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Sunday, April 11, 2010

George Lawrence Saddles



I am not a serious collector of anything..., but I have managed to "accumulate" a few old saddles made by the George Lawrence Company of Portland, OR. This is my latest addition.


From "They Saddled the West" by Lee M. Rice:

The George Lawrence Company of Portland, Oregon, has the distinction of being the oldest established firm in the Northwest engaged in the manufacture of Westen riding equipment. Some firms--including Main and Winchester and the L.D. Stone Company of San Francisco--were established prior to the founding of the George Lawrence Company, but the others are no longer in business.

The Lawrence Company was founded in Portland in 1857, at the end of the romantic Oregon Trail days. It was startd by Mr. Samuel Shylock, who came west to the Oregon country to establish himself in his trade of saddler and harnessmaker. In the new city of Portland, he found the opportunity he had been seeking. There was a great need for a shop to furnish harness and riding equipment to outfit settlers and army posts in the remote sections of the Northwest.

...

Mr. Shylock was joined by his brother-in-law, George Lawrence, in 1874. Two years later, upon the death of Mr. Shylock, George Lawrence took over the management of the company. The firm was reorganized in 1893, being incorporated as the George Lawrence Company, and under that masthead it has remained ever since.

...

The George Lawrence Company has never gone into extensive manufacture of high-priced custom-made goods. Their policy and reputation was built by concentrating on quality, catering to the cowpuncher, the packer, and the man who must spend many hours a day in the saddle. To win the cooperation of such men as these, they must provide a saddle that will stand up under the most severe tests with the greatest comfort to both horse and rider. A hundred years of satisfied customers is substantial evidence of the Lawrence Company's record of dependability.



A shorter version of this book excerpt was published in The Western Horseman magazine in Jan-Feb 1945. The George Lawrence Company quit making saddles sometime in the 1950's. I believe that the saddle pictured is one of the last they made in the 50's era.

10 comments:

  1. I just came across one of these but it is to small for me, so I am going to sell it. Are you interested in another?

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  2. Hi Holly..., thanks for taking a look at my blog. I am about "saddled up" as you can see. About the only thing I would be interested in is something really old at this point. Like the one in the picture of "A Couple of Real Beauties" post. If it has the old loop seat and high back cantle I might be tempted. Other than that I would most likely have to pass. Julie would be giving me that "snake-eyed stare" if she knew I was writing this !!!!!

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  3. Hello,
    We found a Goeroge lawerence backpack that is all leather and seems to be very old it is about 14 inches wide and 14 inches long and about 10 inches deep. We found it at a garage sale and are looking to find out more about it. There are also five verticle sleves inside of it also leather. with a large flap and initials on it are R.E.W it is also branded on the very front with AIS. Curious if you know anything about this piece. It also has two shoulder straps on the back and two sinch straps to keep it closed on the front. The thicknes of the leather is a quarter inch thick.

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    Replies
    1. WOW..., sounds like a really great find Nichole..., but I can't offer much help. The old catalogs that I have are just saddle and harness related. I know that Lawrence made holsters and fishing baskets..., so it is no surprise that they made backpacks as well. You might try searching Ebay for similar items.

      Thanks for checking out the Blog..., and sorry I can't be more help :)

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  4. Do you know anyone that can appraise a George Lawrence saddle? I'm sorting through my dad's estate and he has several antique saddles.

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    Replies
    1. Hey Grady..., well..., back a few years ago these folks used to have a website and offered to do saddle appraisals for about $20 if I remember correctly. You just had to send him pictures. I never tried the service..., but it was recommended to me by a lady that I bought a couple of my saddles from. She was well satisfied with them.

      It appears that their website is no longer up..., but they are on Facebook and there is an email address there that you might be able to contact them through.

      https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-S-Old-West-Cowboy-Museum/100737558549?id=100737558549&sk=info

      Sorry that I can't be much more help to you than that. I tried "googling" up saddle appraisers..., without much success.

      Thanks for checking out the blog.

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  5. I know this is an old blog, but I'm taking the chance you might still respond. I have my Mom's Geo Lawrence "Red River Roper" that was purchased in 1957 in Warm Springs Oregon at Macy's General Store. I am trying to figure out what the value of the saddle is. The saddle "lived" in Eastern Oregon for it's first 50 years and more recently I have had it in my heated tackroom near Portland Oregon. The saddle has been well cared for over the years. Has a little minor damage on the pommel and cantle, but otherwise the leather and saddle are in darn good shape.

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    Replies
    1. Hey Partner...., I haven't been keeping up with the saddle market for a few years now. I have tried field questions about saddle prices on this blog entry in the comments section George Lawrence Saddle Collection
      I just checked Ebay and there is only one GL listed now and only two in the last three months or so. Wish I could be more help to you..., and thanks for looking and commenting :)

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  6. I know this is an old blog, but I'm taking the chance you might still respond. I have my Mom's Geo Lawrence "Red River Roper" that was purchased in 1957 in Warm Springs Oregon at Macy's General Store. I am trying to figure out what the value of the saddle is. The saddle "lived" in Eastern Oregon for it's first 50 years and more recently I have had it in my heated tackroom near Portland Oregon. The saddle has been well cared for over the years. Has a little minor damage on the pommel and cantle, but otherwise the leather and saddle are in darn good shape.

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  7. I am looking for my wife father's saddle ray holes stamp Sid Hart on the candle if anybody comes across a ray holes saddle stamps Sid Hart on the candle could you please contact me at wwacord wwacord62@gmail.com

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