Info on saddle maker?

[Doc O]

Here is a saddle of my Dads.
He bought it in the early '50s and said it was made in the late '30s to early '40s.
The stamp says. MARLIN COLE MFGR
                       SAC CITY IA




Anyone have any info on this maker?
Thanks Doc

Sorry about the pictures, can't seem to make them larger.
                     

[Gun Butcher]

  Doc, I have run out of places to look. Even made a few phone calls and came up dry.  It is a fine looking saddle and as far as I can tell it seems to be a beartrap style swell which I believe was first made in Miles City, Montana. Hope you have some luck finding out more about it. And of course I will keep looking whenever I find a new source.  GB

[Doc O]

Thanks GB. I've search the net high and low with no luck.
One little story about this saddle.
It's been several years ago now and I had it on a little guarter mare I was trying to break.
Well she was tied up and took the saddle realy well, no problems there.
The problem came when I went to lead her around a bit. She decided to go nuts the saddle slid down under her and then buisness really picked up. All I could do was let her tire out. That was quite a deal.
The saddle and the mare came through unscaved.
Doc

[RollingThunder]

I asked a good buddy of mine to take a look through his voluminous tomes of saddle history, and this is all he could find at the moment.

"There was a saddle maker named Marlin Cole at Desert Hitching Post Ranch in Florence, Arizona, in the 1940's. That's all the information I can find right now."

He's not long on words. Hope it helps though.

[outrider]

Doc,

I am quite sure you would be able to find out when this business was in operation by going to the Sac County Courthouse and doing a business search.  They should have records showing licenses, tax collection, etc.  The 1930's census shows a Marlin Cole in Sac City, but also shows one in Davenport IA.

[Doc O]

Thanks fellas. I appreciate the help.
I'll look into the county courthouse.

Doc O

[hmreilly]

Hey guys,

I stumbled across this post about the Cole saddle doing a google search for Marlin Cole saddles (to no avail except for your post!).  I too have a Cole saddle!  It looks very much like the one pictured, except mine lacks tooling and doesn't have the same stamp.  Mine is stamped on the left stirrup leather, looks like with individual leather stamps.  It says "Made by Marlin Cole, Sac City, Iowa".  I once wrote to the Historical Society of Sac City and they had never heard of nor had any records of such a saddle maker.

All I know about my saddle is that my dad got it several decades ago when he lived in Northern Iowa and he claims that the Cole saddles were a good name in saddles.  Though I have never met someone who knows anything about them.

So, if any of you read my response and have found out any info on Cole saddles, I would LOVE find out more information! 

I rode in my old Cole Saddle until the fleece wore off and holes developed in the seat padding.  I am saving up some money to have it revamped because to this day I haven't found a saddle to fit me like that one did. 

Please respond if you have any information!!!!!!!!

[Arizona Cattleman]

You might try contacting this company, they might have some info.  https://www.vintagegunleather.com/company-marks/index.html

AC

[Cactus Rope]

Doc O
This is from Old Cowboy Saddles & Spurs, Seventh Edition

"Desert Hitching Post Ranch"
"Marlin Cole, Florence, AZ. Marlin Cole started a leather shop in Sac City, IA in 1935. In 1945 he moved to Florence, AZ and continued making saddles until his death in 1951. He made the complete saddle including the trees. This allowed him to make a tree to his satisfaction and to cater to the custom trade."

You may have a good un. I've never heard of him until you posted and I collect and sell antique saddles. Been doin it for quite awhile.

Hope this is of some help.

[Cactus Rope]

Doc O
This is from Old Cowboy Saddles & Spurs, Seventh Edition

"Desert Hitching Post Ranch"
"Marlin Cole, Florence, AZ. Marlin Cole started a leather shop in Sac City, IA in 1935. In 1945 he moved to Florence, AZ and continued making saddles until his death in 1951. He made the complete saddle including the trees. This allowed him to make a tree to his satisfaction and to cater to the custom trade."

You may have a good un. I've never heard of him until you posted and I collect and sell antique saddles. Been doin it for quite awhile.

Hope this is of some help.

I should have included, from the dates you posted this could also be one of the last saddles he built.
You could also send pictures to Western Horseman magazine for their what it's worth column. Email jennifer.denison@westernhorseman.com. I had to do this with a saddle I was having trouble locating info on. He'll also give you an appraisal.

[Doc O]

Thank you Cactus Rope.
Very interesting. My dad was pretty close for manufacture date.
Marlin Cole was not in buisness at that long.
The wesatern horseman is very good idea.
Thank you very much.
Doc

[Cactus Rope]

Thank you Cactus Rope.
Very interesting. My dad was pretty close for manufacture date.
Marlin Cole was not in buisness at that long.
The wesatern horseman is very good idea.
Thank you very much.
Doc

You betcha, anytime.
Good luck!