N. Porter Tapaderos

[azrider]

So I was visiting my Dad this weekend, outside of Phoenix. He had asked me a while back if I would be interested in a set of old tapaderos he has. I know his neighbor gave them time him about ten years ago, and they have been hanging from a rafter in the tackroom since. I don't think I've seen a horse on that neigbor's place in over 20 years. They are 19 inches long, with a basket weave design and a rosette at the end of them. I will try to get a better picture of them, since the light on this one is not so good. The leather is pretty dry, and cracked in a few places. The maker's mark is simply N Porter, Phoenix, AZ. I know that the N. Porter Saddle and Harness shop was open in Phoenix from the turn of the century to the 60s. I had a couple of questions.

1) What's the best way to recondition this leather? It probably hasn't been oiled in at least ten years, and has been in a tack room that gets well over 110 degrees every summer.

2) Did Porter's use the N Porter stamp through the entire time they were open, or only the first generation of the family? Any otherways to get an approximate date these were made?

3) Were the strings on these latigo?

Any other information on the N. Porter Saddle and Harness Company would also be apprciated.

[King's X]

That is a awesome stamping pattern.....so many variations you can do with a border tool, a camo and meandering tool. Wow. I do have a request if you can do it. When you do come to conditioning, I am assuming when you start conditioning the taps that you will remove everything and lay it out. Can I ask you to make a pattern of this particular tap and mailing me a copy. I will pay for the copying and shipping? I would like to make one like this with the stamping pattern. It looks like a cool project.

Good luck

[azrider]

If I get the pieces oiled enough to where I don't think they will turn to dust, I will see about getting a pattern from them, Kings X. I am doing a portfolio right now, and will be using that rosette pattern on it. Its a pretty cool one, with simple tools.

[King's X]

Cool....thanks.

[spur2009]

I would like to offer a suggestion on restoring you N Porter taps. If they are indeed as dry as you say you must take real care in taking them apart. If you try

to disassemble them as they are now the old dry leather will break on you for sure. Wet down the taps with luke warm water and take apart while the

leather is still damp. After you have them apart wash real good with saddle soap or I use dish washing detergent and rinse well. While the leather is

still damp apply first coat of oil. Use either pure neatsfoot, olive oil or 100% vegetable oil. Aloow oil to penerate before applying second coat. Strongly

recommend 2 or 3 coats of light oil rather than 1 heavy application. Hope this has been some help to you. By the way I do a lot of restoration work for

several large museums in the U.S.