Strap Goods/Belt Making Pros

Ron Ross

Ron grew up on a horse/dairy farm in Northern Indiana. He has always had an interest in leather and saddles. When he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, in 1959, he learned of the Post Leathercraft Shop, an off duty activity, where free instruction was provided to learn leather carving.

After Ron got out of Active Army, he started his my saddlery and leather shop as a part-time occupation. Then, in 1962, while attending business college in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he went to work part-time for Tandy Leather in their local store. After graduating from the business college, he stayed on until October 1965. During that time period, my knowledge continued to grow and I was introduced, as part of my job duties, to the teaching of leathercarving.

As time progressed in his saddlery/leather business, he started to teach himself to build saddles. Sometime around 1968 or so, he met L. H. 'Hamp' Brand, who owned L. H. Brand Saddlery in Ralston, Wyoming and who ran the countries first saddlemaking school. He became my long distance mentor. He became a devotee of the Sheridan style of carving, in the early 1980s after being introduced to Don King and having him make a large set of stamps for Ron. Likewise, Don offered my advice and helped me to develop my style.

Over the years he has been teaching leather carving and saddlemaking in his own shop. He has conducted workshops at many of the International Federation of Leather Guilds shows.

In the late 1980s, when his oldest daughter was in High School Rodeo, he held the contract for the building of the Trophy saddles that were awarded at the end of each High School Rodeo season.

Ron is also a tool dealer, on a much smaller scale than Bob Douglas and has, in the past, worked the Sheridan show as such. Ron has experience with several makes of the older needle and awl stitchers as well as experience with the Tippmann Boss machine. About the only thing that he does not have experience in is boot making.

Many of the items that he has experienced in making are pictured in my album, RonnR, in the Members gallery at leatherpro's.net.

E-Mail: rosaddlery@mchsi.com
Phone: 260-337-5607
St. Joe, Indiana
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