Page 12 - A Beading Heart

Moorhouse with new Hamley saddle
Lee Moorhouse photograph collection
PH038_2015, box 82, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, OR
Hamley & Co.
Established by John and Henry Hamley, sons of an English saddle maker, in Ashton, South Dakota in 1884. They left the drought stricken region in 1890, ultimately moving moving the shop to Pendleton, Oregon where Hamley built a reputation for superior workmanship, honesty and fair dealing. John’s two sons, Lester H and John M shared their father’s touch for fine leather and saddle artistry and Lester was instrumental in the 1909 publication of the first Hamley catalogue. Hamley’s success was maintained by their close association to the horseback fraternity, and their willingness to experiment with any cowboy’s suggestion. As their world wide reputation grew, Hamley’s store quadrupled in size to accommodate the complete line of Western inventory as well as the cowboys, Indians, business tycoons and visiting potentates.
47