed completely.
turn out two dozen trees per week
right along. My trees arc equal to tho
English make which, in fact, they are,
and they are used or some OF the best
horses in the country.
you sec, the tree is the foundation
OF the saddle, and the shape of the fin
ishcd saddle depends upon the shape of
the tree. Saddles are made more fiat
than formerly, the hump in front being
reduced TO almost nothing The Amer
lean way of manufacture is to tuck o
piece of hogslSin over the tree, put pad
ding upon that, and tack on the cover.
The English method is to put over the
trco layer of strained netting as u
foundation. This secures springy
seat, and upon it is placed whatever
padding is desired, and cover of hog
skin is placed over it all"
Tho Americans can not equal the
English in Saddles" said Prof. Leon dc
Gisbcrt "lIcrc is an English saddle
and bride that have used constantly
for six years, and here is an Amcri-
can saddle six months old. The former
is as good as now, while the latter is rs
good as no saddle at all There arc
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 Englishinan
noticing this moved his establishment
to this side and imports tho 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
mako. If any one thinks for 1eomcnt
that this prcferment is simply freak
of the AnglO-maniac's, let him just try
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