Members kitch2500 Posted September 11, 2013 Members Report Posted September 11, 2013 Does anyone know anything about H.H. Schweitzer saddles out of Matador Texas? I have two saddles inherited from my great great grandfather and great grandfather. I know one was made for my great great grandfather, and don't know where the other one came from. I posted a few pictures, they aren't the best, but at least you can see what I'm talking about. If anyone has any info on the maker I would greatly appreciate it. Quote
Members Saddlebag Posted September 20, 2013 Members Report Posted September 20, 2013 Wrapping the edge of the horn was seen on good roping saddles around 1960+. I believe the other predated that one, maybe of the 40's and 50's. Quote
Members randymoss Posted March 22, 2014 Members Report Posted March 22, 2014 Hi kitch2500, hope you are still around as I just stumbled on to this topic and I see you posted some time ago. In any case I am a grandson of the late HH Schweitzer and his wife Willie Schweitzer. I have one saddle very much like the one you have in the first picture (has the same tooling), and I suspect from what I can see, it is a closed fork design which many cowboys preferred in brushy country. That was good for keeping debris out but not the handiest for toting the saddle around. HH (Henry Houston) Schweitzer was a very highly regarded saddle maker and his saddles were very prized by those cowboys fortunate enough to own them. Being a former cowboy on the Matador Ranch (originally Scottish owned and at one time the largest ranch in the world) whose headquarters is just outside of Matador, Texas; Granddad had a very strong understanding of what was needed in the way of making a saddle that fit the needs as well as the comfort of a working cowboy. The tree being the soul of the saddle was of the highest importance to him and he was extremely picky in what he would accept as a tree to build his saddles around. The tooling, if the buyer opted for it, was a mastery of the leather artistry and creative skill displayed by Schweitzer and along with the fit for the working cowboy aspect made him one of the most sought after saddlemakers to ever to ply the trade. There is a book about my granddad tiled 'Schweitzer' by Bruce Ginnis that has a really good history of him with lots of photo's. Let me know if I can be of more help; there is so much to tell of this exceptional person. Randy Moss Quote
Members randymoss Posted March 22, 2014 Members Report Posted March 22, 2014 Another thought; if you could provide the names of your Grandfather's I'd like to see if they are mentioned in the book. Randy Quote
Members randymoss Posted March 23, 2014 Members Report Posted March 23, 2014 Sorry, I miss spelled the authors name; it should be Bruce McGinnis. Randy Quote
Members BondoBobCustomSaddles Posted March 24, 2014 Members Report Posted March 24, 2014 How cool is that? Having Great Grampa an Grampa's saddles and talking to the grandson of the guy that made them. That's way cool!!!! Bob Quote
Members kitch2500 Posted May 14, 2014 Author Members Report Posted May 14, 2014 Randy thanks so much for your reply. This is really interesting. I got your message and i'll be sending you the names of my kin who had the saddles and I would love to know if there was any mention of them in the book. My great, great grandfather came to the panhandle area in the early 1900's and settled between silverton and quitaque in the canyon. We still own part of the original ranch, though a lot was lost due to drought and other ailments of the American rancher. One of my best friends worked also worked on the Matador and I have spent some time on the ranch, not much, but some. History intrigues me very much and when history, leather, and cowboyin' intertwines, it's even better. Quote
Members randymoss Posted May 16, 2014 Members Report Posted May 16, 2014 KITCH, I find no pictures or text that mentions your family but it does have the purchases that they made with the name item, date, and ledger book number along with the page. Kitchens 1931 Boots #4 178 Carl Kitchens 1951 Saddle #12 66 Don't know if these are family: Joe Kitchens 1934 Saddle #3 110 Joe Kitchens 1941 Saddle® #8 23 Was Joe part of the family? Quote
Members TheSheyenne Posted December 22, 2020 Members Report Posted December 22, 2020 I’m only about 6years late to this post but I just acquired an HH Schweitzer saddle. I’m interested in learning more about. I have pictures but can’t download for some reason! The saddle is floral tooled with “LINN” carved into the back of the cantle and built on bags. Any info or help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks Quote
Northmount Posted December 23, 2020 Report Posted December 23, 2020 7 hours ago, TheSheyenne said: I have pictures but can’t download for some reason! Try uploading instead; just a switch in terminology but the words themselves won't help. This should help you. You likely need to reduce the file size of your photos. Several posts in this thread with lots of helps. Quote
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