Vintage Prosser Martin Saddle of Del Rio, TXCirca: 1930-1950Location: Ephrata, PAProsser Martin (1896-1970) is a hard working success story who built an outstanding name for himself as a saddle maker for the rich & famous.He built his first saddle shop with $50 in borrowed money in a single room in the border town of Del Rio, Texas. Martin spent the early part of his life in Texas punching cattle and learning the about types of cowboy goods that were the very best for practical use. His relatives were both owners and users of several million acres of Texas land and they trusted Prosser to keep their ranches up-to-date with equipment that suffered the hardest use. From his humble beginnings, Martin developed a high class line of western equipment that was used and worn by many of the country’s celebrities including trick roper, Chester Byers, Jack Dempsey, Mayor La Guardia, Major Bowes and Mary Pickford.
By the early 1940s, Prosser Martin’s saddles had attained such prestige that they were selected and purchased by the management of Madison Square Gardens for presentation to the world’s rodeo champions. In addition to saddles, his catalogs included a broad array of clothing, boots and fancy silver accessories such as iconic western brands like Levi Strauss, Nocona, Stetson, Crockett, and Wallie Boone. The catalog No. 42 boasts that he had built the largest hand made saddlery goods store in the largest State of the Union.    Some of Prasser's parade & trophy saddles have sold for high figures over the years.  This particular saddle is a nice, collectible example of this skilled saddle maker's work.  It shows off his excellent leather carving skills and features a wonderful contrasting seat with an appealing brown patina.SADDLE FEATURES:1.  Appears 100% original with the possible exception of sheepskin & saddle strings.2.  Comfortable brown embroidered 15" seat.3.  Stamped with Prasser Martin's makers mark behind the seat jockey concho on both sides.4.  Pelican roper's horn with interesting soldier? concho mounted on top.5.  Interesting cowboy fender carvings on both sides (cowboy falling off horse while calf takes off in opposite direction).6.  Every inch of the saddle is fully hand carved.7.  Interesting large 2 3/4" leather rosettes under the conchos.8.  Sheepskin in very good conditionThis saddle is still very solid and leather is in good condition other than some surface checking.  As always, I recommend that you have a professional saddle repairman go over the saddle carefully if you intend to use it for the purpose of riding.If you would like to see additional pictures of anything specific, please request them prior to the end of the auction.If you have any information to add to the history of this saddle, please send me a message and I will update the auction.Saddle is being sold AS-IS with no returns.