Silver Saddle

RESTORATION

"Why restore?  My Silver Saddle is in great condition !" 

I hear this statement from everyone and I am sure they believe it, but the truth is these parade saddles have all been created more than 45 years ago and they are deteriorating just due to their age.  Leather dries, cracks and has chemical reactions going on continuously without regard to the care and oil you give it.  The stitching is failing due to age with primarily the glue holding the pieces together.  The copper (rivets in the conchos) is reacting with the acids in the leather and creating a waxy substance called "verdigris" which permeates throughout.  These things greatly decrease the life and the value of the parade saddle.  Without skilled restoration these saddles will soon disappear forever.

Call me and let us discuss what it takes to preserve your investment in these wonderful saddles ... true icons of the American West of the 1940's and '50's.

 (click on any each picture to see greater details)

WHAT KIND OF SILVER IS IT?

STERLING SILVER

An alloy of silver 92% silver and 7.5% copper by weight.  Fine silver (99% pure) is too soft for large  objects. which is why copper is added.  As the purity of silver decreases the problem of corrosion (tarnishing) increases.

NICKEL SILVER (known as GERMAN SILVER)

An alloy of 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc.  Resembling sterling silver in shine and luster it contains NO silver content.  It is sometimes electro-plated with sterling silver or gold

MONEL

A trademarked name for a nickel alloy primarily composed of 70% nickel, 20% copper and 10% iron and manganese plus other trace minerals.  Tough more expensive than stainless steel Monel is less expensive than Nickel Silver and polishes to a nice silver shine.

leather deteriorated            lining falling off drops           looked good --at first

WHEN WERE THE LAST OF THESE SADDLES MADE?  WHERE WERE THEY MADE?

Owner said his saddle was "well cared for and oiled regularly"

Ted Flowers made his saddles in Alexandria, Indiana.  His saddle shop was known as "The Spot Shop".  He stopped making saddles in the early 1970's and died in 1976.

 Bruce Lovins made his saddles in Alexandria, Kentucky.  He usually purchased very well made, high grade saddles and embellished them with his metalwork (Sterling Silver, German Silver and Monel).  He was an excellent craftsman and a very  good engraver.  He died of cancer in 1962.

This is a good example (left side to right side) of how polish and dent removal brings back the original luster