1-800-874-1167 order line
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
1-800-874-1167 order line
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Store Front Display!
Tex Tan had quite the spread back in the day. Featured in Magazines and Store Fronts all over the country!
Give customers a reason to do business with you by doing the same thing in your store... create your own image!
Give customers a reason to do business with you by doing the same thing in your store... create your own image!
Give customers a reason to do business with you.
Give customers a reason to do business with you.
Give customers a reason to do business with you.
James Cox Saddlery began in 1945 when James D. Cox was the manager of Comer and Jordan Livestock Company in Springdale, Ohio. James traveled extensively buying and selling horses and livestock all over the country for that auction. He used to buy stock sight unseen, and have it delivered by rail car to the Glendale Station. He would go and inspect the herd, and have them off loaded onto trucks there and brought to the sale barn. He sold one of the horses to Hollywood, that was used in making the movie Cisco Kid! He eventually ventured into the equipment for horses and livestock which included harness and saddlery. His son Del learned how to auctioneer at the sale barn by selling saddlery for his dad. The sale barn was struck by a fire and never re-built, so for a time James ran the livestock business from their farm on Boyle Road. As many as 30,000 head of cattle went up and down the lane in 1 year. The saddlery market was strong during that time and James quit the livestock business for the saddle business. James Cox Saddlery was started. James and his son Del started going to London, Kentucky almost every week. During this time Del established the wholesale part of the company and began buying and selling from the factories in Chattanooga as well as contracting with saddle makers who had learned their trade from the companies in Chattanooga like Southern Saddlery, Bighorn, Simco, etc. The barn on Boyle Road was remodeled into a saddle shop. His son, Charles got into the business and they started a base for their retail and wholesale operations. Debbie Cox, Del's daughter joined the company and worked in the retail operation and replaced her mother Wanda who was doing the accounting. Eventually Jimmy, joined his sister and started working for the company in 1987. Charles Cox was instrumental in getting the company into importing bits and spurs which at that time, was not offered readily in the USA anymore. Jimmy, who started going by James after the death of his grandpa in 1988, helped the company get into manufacturing of saddle pads and other horse items. They developed many saddle brands such as Circle 'C' and resurrected the Big 'W' Western Saddlery Brand, Buford Saddlery, and Monterrey Makers Brand of saddles which was called Western Saddlery & Leather
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Moser was founded in 1878 by George Moser who immigrated to
the United States from Germany sometime in the 1860's. He came to New Albany, Indiana and stayed with his brother who ran a tailoring business there and went to work for August Barth who owned Barth's Tannery on East Tenth Street which is just down the river from the current tannery location. Barth was established in 1864. After working for Barth for 10 years, Moser purchased the Lockwood Brothers tannery at 272-278 East Eight Street in 1878. He enlarged and improved it and went into business for himself. In July of 1891 John M. Moser came into the firm as a partner, he was George's nephew and they changed the name to George Moser & Company. By 1902 the company employed 35 men and sold its products to jobbers across the country and was handling about 15,000 medium weight hides per year. Moser specialized in high grade leather for harness and collar makers, the company marketed its product as Hemlock Collar Leather. In 1900 Charles E. Moser assumed his brother John's interest in George Moser & Company. In 1905 George opened an additional plant, which he name the Indiana Leather Company, on Silver Street, south of the PA Railroad. Fire destroyed the East Eighth Street tannery in 1914. George died the same year, and his heirs renamed the remaining Indiana Leather Company the George Moser Leather Company. Eventually George's son's - George Jr, Julius, and Karl joined the company, but it was
George's partner (and nephew), Charles Moser who assumed presidency. By 1936 the company covered nearly eight acres and employed approx. 100 workers and was a wholesale leather manufacturer, tanning hides purchased by the carload and converting them into leather for shoes, belts, or saddles. In the 1980's the company bought Caldwell Leather Co. of Auburn, Ky which was founded in 1863 by George Washington Caldwell and became Caldwell/Moser Leather Co. - Caldwell a Shoe Lace Tanner and part of Brown Group of St. Louis had just shut down their tannery and Moser bought them out.
Granson James had started another company in 1997 called Western Hide and Tanning Company. Mainly to tan deer hides and buy and sell leather job lots, etc. He started working closely with Caldwell/Moser and bought harness and latigo from them, and distributed much of their leather. Large quantities of leather were sold in Tennessee to many of the saddle companies that he was already doing business with. James was in a unique position as he could trade leather for finished products, and run them through the distribution business. Eventually James took the wholesale and manufacturing business, and split from the retail operation in 2002, under the name Western Saddlery & Leather and then eventually Moser Leather. Debbie has continued with the retail operation at the same location. This is when Caldwell/Moser shut down, and James bought the trade name and recipes for Moser, as well as some of the equipment and chemicals, etc. The new Moser set up shop with some existing tanneries here in the states to custom tan for them, as well as tanneries in Mexico that tanned on U.S. hides provided by James. Leather was tanned in Mexico, and brought back here and finished in the same dipping tanks that came out of the old tannery, to make harness and latigo leathers. We still hot stuff and dip latigo and harness leather at our operation in Hamilton, and are one of 3 companies that are still doing this in the United States. Our leather has been compared to the best Old Style Harness Leathers that are being produced in the U.S. Market place. We are also specializing in double shoulders... something that is not being produced here in the USA on a continuing basis. We have strict guidelines that our tanneries and our employees must follow, to bring you the best products that we can, for a reasonable price. We have always told our employees that we are only as good as the last shipment that was sent out. In other words, if we cut corners on anything, it could be the last time we sell someone. So we always are on guard to put the best effort we can, to continually make a good product for our customers. Brands were bought and sold over the years, as well as companies. In 2018 we purchased Wright-Bernet Brush from DQB Industries in Lavonia, Michigan. Wright-Bernet was founded in Hamilton, Ohio before it was purchased and moved years before. James Cox brought the grooming and barn broom division back to Hamilton. Most recently we purchased the Tex Tan Western Leather Company of Yoakum, Texas. James Cox did this with the help of a group of investors. James paid more than the rest to retain the name and any finished goods that came with it and to continue with the brand. He was partners in all the equipment and work in process. In January of 2021, James and his partners had the biggest auction in Texas History. It lasted 3 days, and the entire contents of all factories was either sold, or retired. It was a huge salvage operation with over 10 containers of scrap, 4 pickup loads of scrap, 6 pallets of finished goods shipped to another auction, and over 3 acres of machinery, tools, leather, and work in process that was sold by the auction company that James Cox and his partners ran. These auctions are something the Cox family has been doing starting with Del Cox who retired from the Saddlery business to do estate auctions. These auctions have evolved over the last 30 years where both worlds have collided when present day James Cox started doing tack and leather auctions, and trade shows under the Western Leather and Equipment Show / Auctions.Back in the day, we were the first to have a 3 day tack auction of its kind in this part of the country. Organizing what has became the dealer tack auctions, and combining leather and machinery into one huge sale. James Cox has helped many companies that have decided to close or downsize with finding new homes for their old equipment and goods! Effective Dec, 4 of 2020 - the company started doing business as Tex Tan Western Leather Company with Moser, and Wright-Bernet becoming brands of Tex Tan. Other brands include Southern Saddlery, Big W Western Saddlery, Circle C Saddlery, Lamb Classic, Anchor Brand Bits - Spurs - Hardware, and others serving price points or niche markets for that item.We will be continuing the manufacturing of Western Saddles for Tex Tan in Texas at another location. We will be making all the matching Tack Accessories including Saddle Pads, Strap Goods, Belts, Wallets and other personal Leather Goods at the Hamilton, Ohio plant. We look forward to this new adventure and continuing with Tex Tan's product lines. Tex Tan got its start in 1919, and was originally called the Texas Tanning and Hide Company. It was founded by Phillip Welhousen. Saddlery and Riding Equipment were soon being manufactured there and not long after belts and billfolds were added to the line to keep up with Public demand. Just like with Moser Leather, we will be adding various pictures and art work to give you a feel for what Tex Tan did in the past. We plan to be a much larger presence in the industry in its future. At one point in time, Tex Tan produced over 30% of the goods sold in the USA for Saddlery. That's a pretty big chunk of business.
EFFECTIVE 8/29/2023 TEX TAN PURCHASES THE BRUSHY CREEK BELT AND BUCKLE COMPANY. THIS WAS AN ASSET PURCHASE WITH NO LIABILITIES. TEX TAN WILL CONTINUE WITH THE PRODUCT LINE THAT BRUSHY CREEK WAS MANUFACTURING. MOST OF THE PRODUCTION WILL BE MOVED TO OUR HAMILTON, OHIO FACILITY. TEX TAN WILL NOW CHANGE ITS DBA TO OLD WEST BRANDS.
Thank you for all the folks at all these companies that worked hard to give us the opportunity we have today in carrying on these great legends. James Cox
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
James Cox, Old West Brands
jimnwestern1@aol.com
Old West Brands Announces Sale of Tex Tan, Hereford, and Imperial Saddle Brands to Welhausen Legacy LLC of Yoakum, Texas
Hamilton, OH – Old West Brands is pleased to announce the sale of saddle brands Tex Tan, Hereford, and Imperial, to Welhausen Legacy LLC, owner of Circle Y Saddles, Tucker Trail Saddles, and Reinsman Equestrian. This strategic transaction ensures these brands will continue to thrive under the stewardship of an established leader in the equestrian industry.
Old West Brands will continue to manufacture its Simco, Longhorn, and Circle C Saddles as well as Trammel Bits & Spurs, Brushy Creek Belts, and Wright-Bernet Brushes. They will also continue to be involved with tanning and finishing of Leather and Leather Laces under the Moser Leather brand.
Tex Tan, Hereford, and Imperial have long been synonymous with exceptional quality and Western heritage, earning the trust of Western riders across generations. By transferring ownership to Welhausen Legacy, the brands will be coming home to where they were originally founded in Yoakum, Texas by Philip Welhausen.
“Tex Tan, Hereford, and Imperial are more than just brands—they represent a deep commitment to the Western lifestyle and equestrian tradition,” said James Cox at Old West Brands. “Welhausen Legacy’s expertise and passion for the industry, not to mention that Tex Tan’s founder was a Welhausen, make them the ideal stewards for these brands moving forward.”
Old West Brands recently purchased Reinsman’s horse grooming product inventory and will continue selling these popular items under Old West Brands. Their web site is oldwestbrands.net.
### effective 1/6/2025
Summerland Brush Inc Announces Sale of Desert Equestrian and Associated Brands to Old West Brands - effective 1/17/2025
Summerland Brush Inc is proud to announce the sale of the grooming products brand, Desert Equestrian, along with its associated trademark brands—Legends, Equestria, Dakota Star, Imperiale, and Pony Express—to Old West Brands of Old West Industries, Inc. This strategic decision ensures these iconic brands will continue to flourish under the guidance of a trusted leader in the equestrian industry.
Desert Equestrian is renowned for its innovative designs and distinctive products that redefine the artistry and functionality of traditional horse grooming brushes. Combining sustainably sourced hardwood blocks, premium natural and synthetic fibers and traditional as well as exotic leathers, Desert Equestrian has set a new standard in quality and craftsmanship for the equestrian grooming industry.
Old West Brands is delighted to add Desert Equestrian to its prestigious portfolio, which already includes well-established names such as Brushy Creek Belt & Buckle, Wright-Bernet Brush, Moser Leather & Laces, Southern Saddlery & Supplies, Trammell Bits & Spurs, Simco, Longhorn, Circle C, and Monterrey Makers Brand of Saddles and strap goods. Distributors of Abetta, Partrade, Cobra Machines, and many other fine brands.
If we don’t have it, then you probably don’t need it!
Effective immediately, all sales and distribution of Desert Equestrian products will be managed by Old West Brands.“We are excited to welcome Desert Equestrian to our growing stable of premium equestrian brands,” said James Cox of Old West Brands. “This acquisition enhances our ability to serve both long-standing and new customers with an expanded range of high-quality grooming products that align with our commitment to excellence in the equestrian marketplace.”. Many of the DE products were original designs from the old Wright-Bernet Brush Company of Hamilton, and now they and new additions will be returning to Hamilton where we are producing brushes for many industries from Equestrian, Apiary, Construction, and Home. We are excited for the new possibilities of expanding even further in the Brush business!
This also coordinates with our recent purchase of the entire grooming division of Circle ‘Y’, and sale of our Tex Tan brand to Circle ‘Y’ in the process. There are many special products that we will be selling and continuing with through that acquisition as well.
For inquiries, please contact:
Jim Cox – 800-874-1167
Make sure above address is copied in for all orders to ensure a smooth transition and shipment of your good. Everything should be in Hamilton by the 1stof February.
2025 Pricing will be sent out immediately. Many items are being reduced as part of our customer appreciation for your continued business! As a Desert Equestrian Customer you now have access to all of our branded products as well as Wright-Bernet private labeled USA manufactured items, which duplicate numbers from DE will now be made in Hamilton.
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01/12
Say something interesting about your business here.
We still are making belts to this day, right here in the USA!
We offer Wallets, Ladies Handbags from the Vintage Saddle Purse to more modern stylish purses!
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