Newton Porter Vintage Saddle
Posted by John Brand on
In the late 1850's Newton Porter was born in Independence, MO. By the end of the Civil War Newton Porter was left an orphan. He moved to St. Louis, MO where he was raised by an aunt. In his teens he started to learn the art of saddle making by serving an apprenticeship with a St. Louis, MO saddle maker. By 1875, Newton Porter opened his first saddle shop in Taylor, Texas which was an immediate success. However, in 1881 a fire wiped out the shop and Newton Porter closed his business and moved to Abilene, TX where he reopened another shop and continued working in Texas over the next 8 to 10 years.
It was in 1895 when Newton Porter moved to Phoenix, AZ where he established the N. Porter Saddle & Harness Company, which became one of the finest saddleries over the next 70 years. After Porter died in approximately 1906, his oldest son, Earl, took over the operation of the business, and he continued to institute the same business practices of his father until his death in 1925 when the business was taken over by Newton Porters youngest son, Fred Porter.
The N. Porter Saddle & Harness Company remained family owned and operated until the closing of the business in the mid 1960s. N.Porter Saddles & Harness Company employed two dozen or more master craftsmen, who tooled and sewed the saddles. Their saddles were world famous for being among the finest made. They also mentored apprentices who often opened their own shops. The design of a swastika or (nohokos) was a Navajo design that was adopted and used by the N. Porter Saddlery & Harness Company, but they eventually went to the Famous Steer Head Logo.
We are lucky enough to have possession of this beautiful black leather Newton Porter vintage saddle. It has a 15-15 1/2" seat. This saddle is all original, in excellent condition with sterling silver and very unique large rim sterling silver conchos. Now we have an original build card for the saddle. The serial #16080 is dated December 21, 1940 and was made for Mr. Ivory of Ivory Pine Co. Klamath Falls, Oregon. Asking $8500 or best offer.
For more information, give John a call at (530)545-0139.