Pure Cowboy

Member: National Bit, Spur & Saddle Collector's Association and Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America

Item #CH200 /$1,100.

About This Antique Miller Brothers 101 Ranch 18X Beaver:

This extremely rare piece of Cowboy and Western history comes from the ranch store of the 101 Ranch in Ponca, Oklahoma - home of the Miller Brothers operation including the 101 Ranch Wild West Show and numerous other ranching and oil operations that spanned decades at the turn of the century.

The interior of this antique hat is lined with red silk that is just barely attached, in places it has come off the felt.  The silk is marked with golden lettering featuring the iconic 101 Ranch logo above which is written "MILLER BROTHERS" and below which is written "OFFICIAL 101 RANCH HAT", which begs the question of whether this was a souvenir hat.  If so, it was an expensive souvenir, as 18X beaver is an extremely high quality and would have cost quite a bit.  The hat has an old price tag still attached to the inner brim marked "RATLIFF'S".

Size: Measures 8inches front to back, interior opening -- Maker Marks: 101 Ranch logo above which is written "MILLER BROTHERS" and below which is written "OFFICIAL 101 RANCH HAT".  Also written on the interior band is "EIGHTEEN X / QUALITY" and "MILLER BROTHERS 101 RANCH HAT" on the opposite side.

The 101 Ranch, established by Col. George W. Miller in 1879 on the banks of the Salt Fork River southwest of what is now Ponca City, began with thousands of acres of land which Miller both leased and purchased from his friends — the Ponca, Tonkawa and Osage tribes. The Colonel, who died in 1903 at the age of 61, and the ranch, which was already successful came into the capable hands of his sons, George, Joe and Zack.

It was 1905 when the Millers offered to perform what they called a “round-up” or “buffalo chase” as an entertainment incentive for a National Editorial Association convention. Visitors were said to come to the ranch in 30 regular and special trains, and the crowd estimated at nearly 60,000 was thrilled to the exhibition of cowboys recreating real life ranch work from bronc riding and roping to Tom Mix’s debut as a roper and rider.

The ranch continued to operate while the Wild West Show toured the country and the world to huge crowds and great acclaim.  {See Harry Doll's 101 Wild West Show Saddle} They eventually merged with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1909. {See Buffalo Bill and 101 Wild West Show Pennant} After years of success as the “101 Ranch Real Wild West and Great Far East Show” things at the ranch began to crumble in the late 1920s, due to the deaths of Joe in 1927 and George in 1929.

Size: 7 3/8

The 101 Ranch -Miller Brothers 18X Beaver Hat / Item #CH200 /  $1,100.

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Members: National Bit, Spur & Saddle Collector's Association

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