Visalia Stock Saddle Co

Was actually composed of several men though the original saddle was credited to an employee of Juan Martarel who created it while correcting faults in old saddles brought into his Hornitos, California shop for repair. The shop moved to Visalia, California in the late 1860s, but stiff competition resulted in Martarel selling out to David E Walker in 1870. Walker has worked for Main and Winchester in San Francisco and co-owned the new saddlery with Henry Shuham from 1870-79, then Wade (Walker-Wade) from 1887-1892, and Wegener from 1892 until his death in 1889. Edmund Walker Weeks, a nephew, inherited his Uncle's interest and subsequently bought Wegener's portion from his widow in 1903. The company introduced an elaborate line of silver mounted bits, spurs and bridles from the 1870s on and introduced the "Visalia Stock Saddle Company" name in the 1890s. No historic maker in the West retains a more stellar reputation for quality, diversity and longevity than Visalia's San Francisco Saddlery.

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Arguably the most illustrious and historic saddlery in California, the Visalia Stock Saddle Company was actually founded by several men though the original saddle was credited by an employee of Juan Martarel, who created it while correcting faults in old saddles brought into his Hornitos, California shop for repair. The shop moved to Visalia, California in the late 1860s, but stiff competition resulted in Martarel selling out to David E Walker in 1870. Walker had worked for Main and Winchester in San Francisco and co-owned the new saddlery with Henry Shuham from 1870-79, then Wade (Walker-Wade) from 1887-1892 and Wegener from 1892 until his death in 1889. Edmund Walker Weeks, a nephew, inherited his Uncle's interest and subsequently bought Wegener's portion from his widow in 1903. The company introduced an elaborate line of silver mounted bits, spurs and bridles from the 1870s on and introduced the "Visalia Stock Saddle Company" name in the 1890s. The Visalia employees roster was a virtually Who’s Who‚ of renowned 19th and 20th century bit and spur makers including names like Larios, Hernandez, Goldberg, Herrera, Gutierrez, Gil, Bernal, Miller and Tietjen, Echavarria, Hoback, Lamdin, and Morales. No historic maker in the West retains a more stellar reputation for quality, diversity and longevity than Visalia's San Francisco Saddlery.

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