Wade Tree

[bruce johnson]

And then to further confuse the issue, we have '58 Wades, Homestead Wades, Cliff Wades, .....

[rwc]

I love the style of the saddle, authentic or not...I read where it originated from one of the Dorrance brothers. Wonder what his was...

[greg gomersall]

I love the style of the saddle, authentic or not...I read where it originated from one of the Dorrance brothers. Wonder what his was...

Dorrance's wade was just like what Andy is trying to get accross. Walt Youngman was the tree maker at Hamley's who helped Dorrance develop the tree. From there some people have stayed true to design while others has "bastardized" it. Greg

[barra]

OK gents. when looking at a wade tree, what constitutes true to design?

[Alan Bell]

RWC Tom Dorrance took Cliff Wade to Hamleys to get himself a copy of Cliff's unmarked saddle. Tom and Cliff made a few adjustments and Tom eventually left his saddle to Bryan Neuberts two sons. They have it. Cliff had the '58 Wade made for him by Ray Holes Saddlery in 1958 (hence the name) I don't think Cliff Wade had anything to do with the tree design called "the Cliff Wade" I think it was an attempt to lend some authenticity to trees that were made by some of the factory makers. The Homestead is another slick fork design by Ray Holes I think some are taking that design and adding a wood post horn and calling it a "Homestead Wade".

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

When it's wet it's slippery...

Bob Marley - Caution Edited March 26, 2008 by Alan Bell

[bruce johnson]

Interesting history here guys, thanks. Looking up some stuff tonight. I have a brochure from Sonny Felkins, and he lists a '58 Wade, Regular Wade, Homestead Wade, and Hamley Wade. The major differences seem to be amount of shoulder on the swells and how far down the bars the fork extends. Looking at the 50th anniversary catalog from Holes, they call it a '56 Wade, and say that is when Cliff Wade had them do it.

I had heard that the original tree that Tom had Hamleys base the design on originally was Cliff Wade's father's saddle. Anybody else heard of a time frame on that original saddle of Cliff Wade's or what year Tom had it done at Hamleys?

[greg gomersall]

Interesting history here guys, thanks. Looking up some stuff tonight. I have a brochure from Sonny Felkins, and he lists a '58 Wade, Regular Wade, Homestead Wade, and Hamley Wade. The major differences seem to be amount of shoulder on the swells and how far down the bars the fork extends. Looking at the 50th anniversary catalog from Holes, they call it a '56 Wade, and say that is when Cliff Wade had them do it.

I had heard that the original tree that Tom had Hamleys base the design on originally was Cliff Wade's father's saddle. Anybody else heard of a time frame on that original saddle of Cliff Wade's or what year Tom had it done at Hamleys?

If memory serves me correct Tom and Walt did the first one in 1939 and then made a few changes in 1940. greg

[oldtimer]

Question: Is the shape of the bars ( rock , twist and width) on a "true" Wade tree different from production "North West" bars or "Arizona" bars ?

[Alan Bell]

I stand corrected on the '58 vs the '56 Wade and Ray Holes. I'm away from home!

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

[bruce johnson]

Question: Is the shape of the bars ( rock , twist and width) on a "true" Wade tree different from production "North West" bars or "Arizona" bars ?

Pretty hard to compare much between different tree makers. One brochure I have who lists both of these bars in his lineup said that his NW bars don't have as much rocker and twist as his Wade bars. He offers either of these bars in "regular style" with two stirrup leather cuts, or in Arizona style with the one cut. I don't think I keyed in on that before.

Alan,

Dug a little deeper. I was like you, remembering it as a '58 done in 1958 acording to lore. Looks like Superior, Sonny Felkins, and Hadlock&Fox all call it a '58 Wade. Holes are calling it a '56. Unless someone modified the "56 again in 1958 and that is what all these guys are copying, I would be more inclined to believe the Holes family that it was done in 1956 now. To add more to the mix, we have a Broadus Wade from H&F, and a snub post Wade from Bowden to go along with their Cliff Wades. Greg pretty well summarized it - "bastardized". Maybe we could have a test on IDing and naming all the Wade styles. After this, we can figure out all the "Bowmans".