Randy Cornelius

I have been looking to buy an older CS Osborne #5 saddlers hammer for some time but have not come across one that I could get bought. If anyone has one they are wanting to sell PM me with some pictures and price. Thanks Randy

Bruce you are right as ususl, one of the numbers on the back of the cantle that I gave them was the number E203. It looks to be an association tree and no the swells are not welted. Someone took a lot of time to form thoses swells. The saddle went back to it's owner last night and he was pleased with my work on the saddle as well as the home work I done on the history. Randy

I bet I will never find one of those. It would be a good project to try to build a new one just like it.

That's my trouble, they look so bad when they come in you don't think you will ever get them looking good again so I don't take a before picture. Randy

I just do good work, LOL should have seen it when I started LOL !

Bruce, I sent Hamley an email just after I got your post on this. I got a phone call from a very nice lady from Hamley Co named Margret just a few minutes ago. She was so nice to look this up and call me. Here is what I found out about the saddle. It was made on Aug, 18, 1936 by a saddle maker working for Hamley named Henry Donis It sold new for $82.50 3/4 rigging, 14" seat and 14" swell The stamp used was a # 580 It has a triangle tree, she did not know what that ment, if it was the tree maker or what. It was a special order by a man named Allen Fquakin of Chopaku, Washington I just love finding out the history of these old saddles, this just made my day! If anyone knows anything about the stamp used # 580 please let me know. Thanks again Bruce, Randy

Cool! I had no idea they were still in business, I sent them and email querry asking for history on the saddle. Thanks again Bruce. Randy

I thought I would post a picture of this Old Haney saddle that came in for repair. It is stamped "Hamleys Company Pendleton Oregon. On the back on the cantle is the Initials "D.C.S." Under the intitials is E203 Special E798 I presume these are the model numbers and the special indicates that the customer ordered it with his initials tooled in the back of the cantle. The saddle is flower stamped with a small flower tool about the size of a quarter all over the saddle. I really like this one and wish I had taken a picture of it before I started the work. The saddle was in really good shape and taken care of for the shape it was in. I fould a picture of a simular saddle in an old Hamley Cataloge dated 1940, so I presume it was made before the war. The tree was in very good condition, all the rawhide tight with no signs of pulling apart at the laces. Just thought you might enjoy seeing this good old saddle. It would be nice to know who the orginal owner was that had his initials carved in the cantle, but that info is most likely long lost. Randy

Sheridan, Wy. That way I would not have to drive so far to go to the show. But there are so many leather workers in the area you cannot throw a rock without hitting one. But I love the area. But I am content with where I am for now, just wish we did not have so much humidity in Kansas! Randy

It is hard to find veg tan in double back, you can get them in double shoulders which might work. I know that Wickett & Craig makes a double butt in thier English Bridle leather. Call W&C at 1-800-826-6379 talk to Glen ext 222 or Matt ext 216. Tell them what you are looking for they may be able to help. Randy

I have used Fieblings with neat lac without any problems. Only think I could possible think of is that the dye was not totally dry before you put on the neat lac. Sorry I don't have any other explaination. Randy

I will give you my take of pre waxed thread, it most of the time is "waxed" with a silicone based product that is allowing the natural coloring of the leather to rub off on the thread as you sew. Not sure what kind of leather you are useing but that would be my guess. Try using a good quality nylon or polyester thread and wax it yourself with bees wax. Bees Wax will naturaly seal the thread and hopefuly stop whatever is rubbing off on your thread. I have used prewaxed thread before but buy it from another source. How to wax thread is in the Stolhman books but here it is. Double the length of thread over something, a hook or nail. Take your beeswax and rub both the top and bottom of the thread briskly. then take a piece of brown paper bag and rub the threads to melt the wax into and burnish the threads. You are now ready to sew. Randy

I bought 2 of his slim bladed awls while at Sheridan last year and I beleve they with 20.00 a piece. But they are worth every penny. Randy

Always be careful of what you ask for, you may just get it..... I have tried the xray film befor and it just does not work good for me. On a big project it will still tend to curl up around the edges when the leather starts to dry. I like plexiglass. Randy

You have not stated what kind of stain you used so I cannot help you too much. But if you are not going to use the neat lac as a resist I would stay away from it as a final finish. There are several other products that will give you the same results but with a lot less smell. You must use good ventalation when using neat lack If you use Tandy try Super Shene, Satin Shene or Bag Coat or Tan Coat. These would work better for you and would not take the stain off. I would guess you maybe used Tandy's new water based stain, If so that is why the neat lac took off the stain. The chemicals in the neat lac will act as a solvent as it is a solvent based finish. It is one of the better finishes for a project like yours that will see a lot of use but you have to use a good oil based stain with it. Good luck with your project. Randy

You can also use the clear shelf paper when carving. Apply clear shelf paper to the back of your leather to keep from stretching while carving. It does not leave a sticky surface when you remove it. You can also rubber cement it to a pice of plexiglass also to keep the rubber cement off the back of your leather. Randy

I thought I would post some pictures of the old Frazier Saddle that came in for repair. It has the makers stamp, R. T. Frazier Maker Pueblo, Colo. It has a 15 1/2 inch seat and 5 inch cantle. It has felt instead of sheeps wool. I was wondering if this could have been orginal. It looks like the wool has been replaced before but I was wondering if it was orginaly built with felt. It is my understanding that some of the few saddle makers durning WWII was using felt as wool was going to the war effort and hard to get. Also it has metal hardware instead of brass which would also be an indicator that the saddle may have been build during that time. I am not familary with the Frazier saddle Co and was wondering if someone was, when were they in operation and for how long etc. Here are the pics anyone with info please advise. I will replace the felt with wool unless someone can tell me for sure it was built with felt orginally. Randy

Makers Mark, now that's good wiskey! Call Jeff Mosby at Grey Ghost Graphics he has made several for me. The turn around time is good. I have one from another maker that took forever to get. RC

You know if you talk to Bruce Johnson really nice he has some he might share. RC

PM me, I have one that I can send you. Might even have a tooling pattern to go with it. RC

I have been using W&C leather for years and never had any that had hard spots or hard to cut. You may want to check the edge on your knife? Also no one makes drum dyed that is struck all the way through. You will have to come back and dye the edges and backside. I think you will find that it molds and forms good. It is also one of the best for tooliing in my oponion. Randy

I am in the midwest close to Kansas City if you care to ship them my son and I can do the job depending on the number of the pannels you have. Contact me off list if interested. I will post some of my work..This took 1st place at the IFoLG show in Ft. Worth in Oct of 07

I was told there was a computer program out there that would bid for you on ebay that would submit small bids up to sever times per minute or faster not letting anyone else the ability to log on and bid. Just what I heard don't know anyting about it.

Welcome, the coffee pot is on. This is a great place just to hang out. You never know what you will learn. Randy

I see you have been to the East. Cool tool box, can we see the inside? If you have the Stolhman books on making cases there is a very good example of making handles for bags and cases like yours. They are easy to make with a little time. Randy