I need quality Saddle Trees at factory prices

[saddle maker]

Hello I am new to the leather buisness and I have posted a topic in the saddle section and they told me about some saddle tre makers. But they didn't tell me how to get a hold of them. I am needing quality saddle trees at an affodable price. I know it sounds weird but I need to get trees for saddles that I need to make for people around my area that cant afford to go out and buy a $1500 saddle. But I would like to get a hold of say Sonny Felkins and some other tree makers. If anyone has anyway at all to get a hold of any tree makers I would greatly appriciate it. It doesnt matter who but I would like a few to talk to and get my buisness on the road and going. Thanks

Edited September 9, 2007 by saddle maker

[Beaverslayer]

Saddle Maker,

Rod and Denise Nikkel, are tree makers and are members here on the forum. You can do a search in members names to send them a private message or e-mail.

I do believe there are afew more tree makers here, but their names don't come to me.

Ken

P.S.

www.caledonleather.ca has two of thier trees in stock that a customer of his did not need, I believe you could probably pick these up fairly reasonably.

[bruce johnson]

I am not trying to be short, but what you are looking for really is going to be tough. You want quality and low price in a saddle tree. The last tree I got from Sonny Felkins was $325 and took about 5 months to get. The handmakers are going to be higher. So is the quality. The factories are "you get what you pay for". Bowden is probably the most consistant, and will take back a tree that is not right. Others are Baties, Black Mesa, Hadlock&Fox has been bought and moved to Del Rio, might try OxBow in Oklahoma. There are trees from Mexico on ebay in the "store" section for $100.

Most all of these makers advertise in ShopTalk, and I would strongly advise subscribing to it. Not really much of a "how-to" magazine like the LCSJ, but has a lot of supplier advertising. They produce a supplier's directory every year called "The Big Book". I think their website is www.proleptic.net, and they might even have the Big Book on-line with the search function.

You are trying to sell a really tough market. If these customers can't afford a $1500 saddle, which is pretty bargain basement compared to pricing on the Dale Martins and other production saddles right now, you are having to undercut materials or labor to compete. What is your price target? Are your customers comparing you with the $500 "buy it now's" on ebay? Figure the costs on 3 sides of leather (you will use 3 early on), a good woolskin, stirrups, good hardware, the cost of machinery to make one (you will ony sew one by hand and realize you can't compete with anyone on price), and then add it up. That tree cost is pretty inconsequential in the whole list of materials, and quality is important in every part of a saddle.

[BruceGibson]

I agree with Bruce...the other Bruce.