E.L.Gallatin questions.

[Horseapples]

Dear sirs,

a couple of things have been on my mind for some time and I wondered if anyone could help put them to rest?

1) Why does some Gallatin saddlery from the 1873 to 1881 period carry a straight line address stamp and other saddlery carry the oval address stamp?  What's the difference?

2) Can anyone tell me where the Gallatin chaps featured in James.R.Laird's book "The Cheyenne Saddle" are and if it is possible to get more detailed pictures of the leg seam construction?

Any help would be gladly received fellas.

[Cliff Fendley]

I suppose the makers mark is personal preference. Frank Meanea, Gallatins nephew also used a stamp with straight line lettering.

[Camano Ridge]

Here is some information on Galatin and the makers mark you might find interesting. I have some pictures of 1870 Galatin shotgun chaps. I have to shrink them to post them here. I am on my way out the door right now but will try to post this afternoon.

http://www.vintagegunleather.com/company-marks/gallatin_history.html

[Horseapples]

Camano sir, I would very much appreciate that.

[dwight55]

Get my name in here for the same pattern,..............

May God bless,
Dwight

[Camano Ridge]

Horseapples, my appologies. I re read your post and you want pictures specific to the ones in The Cheyene Saddle book. I do have one picture that shows a set of Gattlin chaps that look like ones in the picture. THe seam has an overflap that I beleive covers buttons/ Bottom tight leg it looks like a button under the upturned bottom corner. It also looks like there is a bump along each overflap at regular intervals that are likely buttons. I will post that one as weel as the others. I think you have seen the others on a different forum a couple of years ago. However I will still post them for viewing pleasure of others.

SOrry Dwight no pattern only pictures.

[Horseapples]

Camano, I have indeed seen them before sir and steamed ahead making a pair but recently I have heard suggestions that the legs are buttoned or laced under the flaps rather than directly sewn as I have done mine. Much like the failed bank robber looking into Dirty Harry's .44 muzzle while listening to the "did I fire 6 or only 5" speach, "I gots to know."

[Horseapples]

With regard to the Gallatin stamp question, Mr Boden of Boden saddle trees in Anthony Texas custom made me a Gallatin style saddle tree from the cover shot on "The Cheyenne Saddle"  which I intend to finish into a saddle.  Looking at the Gallatin saddles in that book there are some differences in front jockeys, address stamps etc and I was wondering if this shows differences in manufacture date or location or both?  It would be nice to know before I start my saddle if anyone has that information.

[Camano Ridge]

As to theseam. Although I don't have any definative proof. All of the other Gallatin chaps are button down. THe over flap I would believe is for protection of the buttons. In the picture where you see the overflap turned up you can see what looks like a button. If you enlarge the picture it looks even more like a button although it is not clear. Also looking up the seam it looks like you can see a bump more or less the outline of a button at redular intervals. I would not know why anyone would put an overflapover a stitched seam. There would not realy be anything there to snag orr catch. Sorry I could not help you out more. You might try to get ahold of Chuck Burrows Wild Rose Trading Co. He might have some knowledge of them.

[ChuckBurrows]

On all of the original shotgun chaps (can't remember any Gallatins but lots of Meanea's chaps) I've examined the front of the legs are attached to the rear by lacing - if conchos are used the lace goes through the concho as well. I've never seen any chaps that button. The only other method on 1880's onward chaps I've seen is a buckle and strap like this although they were mainly used on the early simple batwings often known as the Cheyenne style - usually 5-8 straps and buckles



and here's a pair laced together with conchos


Here's a pair of 1889 era Meaneas showing the lacing


If you've got anymore questions ask away...

a little tip when running a wide lace through the slots like this - super glue the first couple of inches of the lace so it gets stiff but not so hard it cracks - et voila you have a lacing needle....

[David Carrico]

If there is enough interest, I have been thinking about selling patterns from my original F.A. Meanea collection. The first pattern being the shotgun chaps.  I just need to make a pair and take good photographs as I am doing it, to put along with the pattern. It's a long process, as Will Ghormley knows!

[Horseapples]

Thanks again guys and yes Mr Carrico, I am sure that patterns for original F.A.Meanea chaps would sell like hot cakes, I would like to place my order right now please.

I'd still like to track down someone with an original pair of E.L.Gallatin shotgun chaps though to find out for cetrain what's under that damned flap!

[ChuckBurrows]

Have you looked to see in the book for the photo credit for that picture? That usually tells you where it was taken and if a museum contact them.

[Horseapples]

You would hope so wouldn't you but sadly not a mention of the source.  I even tried googling the author's name, James R. Laird and got nothing.  I had hoped to come across someone who knew of such things here on the forum.  The Wyoming StateMuseum is mentioned in the book but it's a bit of a treck from Cornwall (almost everywhere is from Cornwall) so I was hoping that a shooter might have visited the place and maybe even seen them.  Grasping at straws I know but what else can I do?

[Horseapples]

Solved!  Probably.  An auction site selling some sewn legged Gallatin Shotgun Chaps have sent me a picture from behind the flap.  Once I figure out how I will post it.  It shows a lace but not as you would expect.

[Trailrider]

Those are gorgeous chaps! I'd bet you could sell a bunch of those patterns. Unfortunately, my brush-poppin' days are pretty much past! My knees are stiff enough without trying to bend them while wearing chaps!   

[Bruce W Sims]

What grade or weight of leather do you folks call what I see in the pictures?

I'm trying to imagine what those must have felt like compared to some leather
pants my Dad wore to go Bow-hunting. Anyone?

BTW: I ask only because I was wondering if those leather pants might be used as material
for a pair of botas. Thoughts?

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[Buck Stinson]

Many years ago, I had a very nice pair of Gallatin shotgun chaps in my collection.  My Meanea shotguns and the Gallatin's were made in the same way.  Legs were laced from top to bottom.  The difference being that the lace was exposed and a fringed strip was placed in between the overlap on the seam on the Meanea chaps.  This fringed strip was them laced into the seam.  My Gallatin chaps did not have fringe, but the lacing was hidden between the inside and outside fold of the main seam.  The object that looks like a button in one of the above photos is in fact the knot on the end of the strip of lace.  My Gallatin chaps ended up in the Gene Autry collection.  I think my Meanea shotguns ended up with a collector in Florida.  They were in near new condition.

[Horseapples]

Fellas, try this:-

   http://shootists.websitetoolbox.com/post/1870s-gallatin-chaps-5821197?trail=75    this link, if it works should take you to a thread with the pictures on it, look for post No 63 which illustrates Buck's description admirably with a photo of the leg seam construction on these classic oldwest chaps.


Thanks Buck, I wish you'd noticed the post 8 months ago, you'd have saved me a whole load of sleepless nights :-(