Please help with saddle ID

[RebeccaFe]

1 hour ago, steveh said:

Bona Allen is the maker, originally from Georgia, but yours was made in forth worth Texas.  The date on the rigging Hardware is the patent date.

Ah, ok, the patent date! That makes more sense than it being the age of the saddle. How do you know it was made in Ft. Worth? I'm just curious. Thanks for the info!

[MikeRock]

Just let Duck Duck Go go to work.  Fascinating, and to the point.  Your saddle dates to 1970 or newer. 

My neighbor in Keystone, SD had a few of them, brand new in 1972.  I thought that looked familiar!  Here's the info from http://forums.horsecity.com/topic/47091886-old-bona-allen-info-and-help-please/

 

Bonaparte Allen began his saddlery in Buford, Georgia in 1873. When he died in the 1920's he left the company to his sons. Tandy Leather Co. bought the company in 1970 and moved it to Texas. I see by the maker's mark on the "frog" of the rear housing that your saddle was built in Fort Worth, so it's a 1970 model or newer.

I have no idea of how Tandy's numbers run. Last I knew, Bona Allen is now owned by Foxwood Manufacturing of Olney, Illinois. Not sure when the company changed hands, but back in 1985 I was going to be a road man for TexTan (a subsidiary of Tandy) and they had a line of nice cowboy boots carrying the Bona Allen name. It was explained to me that they were no longer making the Bona Allen saddles but wanted to keep the name alive and under their ownership.

As it turned out, I didn't take the job with TexTan.

Sorry I can't be of much help.

[steveh]

4 hours ago, RebeccaFe said:

Ah, ok, the patent date! That makes more sense than it being the age of the saddle. How do you know it was made in Ft. Worth? I'm just curious. Thanks for the info!

Well, I made that statement , on the 1st photo you posted of a Latigo carrier. I realize now that was not your saddle, and that you posted that regarding that the makers mark was similar to yours. Take a closer look at the makers mark in the center of the seat near the handhole. Can you make out where it was made? It looks pretty worn and hard to read.

[chrisash]

I wonder if the number of german coin's has a special meaning? Maybe research into military history would bring the answer and in any event would no doubt be of interest to your family

[fredk]

I can't see the coin too clearly but it looks pre-Hitler regime, possibly the Weimar Republic

PS. Yes, insure it. Go to a saddlery or tack shop. See what a similar looking modern saddle sells for then insure this for 2 to 4 times that amount. You may be able to add it to your house contents insurance as a named single item. There will be an extra premium on your house contents insurance for it.

Edited August 12, 2019 by fredk

[MikeRock]

Sorry, I missed the part about the logo being on another, similar saddle.   Yours must be a Georgia made one, very much pre 1970.  

[MikeRock]

This is as close as I can get.

[oltoot]

Plated rigging probably makes it mid to early post WWII. Make sure that cleaning leaves leather damp not redried before using anything else. Lexol NF would be preferable to pure neatsfoot.

[DrmCa]

Every mention of eminent domain and United States in one sentence makes my blood boil.

[Fizzity]

Hi. My Grandma had this Porter saddle. The stamping is 8107. 
is there any info I can get on it?

thanks for the consideration