Mule Ears

Started by Shotgun Franklin, March 29, 2011, 07:36:11 PM

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Shotgun Franklin

March 29, 2011, 07:36:11 PM
When did they start putting them on boots and about when did they quit?
Yes, I do have more facial hair now.

WaddWatsonEllis

#1
March 29, 2011, 07:42:32 PM
I would be interested in a definitive answer as well ... if I remember right, I have seen pics of miners wearing 'mule ears' during the Gold Rush ... 1849-1850 ...  but I am not sure ....

And Shotgun, would this recieve a quicker response in the Historical Site? ... just thinkin'
My moniker is my great grandfather's name. He served with the 2nd Florida Mounted Regiment in the Civil War. Afterward, he came home, packed his wife into a wagon, and was one of the first NorteAmericanos on the Frio River southwest of San Antonio ..... Kinda where present day Dilley is ...

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." John Wayne
NCOWS #3403

Shotgun Franklin

#2
March 29, 2011, 09:07:07 PM
I guess? I'll see.
Yes, I do have more facial hair now.

WaddWatsonEllis

#3
March 30, 2011, 07:42:40 PM
I came back from my voluteer 'job' with a real expectation of all kinds of photos and documentation ... but this is almost embarrassing ....


Whazzup wid dat?
My moniker is my great grandfather's name. He served with the 2nd Florida Mounted Regiment in the Civil War. Afterward, he came home, packed his wife into a wagon, and was one of the first NorteAmericanos on the Frio River southwest of San Antonio ..... Kinda where present day Dilley is ...

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." John Wayne
NCOWS #3403

Sir Charles deMouton-Black

#4
March 30, 2011, 08:15:54 PM
WWE;  Yeah! Sometimes I feel a bit down when no one pays attention to my posts. :'( :'(

Googled mule-ear-boot-straps, and found this;  No answer but for only $2800 you could buy a really neat pair of 1880's boots.

http://www.cantrellboots.com/Riding.html

BTW:  $2800 is waaay outta my league!
NCOWS #1154, SCORRS, STORM, BROW, 1860 Henry, Dirty Rat 502, CHINOOK COUNTRY
THE SUBLYME & HOLY ORDER OF THE SOOT (SHOTS)
Those who are no longer ignorant of History may relive it,
without the Blood, Sweat, and Tears.
With apologies to George Santayana & W. S. Churchill

"As Mark Twain once put it, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."

Shotgun Franklin

#5
March 30, 2011, 08:52:37 PM
Well, we seem to have at least found out they were around from 1849-1850 to the 1880s. Or do we?
Yes, I do have more facial hair now.

WaddWatsonEllis

#6
March 30, 2011, 08:58:57 PM
Sir Charles,

$2800.00 ... that's two mortgage payments and change!

I had to really dig deep for the $130 for a pair of the Fort Frontier Boots at Fort Western!

And as far as the accuracy (no keyhole), well when they make it a non volunteer /paid position and they offer to pay me the $2470 difference (and not cover the Keyhole with spur straps), I'll run out and buy those boots ... but somehow I don't see it happening .....*G*
My moniker is my great grandfather's name. He served with the 2nd Florida Mounted Regiment in the Civil War. Afterward, he came home, packed his wife into a wagon, and was one of the first NorteAmericanos on the Frio River southwest of San Antonio ..... Kinda where present day Dilley is ...

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." John Wayne
NCOWS #3403

Sir Charles deMouton-Black

#7
March 30, 2011, 10:46:04 PM
I'm not a boot expert, but I can google!  This is NOT a recommendation for any book. Someone else can comment from a better knowledge base.

http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Boot-History-Culture-Function/dp/1931153264

A quick look into COWBOYS & The Trappings of the Old West, Manns & Flood, shows me no mule ears.
NCOWS #1154, SCORRS, STORM, BROW, 1860 Henry, Dirty Rat 502, CHINOOK COUNTRY
THE SUBLYME & HOLY ORDER OF THE SOOT (SHOTS)
Those who are no longer ignorant of History may relive it,
without the Blood, Sweat, and Tears.
With apologies to George Santayana & W. S. Churchill

"As Mark Twain once put it, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."

St. George

#8
March 30, 2011, 11:18:17 PM
The 'Mule Ear' pulls were used from the Gold Rush era until the heyday of the Cattle Drives of the early-to-mid 1870's, when they fell out of favor - being replaced by the more familiar cathedral-stiched, square-toed high-topped boot worn outside the trousers..

That would last until the late 1880s - early 1890's - and then, the boot tops were covered by the trouser leg as styles changed.

The 'cowboy boot' was evolving during that time - the slanted 'cubane (or 'cuban) heel' was popular amonst all who worked from the hurricane deck of a mustang, but those older styles hung on as well, and the venerable 'Mule Ears' remained in use - often being worn by freighters, more than anyone else.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!





"It Wasn't Cowboys and Ponies - It Was Horses and Men.
It Wasn't Schoolboys and Ladies - It Was Cowtowns and Sin..."

WaddWatsonEllis

#9
March 31, 2011, 12:57:29 AM
I remember seeing pics of the Gold Rush, with that looked like Calvary style boots with 'mule ears' on them ... They were not on the original Civil War boots ... were they attached by leatherworkers? Were boots made with them already on?

I have no idea ... I am glad this is not a normal conversation among my docent groups ... it could be very embarrassing ....
My moniker is my great grandfather's name. He served with the 2nd Florida Mounted Regiment in the Civil War. Afterward, he came home, packed his wife into a wagon, and was one of the first NorteAmericanos on the Frio River southwest of San Antonio ..... Kinda where present day Dilley is ...

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." John Wayne
NCOWS #3403

St. George

#10
March 31, 2011, 08:36:06 AM
Obviously they were made by the bootmaker and supplied with the boot - they weren't an add-on accessory.

Civilian-made boots often mirrored those used by the military, but the pulls on the military boots are internally installed.

And just so's you know - 'it's spelled 'Cavalry' that describes mounted warriors...

'Calvary' was a place with a wholly different connotation.

For more photos - look through the Time-Life publications titled 'The Old West' and look closely at dated photos featuring teamsters.

You should see several clear photos.

That series is a good one for someone who's a docent to review - they add background.

Scouts Out!

"It Wasn't Cowboys and Ponies - It Was Horses and Men.
It Wasn't Schoolboys and Ladies - It Was Cowtowns and Sin..."

WaddWatsonEllis

#11
March 31, 2011, 10:49:50 AM
St George,

That's one of the spelling problems I still have problems with; Calvalry and Calvary .... I obviously shouls have looded it up.

And that is not the first time that the Time-Life series has bee suggested (by you as well as others) .  I have spun thourhg the pages of the copies in our library ... looks like I will have to do that again ...

I also have a copy of "I See By Your Outfit" somewhere in my mess gonna have to review that too .....

Thanks!
My moniker is my great grandfather's name. He served with the 2nd Florida Mounted Regiment in the Civil War. Afterward, he came home, packed his wife into a wagon, and was one of the first NorteAmericanos on the Frio River southwest of San Antonio ..... Kinda where present day Dilley is ...

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." John Wayne
NCOWS #3403

St. George

#12
March 31, 2011, 10:56:41 AM
You 'should' be able to build your very own Time-Life set through garage sales and flea markets, if you take some time.

I seldom see them over $3 per volume, and as a source, they're well-documented and prolific, and at around $3 - they're by far more reasonable than their initial asking price.

The difference between 'Cavalry' and 'Calvary' is easy - just remember:

'If You Ain't Cav...'

The religious connotation doesn't have that observation...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!



"It Wasn't Cowboys and Ponies - It Was Horses and Men.
It Wasn't Schoolboys and Ladies - It Was Cowtowns and Sin..."

Deadeye Dick

#13
March 31, 2011, 12:13:24 PM
I've noticed a lot of people pronounce and spell cavalry incorrectly. My Grandmother straightened me out on that one when I was very  young.
NRA LIFE, NCOWS #3270, BLACK POWDER WARTHOG, STORM #254,
  DIRTY RATS #411, HENRY #139, PM KEIZER LODGE #219  AF&AM

Capt Billy

#14
April 23, 2011, 03:11:12 AM
WaddWatson?
Try Wild West Mercantile, for non cuban heeled, one piece front boots. They just started carrying them this year, and ain't too pricey...more like a tenth of the dual mortgage priced ones...almost even affordable by volunteers and us SSI pensioners!
I bought my keyhole fronts from them (online) in 07, and they fit well enough to wear 3 days straight in comfort!
"I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it."

R.G.A. # 241

WaddWatsonEllis

#15
April 23, 2011, 09:00:08 PM
Capt Billy,

I bought the black ones and will probably buy some of the brown Fort Frontier boots ... but not until September or later ...

Besides getting my first Social Security check in September, I think I will be just getting off of crutches for a knee surgery that is aimed at June sometime ... I haven't got the date yet ... so it may be a moot point buying a pair of big heavy boots ....
My moniker is my great grandfather's name. He served with the 2nd Florida Mounted Regiment in the Civil War. Afterward, he came home, packed his wife into a wagon, and was one of the first NorteAmericanos on the Frio River southwest of San Antonio ..... Kinda where present day Dilley is ...

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." John Wayne
NCOWS #3403
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