Saddle ID

[Harfindel]

I recently bought this saddle from ebay. Some of you might recognize the pictures from there. It is marked "Ed Stament Saddlery MPLS". At the time no one could find out anything about the maker, but I live in Minneapolis/Saint Paul and so I bid on it with the thought that I might be able to connect it to some history.

Well, it turns out that Ed Stament was a lifelong rodeo clown, and his descendants still live in town. They are curious about the saddle, because much of the history about the man is no longer with them.

They are trying to find people who might still remember things about the fellow and his saddlery, but I was wondering, can people notice details about the saddle, like the age, style of construction and sort of use to which is was to be put? The saddle uses actual Blevins-brand adjusters, marked with the location of Wheaton, Wyo., and the original patent number 3,314,121, and they appear to be original to the saddle. As far as the seller was able to learn, the saddle has been owned until recently by an Amish farmer in Missouri.

It appears to have seen only gentle use, and is in very good shape, though the fleece is worn out in spots on forward portion of the the right skirt

Anything you guys can observe would be nice to pass on to the family. I thought if anyone could tease details out by looking, it would be you all.

[Harfindel]

Hmm, that patent did not issue until 1967. Can the saddle really that recent? The fellow died in 1973 as a 62-year old. I am thinking that the adjusters may be later additions, installed under a very good repair.

[steveh]

I would guess the saddle to be somewhere in the 1920's to the 1930"s, it has eight buttons , six button started to come around the late 20's into the 1930's, but there is overlap depending on region and the maker. It has a very wide swell ,a good rise to the seat ,the cantel has a fair amount of dish , it has a small cheyenne roll, and the small round skirts popular features during that time frame.

[Harfindel]

Thanks for these observations, steveh. The fellow was born in 1911. I guess then this means he made the saddle as a very young man.

Anyone else have thoughts?

[Harfindel]

To my (unschooled) eye the overall shape of the saddle looks somewhat like this saddle, especially the fork, horn, and seat.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=18725#

The Stament saddle, though, appears to have a lower, more modernly shaped cantle.

Am I right in understanding that trees with this shape of swell fork basically went out of style in the 1930's or so, replaced by the more agressively undercut "widowmaker" shape of fork?