Description |
HISTORY
1883 to 2007 The Hamley family history goes back many generations to Cornwall England, where the trade of saddle and leather craftsmanship had been passed down through many generations of Hamleys. The American history of the Hamleys began in 1840 when William Hamley moved his family from England to Ripon, Wisconsin, where he opened a small leather goods store. William’s two sons, John James (J.J.) and Henry Hamley set out from Wisconsin in 1883 with two railroad tickets and $10.00 in cash, bound for Ashton, South Dakota, where they established Hamley & Co. After three successful years, regional crop failures and economic depression forced them to relocate and move to Kendrick, Idaho. Henry Hamley passed away in 1894. Business was good, but a couple of major building fires left the Hamleys no choice but to relocate. In 1905, J.J. relocated to Pendleton, Oregon, and set up shop on the Oregon Trail in the same building that it occupies to this day. Hamley's was first known as a harness and saddle maker, but the business soon developed and increased around its saddles and became known throughout the west as the maker of “the finest saddles man could ride.?
1905—J.J.’s son Lester joined the firm.
1909—Lester convinced a “skeptical? J.J. to publish the first “Hamley Cowboy Catalog." which continued for sixty years.
1919—Following the 1919 Round-Up, rodeo organizers from around the region agreed that a standard bronc saddle was needed for all rodeo saddle bronc competitions. Hamley developed and produced the "modified association saddle" as a solution to "level the playing field" for saddle bronc competitors . This same saddle is used today in rodeos. Many world champions rodeo riders have ridden Hamley saddles. (And many still do.).
1920—Hamley operated its own saddle tree shop. Many of the tree patterns and designs in use today were created in that shop.
1939—J.J. passed away at the age of 80.
Hamley & Co. has been known as the maker of "the finest hand made saddles money can buy." Quality hand made Hamley saddles are made today in the same location and with many of the same techniques that Hamley saddle makers used a hundred years ago.
Hamley saying about quality: “QUALITY ARTICLES ARE MADE FOR MEN WHO ARE TIRED OF THE EXTRAVAGANCE OF BUYING CHEAP THINGS."
Location: C 1
long: 14.5" Seat
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