German book on leatherwork

[OLESKIVER]

Mulesaw  you might try tandy again. they might have it back in stock, it is possible that Weaver leather supply or Springfield leather might have a copy of it also. the book goes into detail about how it should fit the horse, and some problems that arise from poorly made saddles. the " Leathercrafters and saddle makers journal has been running a series by Bob Klenda on making saddles. that might help. plus in the book he shows some dicontinued C.S.Osborne tools, of which I have one of them. bought it new, it is now 50 yrs. old. but yes, I agree, there is some differences, but also some useful stuff. good luck on getting it.  I wouldn't give mine up for love or money.  lol

[Mulesaw]

@OLESKIVER Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try to check out Tandy or one of the other stores you mentioned again. The information about how the saddle should fit the horse is very interesting since that seems to be a topic where there is a lot of confusion and generally not that much real knowledge. I know that I won't be an expert by reading a book, but it should hopefully make me a bit more knowledgeable about what to look for.

I can't offer you love for your book, but I would have offered you money  in the rare hope that you had decided that you didn't need the book anyway (not gonna happen I suppose )

Just before going back to sea, I had someone asking me if I could change the girth strap on a saddle. I have to admit that I felt a bit nervous when I had to cut open part of the old stitching to get to the steel part of the tree. It was the forward strap that was damaged, and that one is riveted to the steel, so I had to take that saddle apart and then sew it back together. The saddle ended up better than when I got it, and my sewing wasn't in any way worse than what was on it before. 

Just out of curiosity, what is the special tool that you are mentioning? 

Brgds Jonas
 

[Klara]

I've ridden both English and Western and I believe that there is very little overlap regarding saddle making techniques.  So I don't think the Stohlman Encyclopedia will be all that useful for you (just a small consolation if you can't get hold of it).

[TomE]

Thanks for the interesting discussion.  The Stohlman Encyclopedia of Saddle Making is a fun read and the construction methods are generally informative, even though I don't plan to build a saddle.  Stohlman's "Art of Making Leather Cases" (Vol 1-3) is another great resource for constructing sturdy leather items. @Mulesaw let me know if you have trouble finding the Saddle Making Encyclopedia.  It was in stock at the Springfield Leather Co store a few months ago when I visited. 

[Mulesaw]

@Klara That is a little consolation indeed, but I would still like to learn how to make a Western saddle, just because it seems like an interesting and satisfying project :-)

@TomE Thanks, I wrote Tandy yesterday, so unless they revert to me Monday that they are able to get the book, I'll try to contact Springfield Leather.

I would prefer to get it from Tandy Europe because the Danish government has enforced some ridiculously strict policies regarding stuff sent from the rest of the world. If I buy a book from USA, there will be a 10% import duty, on top of that 25% VAT, and on top of that a handling fee of 30 US $...  
So it is not that I prefer Tandy above other suppliers, but I prefer to keep my own hard earned money instead of paying them in weird taxes 

[TomE]

@Mulesaw I recently discovered the book "Saddlery and Harness-Making" by Paul Hasluck.  It is a reprint of 2 volumes originally published in 1904 and available in hardback and paperback editions from used book sellers.  The book has considerable detail about tools, materials, and instructions for making saddles, various pieces of bridlework, and harness.  There are many illustrations. The book doesn't fill all the gaps in my understanding of the subject, but I am learning a great deal about the why and how of saddlery.  It's a fun read. 

[Mulesaw]

On 3/30/2022 at 3:34 AM, TomE said:

@Mulesaw I recently discovered the book "Saddlery and Harness-Making" by Paul Hasluck.  It is a reprint of 2 volumes originally published in 1904 and available in hardback and paperback editions from used book sellers.  The book has considerable detail about tools, materials, and instructions for making saddles, various pieces of bridlework, and harness.  There are many illustrations. The book doesn't fill all the gaps in my understanding of the subject, but I am learning a great deal about the why and how of saddlery.  It's a fun read. 

Hi Tom

Thanks for the heads up on the book, I'll try to see if I can locate a copy of it somewhere.  learning something new (old) is always fascinating. 

Brgds

Jonas