Pure Cowboy

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

Item #SA510  SOLD

Hess & Hopkins Saddle

This beautifully engraved saddle in black leather was made in Rockford, Illinois at the Hess & Hopkins Leather Company.  The Hess & Hopkins Leather Company was founded by Luther M. Hess & Theodore F. Hopkins after the Civil War in 1877. Luther M. Hess, a Civil War Veteran, brought a businessman's background and Theodore Hopkins was a bookkeeper and farmer in the Rockford, Illinois area. The Hess & Hopkins Leather Company was incorporated in 1882 with an operating capital base of $50,000.  In the same year, they began construction on their Tannery and Factory at 1101 Acorn Street, which was added to in 1887, 1889 and 1891. By 1892, The Hess & Hopkins Leather Company employed 65 men with an annual payroll of $37,000. and annual sales of $130,000. By the year 1900, the Company operated from a 6 Acre complex with a 200,000 square foot tannery and manufacturing facility, specializing in Saddles, Harness, Tack and a multitude of other leather goods. At the peak of operation, the Hess & Hopkins Leather Company employed 450 individuals and tanned 350 plus steer hides per day.

Mechanized farming and the automobile eroded the Hess & Hopkins Company's clientele base over the coming years and although the company was very versatile in adapting to various market changes the company closed in 1960 following the death of Arthur T. Hopkins, the son of Theodore F. Hopkins.

This saddle is maker marked on the front of the seat: "HESS & HOPKINS / ROCKFORD, ILL." The mark is clearly stamped and features the shield surrounding the words that was the trademark stamp for the company.

This Hess & Hopkins is in exceptionally good condition.  The tree is solid, all leather is supple and in good condition with only minor use-wear.  All saddle strings are present and all conchos are still attached.  The keeper strings are missing, but in all other respects this saddle is in the same great condition as the last time it was on a horse.  The black leather is engraved with the geometric design that is evocative of shells or arrowheads.  A signature feature of Hess & Hopkins is the decorative lacing that is present along the jockeys and the fenders.  The fleece is in good condition with some wear.

The cantle is 1 1/2" high as measured from the base of the saddle to the top.  The saddle is 25 1/2" in overall length and is a 13.5" seat.  It is double rigged for cutting and both the front and rear cinch rings are present and solid.  The engineering of this saddle is beautifully shown in the rigging under the jockey-- using multiple points of anchor to ensure a safe seat.

Hess & Hopkins Stock Saddle / Item #SA510 / SOLD

Please contact us at your convenience:  michael@purecowboy.us or sarah@purecowboy.us

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

The American West is celebrated and collected by people all over the world -- we offer easy international shipping, by either the US Postal Service, UPS, Federal Express or Container.

Pure Cowboy, 1770 West State Street, # 315, Boise, Idaho 83702

 208.342.5019 or toll free: 888.575.1890

All items sold by Pure Cowboy are for decorative purposes only.  All other uses are exclusively the buyer's responsibility

Copyright © 2008-2014 Pure Cowboy