eBay frustration.

[Aven]

Thanks, it does help. Interesting tool.  The square hole surprises me a bit.  I would have expected round, to put less stress on the leather, but I'm sure there's a reason.  And I will admit to not paying that much attention to the tack when I was riding, all those years ago.

The only thing I will add is that stitching irons are available in different configurations, slant, reverse slant, straight as well as those that punch round holes.

I hope you find an old one.  Old tools have a certain something about them.  I'd say over half of my tool collection is about as old as I am, if not older.

[William Bloke]

18 minutes ago, Aven said:

 

I hope you find an old one.  Old tools have a certain something about them.  I'd say over half of my tool collection is about as old as I am, if not older.

It's one of the nice things about the saddle trade. I have this picture hanging in my workshop. It's an original woodcut from "The Book of English Trades and Useful Crafts." Printed in 1818. I know exactly what he's doing in that picture, and I reckon he could step out of the frame and get straight to work with my tools. He'd probably be impressed by my sewing machine, but even that is 80 odd years old.

[Aven]

Nice print.  I get that feeling.  For me, it's kinda comforting knowing you have a direct link to the past.

[jcuk]

1 hour ago, William Bloke said:

Yes but I'd like to get he an old one. She likes the old tools.

I'm with her on that one too.

Never had a problem with slow orders from Abbey but have not ordered  much of late is this a new thing.

1 hour ago, Aven said:

I hope you find an old one.  Old tools have a certain something about them.  I'd say over half of my tool collection is about as old as I am, if not older.

I am always on the look out for old tools just prefer them. 

JCUK

 

[William Bloke]

41 minutes ago, jcuk said:

I'm with her on that one too.

Never had a problem with slow orders from Abbey but have not ordered  much of late is this a new thing.

I am always on the look out for old tools just prefer them. 

JCUK

 

I don't want to badmouth them too much, they are important in the trade and are probably the only ones who had the wherewithal to save Sedgwick when Clayton went bust.

However it's a rare order when I don't have something back ordered. I think it causes me problems because I'm just a small firm, (only me and the dog are full time, and he's started taking belong lunch breaks.) So I don't hold masses of lorinery in stock. Normal bridle, saddle and rug stuff sure, but I order unusual stuff on a job by job basis.

 

As an example, a couple of weeks ago a chap came in with a little job on Wednesday afternoon. Thursday morning, I phone abbey and order the bits for it assuming it will arrive Monday or Tuesday.  Finally on Wednesday they take payment and I get a DPD notification that it will be the next day. The package arrives 5pm Thursday without the stuff for the job. Friday morning I call to find out an ETA on the missing gear and am told Richard will ring me back. Friday I hear nothing. Monday I ring back to chase and am told it'll be at least a month.

So nearly a fortnight after taking the job I have to ring the customer to tell him I can't get the buckles for the job and is he willing to wait until spring.

It's irritating because the ladies on the phones are so good, but the processes in the it and warehouse let the company down.

I've had expensive returns, a pair of Sedgwick harness backs sit in goods in un-opened until I chased them up. That's the best part of £400 of leather that was nearly lost.

Ok rant over. I feel better for getting that off my chest.

 

[jcuk]

Yes think that would p... me off as well but i have only ever returned one thing in all the years i have used them.

I am lucky enough to be around a hour from Metropolitan leather so i get most of my leather from them in normal times i take the afternoon off and go and select it for myself. Although i still get Sedgwick's butts/backs from Abbey when i need to. 

Many moons ago i used Sharps when they were based in Stoney Strafford near Milton Keynes really liked there leather still have a bridle i made from it 25 + years still looks great, they were also a part of Clayton.

Edited March 10, 2021 by jcuk

[William Bloke]

33 minutes ago, jcuk said:

Yes think that would p... me off as well but i have only ever returned one thing in all the years i have used them.

I am lucky enough to be around a hour from Metropolitan leather so i get most of my leather from them in normal times i take the afternoon off and go and select it for myself. Although i still get Sedgwick's butts/backs from Abbey when i need to. 

Many moons ago i used Sharps when they were based in Stoney Strafford near Milton Keynes really liked there leather still have a bridle i made from it 25 + years still looks great, they were also a part of Clayton.

I haven't bought much from Metropolitan, but Andrew has always really gone the extra mile for me.

I'd also recommend Julian at J White's if you want proper equestrian leathers in old fashioned colours. 90% of what I make is in their leather.