threepets Report post Posted February 10, 2008 I am looking for a "How to Book" for making and repairing english tack.Also any books on using a Juki 441 would be helpful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gary Report post Posted February 10, 2008 Threepets, Making - To Handmake a Saddle by J H L Shields (£5.95 about 3 years ago) ISBN 0-85131-222-5 Repairing - Repair Your Own Saddlery and Tack (£14.95 about 5 years ago) ISBN 0-85131-597-0 Background - Saddlery and Harness-Making (about £10.00 a while ago) ISBN 0-85131-148-2. Reprint of two 1904 manuals. Quite a lot of historical tack and accoutrements and an interesting read. All available from J A Allen (who do a load of horse-related books and you'll probably find better ones there). Hope this helps. Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted February 10, 2008 The term "English Tack" comprises four or five different disciplines. For Bridlework, I guess Robert Steinke's book "Bridlework" is a good enough place to start. For Driving Harness, Preston and Martin's book Making Harness is good and covers the spectrum. Others will have to chip in about saddles. Repair is a serious business as you really have to know when to turn repairs down and tell them to get a new saddle or other piece of tack. There is some real junk out there, made without regard for the rider or animal. There are a lot of synthetics out there which none of the traditional manuals cover that run the gammit from really quite good to don't let your kid on it. If you repair it, you become, unfortunately, responsible for not only the repair, but the whole thing no matter what goes wrong. Make sure your assets are covered, it seems that the courts and juries are infinitely pleased with giving your money to idiots who should never be on a horse in the first place. If you want to sell tack, buy it from Weaver, leave their tag on it, mark it up and resell it. Weaver has good liability insurance. The Artisan 4000R is as close to a Juki 441 as you are going to get, so download a copy of the manual from their website. Art I am looking for a "How to Book" for making and repairing english tack.Also any books on using a Juki 441 would be helpful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted February 11, 2008 (edited) I can tell you one book not to buy, The Working Saddlers Handbook. It is 218ppg. and has some pictures of a guy webbing up a tree without explanation, except for the captions for the pictures. Everything else is just very basic info. on leatherwork. About 20 pages are just pictures from the Dixon tool catalog with descriptions of the tools. I don't think I've ever seen anything about racing tack. As Art said, be careful about what you work on. I've seen a lot of stuff repaired by people with decades of experience and it was safer when it was broken, at least the person knew where they stood. I do work for a lot of steeple chasers and three of the TOP trainers and barns have the absolute worst tack I have ever seen. Iguess they are far too busy to worry about small details like a person's life. In the end, get your hands on as much stuff as you can and copy what you like. Good Luck, Kevin Edited February 11, 2008 by Denise Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barra Report post Posted February 11, 2008 As Art said the saddlery trade in "English" terms was actually more than one trade. Brown saddler. Bridlework and general strap goods Harness maker specialised in harness Saddler specialised in saddles Collar maker specialised in carriage collars. The books mentioned are good places to start. The JHL Shields book can be downloaded from the net somewhere (I'll try and find the link) One book that does the circuit is by Paul Hasluck and this may be the 1904 one mentioned. Also I had a book (long since lost) called the harness makers guide and listed measurements and had a section with old dye, polish recipes. One thing to bear in mind with those old books or reprinted versions is that measurements for a 1904 horse will not suit the modern horse. Use the How to text by all means but take measurements off the horse or from tack you know fits. Barra. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
threepets Report post Posted February 11, 2008 (edited) Art, Thank You for your reply.My name is Robin.I have been a Thoroughbred Horseman for 38 years.I have rode all of those years and still get on horses every day.I am in the "Tack" repair business out of necessity.There was no one around to repair wore out boots and chaps,at least no one that didn't sew with anything better than a nail and binder twine.I also have worked in the Jockeys Room for many years which brought a whole new batch of repairs(race saddles,light boots and girthes) I started repairing chaps and such with an old donated Singer table top machine.I then bought a knockoff Juki garment machine,which was not much better than the wore out Singer.A few years back I purchased a new Adler 267/373.This Adler does a nice job(of light work).The repairs I do in the Jockeys Room needed a special sewing machine ,I ended up with an Adler 30/10 Boot Patcher.I have been patching boots for a while now. A lot of the work that has been asked of me(exercise saddles,halters and race tack) is to heavy for either of these machines,so last summer I purchased the Artisan Toro 3000 that is why I asked about a Juki 441 (should have bought the 4000 for the added inches 16" throat over 9)I have never sewn with a machine of this caliber.I have been stumbling through repairs sewing a finger to my work every now and again.I just ordered the book you mentioned(Robert Stienke's Bridlework) on line for $50.I seem to have a problem sewing close to large buckles.I hope the book will answer a few questions.Again thanks for the help. Edited March 2, 2008 by Johanna reduced pic size Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
