dRTrailinStar

I apologize for digging up such an old post, but I came across it in a Google search, and thought I'd offer some thoughts. I really enjoyed these pictures of the Thomas saddle you reworked. You may have had your questions about it answered by now, but if not, I hope this bit of info will be helpful. My great great-grandpa, Moroni Thomas, began building saddles in the late 1800's. What I have been told is that he went to a saddlery school in Ogden, UT. He lived in various places in northern Utah, before moving to Swan Lake, ID to run the Thomas Mercantile with his brothers (the business is still there, today). One of his sons, Nathan Thomas, (my great-grandpa), took over the business and built saddles out of his shop (Thomas Saddlery), in Preston, ID until he passed away in the early 1970's. Moroni won a few awards for his saddles, including first place at the Portland, Oregon World's Fair. I'm not sure if grandpa Nate ever entered his saddles in competitions, but I do know that people came from miles around to get 'em. Thomas saddles are pretty hard to come by, because most people that have them hang onto them forever, so I am always excited when pictures of them surface on the web. Over the last few years, I have begun to build saddles and tack, and as far as I know, I'm the only one in the family since, that has taken an interest to leather work. Since grandpa died long before I was born, the only resources I have had as far as learning his style, is pictures. That being said, I would be very interested know if you have come across any Thomas Saddles, since? If so, I would love to see some pics!