• Donald C. & Elizabeth M. Dickinson Research Center
• Archive & Finding Aids

Introduction
Biography
Scope & Content Note
Subject Terms
Processing Information
Ownership & Literary Rights
Restrictions on Access
Preferred Citation

Container List
Series 1, Trade Catalogs and Ephemera
Series 2, Photographs

Images

GUIDE to the
RON BLEDSOE TRADE CATALOG AND EPHEMERA COLLECTION, circa 1880-1993
RON BLEDSOE. Collection, circa 1880-1993.
7.5 cubic feet (13 document boxes, 1 flat box).
Location: 0175-0180.

Introduction:

Collection of more than 200 saddle and tack catalogs dating from the late-1880s through the mid-1980s. The collection also includes saddle and tack related ephemera such as price lists, order forms, company envelopes, and advertising materials. Manufacturers featured in the collection include Edward H. Bohlin, Fred Mueller Saddle & Harness Co., George Lawrence Co., Hamley & Co., Hermann H. Heiser Saddlery, N. Porter Saddle & Harness Co., S. D. Myres Saddle Co., and Visalia Stock Saddle Co. Also in the collection are a small number of photographs including a circa 1887 promotional cabinet card photograph and price list from Walker & Wade.

Biography:

Ron Bledsoe is a collector and dealer in saddle and tack catalogs and ephemera who lives in Danville, California.

Scope and Content:

The collection is arranged into two series, Trade Catalogs and Ephemera and Photographs.

Trade Catalogs and Ephemera (ca. 1880-1993) series constitutes the bulk of the collection. The series includes more than 200 saddle and tack-related catalogs and ephemeral items from over 75 manufacturers including Edward H. Bohlin, Fred Mueller Saddle & Harness Co., George Lawrence Co., Hamley & Co., Hermann H. Heiser Saddlery, N. Porter Saddle & Harness Co., S. D. Myres Saddle Co., and Visalia Stock Saddle Co. The bulk of the series dates from the 1920s through the 1940s, but it includes more than 30 late-19th century and early-20th century catalogs and over 50 catalogs from the 1950s through the 1980s.

The collection documents items related to all aspects of horse-powered transportation including saddles, bits, spurs, bridles, harnesses, whips, cowboy hats, chaps, clothing, boots, tools, and other related metal and leather goods. The catalogs feature products ranging from very expensive and elaborate parade saddles to gear for the working cowhand. Well-rendered illustrations enable the researcher to compare and contrast different designs between manufacturers and over time. Many catalogs include price information allowing pricing comparisons between similar products over time. The collection also documents changes in transportation technology as the early catalogs, which prominently feature harnesses and other carriage and wagon trappings, give way to catalogs that place more importance on saddles, bridles, bits, and spurs catering to the cowboy and leisure markets.

Although many prominent saddle and tack manufacturers and distributors are represented, the collection is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject. Many manufacturers are represented by a single catalog. Makers and distributors with significant representation in the collection include George Lawrence Co., Hamley & Co., Hermann H. Heiser Saddlery, N. Porter Saddle & Harness Co., and Visalia Stock Saddle Co.

Photographs (ca. 1887-ca. 1990) series includes only three images. A late 1880s cabinet card photograph features three different Walker & Wade saddle models on a promotional piece that includes description and pricing information on the reverse of the card. Two contemporary photographs show the current appearance of the Harpham Brothers Co. building in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Subject Terms

Personal Names:

Bohlin, Edward H.
Hamley, J. J.
Heiser, Hermann H.
Lawrence, George
Mueller, Fred
Myres, S. D.
Porter, N.
Walker, D. E.

Corporate Names:

A. A. Van Voorhies & Co.
A. V. Voss Saddlery Co.
Al Furstnow Saddlery Co.
Al Nolte Saddlery
August Buermann Manufacturing Co.
Blake Miller
Bona Allen, Inc.
Breyman Leather Co.
Chas. P. Shipley
Crockett and Renalde
Crockett Bit & Spur Co.
Croft’s Saddlery
Davis Saddlery Co.
De Luxe Saddlery Co.
Denver Dry Goods Co.
Diamond Whip Co.
Edward Barnard Co.
Edward H. Bohlin
Equestrian Imports
Franklin Saddle Shop
Fred M. Stern, Ltd.
Fred Mueller Saddle & Harness Co.
G. J. Jedlicka Saddlery
Garcia Saddlery Co.
George Lawrence Co.
Goetz Saddlery Co.
H. R. Miller Saddle Co.
Hamley & Co.
Harpham Brothers Co.
Heiser-Keyston
Heiser-Keyston-Lichtenberger
Hermann H. Heiser Saddlery
Imperial Bit & Snap Co.
J. G. Read & Brothers Co.
Jesse Beery Co.
John Clark Saddlery Co.
Keyston Brothers
L. D. Stone & Co.
Lee Saddlery
Les Garcia Manufacturing Co.
Los Angeles Saddlery & Finding Co.
M. Morales
Main & Winchester
Marshall-Wells Hardware Co.
Marvin Smith Co.
Midway Harness Co.
Miles City Saddlery Co.
Miller & Tietjen
N. Porter Saddle & Harness Co.
Nocona Boot Co.
North & Judd Manufacturing Co.
O. J. Snyder Saddlery
Olsen Nolte Saddle Shop
Perforated Pad Co.
Platte Valley Saddle Shop
R. T. Frazier Saddlery
Ray Holes Saddle Co.
Renalde, Crockett & Kelly
Ricardo
Rowell Saddle Co.
S. C. Gallup Saddlery Co.
S. D. Myres Saddle Co.
Scheffer & Rossum Co.
Schoellkopf Co.
Stockman-Farmer Supply Co
Stormes Saddle Co. Ltd.
Van Voorhies-Phinney Co.
Victor Ario Saddlery Co.
Visalia Stock Saddle Co.
W. Davis & Sons
Walker & Wade
Wallace & Smith Co.
Walsh Richardson Co.
Western Saddle Manufacturing Co.
White & Davis
Wyeth Hardware & Manufacturing Co.

Subject Headings:

Advertising
Bits (Bridles)
Boots
Commercial catalogs
Harnesses
Headgear
Leather goods
Metal-work
Saddlery
Saddlery—Arizona—Phoenix
Saddlery—California
Saddlery—California—Hollywood
Saddlery—California—Sacramento
Saddlery—California—San Francisco
Saddlery—Canada—Calgary
Saddlery—Colorado
Saddlery—Colorado—Denver
Saddlery—Colorado—Pueblo
Saddlery—Idaho
Saddlery—Missouri
Saddlery—Montana—Great Falls
Saddlery—Montana—Miles City
Saddlery—Nebraska
Saddlery—Nebraska—Lincoln
Saddlery—Nevada
Saddlery—Oregon
Saddlery—Oregon—Pendleton
Saddlery—Oregon—Portland
Saddlery—South Dakota
Saddlery—Texas
Saddlery—Utah
Saddlery—Wyoming
Saddles
Shoe industry
Spurs
Tools
Whips
Work clothes

Processing Note:

The collection was purchased from Mr. Bledsoe in 1997. The collection was initially arranged by Charles Rand in 1997 and reprocessed by Jonathan Nelson in 2004.

Ownership and Literary Rights:

The Ron Bledsoe Trade Catalog and Ephemera Collection is the property of the Donald C. & Elizabeth M. Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Literary right, including copyright, belongs to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, with the exception of copyrighted artwork images and published literary works, which are the property of the respective copyright holders. It is the responsibility of the researcher, and his/her publisher, to obtain publishing permission from individuals pictured, relevant copyright holders, and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Restrictions on Access:

The collection is open for research. It is advisable for researchers to discuss their proposed research with staff prior to visiting the Center.

Preferred Citation:

Ron Bledsoe Trade Catalog and Ephemera Collection, Title, Box ##, Folder ##, Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.