Miller's/Eiser's, Whitman, Foxwood, Libertyville, etc. Brands

[TackCollector]

As you can tell by my username, I have an interest in tack and have always been interested in the different brands, where they are made and what company they are owned/distributed by, and what became of some of the now defunct ones and if the manufacturers of them are still around and still produce tack that is on the market today. I am trying to gain knowledge on these particular now-defunct companies, which seem to be hard to research since they’re no longer in business and most of them haven’t been for several years. I have some information on some of the brands, but would like to know more if anyone knows of any more or if I got anything wrong.

This is simply an interest of mine that I enjoy researching and learning about, and I like finding used or old stock stuff from these companies since I’ve always been happy with the products I own from them, as well as new stuff made by the same manufacturers.

Here is what I have so far:

Miller’s/Eiser’s:
Crosby - Made in Walsall, England by Walsall Riding Saddle Co., brand sold to WeatherBeeta, now defunct, WRS Co. now manufactures Exselle tack.
Collegiate - Successor to Borelli, Made in Argentina by Ruiz Diaz, introduced c. 1988, brand sold to WeatherBeeta, now manufactured in Vietnam. Ruiz Diaz now manufactures Ovation and Pessoa tack.
Lancer’s - Successor to Cortina? Made in India, brand sold to WeatherBeeta, now called Kincade
Somerset - Made in India of English (?) leather, now defunct
Granada - Made in India, now defunct
Patterdale - Made in India? Now defunct
Equitana - Made in Romania, now defunct (I would REALLY like to know if the manufacturers of this brand are still around and making tack, because their stuff was lovely!)
Korsteel - Brand sold to WeatherBeeta
Roma - Brand sold to WeatherBeeta
Borelli - Made in Argentina, predecessor of Collegiate, defunct since 1982
Cortina - Made in Argentina, predecessor of Lancer’s? Now defunct
Nottingham - Made in England, now defunct
Nice Quality Saddlery - Made in Argentina, designed by Michele Devecoux, now defunct, manufacturer now makes HDR tack
Pessoa - Made in England (by Harry Dabbs?), no longer distributed by Eiser’s, now made in Argentina by Ruiz Diaz
Dominus - Made in England? Manufactured by Harry Dabbs, designed by Peter Menet, brand introduced c. 1998, brand sold to WeatherBeeta - last manufactured in India as a WeatherBeeta promotional line c. 2008?
Klimke-Miller’s - A dressage line made in Argentina by Ruiz Diaz/part of Collegiate, introduced c. 1995, now defunct
Some other brands I know nothing about: Albacon, Gatsby (I read somewhere this was an Eiser’s band at one point)

Whitman/Foxwood:
Campbell - Made in England, now defunct
Platoon - Made in India? Now defunct
Coventry - Made in England, now defunct

Libertyville Saddle Shop:
Gold Medal - Made in England, now defunct
Regent - Made in India, now defunct
Some other brands I know nothing about: Equi-Bette, Cushion-Air, International

Even some old brands from other companies:
Essex - Made in India from Indian leather, maybe a Stateline brand?
Newbury - Made in India from English leather, maybe a Stateline brand?
Cambridge - Made in England of English leather, Stateline brand

Thank You!

[TackCollector]

Also, this has been bugging me for a long time… does anyone know what company owned or distributed the Canterbury brand that made saddle pads, and what became of them?

[soloudinhere]

@TackCollector

As you can tell by my username, I have an interest in tack and have always been interested in the different brands, where they are made and what company they are owned/distributed by, and what became of some of the now defunct ones and if the manufacturers of them are still around and still produce tack that is on the market today. I am trying to gain knowledge on these particular now-defunct companies, which seem to be hard to research since they’re no longer in business and most of them haven’t been for several years. I have some information on some of the brands, but would like to know more if anyone knows of any more or if I got anything wrong.

This is simply an interest of mine that I enjoy researching and learning about, and I like finding used or old stock stuff from these companies since I’ve always been happy with the products I own from them, as well as new stuff made by the same manufacturers.

Here is what I have so far:

Miller’s/Eiser’s:
Crosby - Made in Walsall, England by Walsall Riding Saddle Co., brand sold to WeatherBeeta, now defunct, WRS Co. now manufactures Exselle tack.
Collegiate - Successor to Borelli, Made in Argentina by Ruiz Diaz, introduced c. 1988, brand sold to WeatherBeeta, now manufactured in Vietnam. Ruiz Diaz now manufactures Ovation and Pessoa tack.
Lancer’s - Successor to Cortina? Made in India, brand sold to WeatherBeeta, now called Kincade
Somerset - Made in India of English (?) leather, now defunct
Granada - Made in India, now defunct
Patterdale - Made in India? Now defunct
Equitana - Made in Romania, now defunct (I would REALLY like to know if the manufacturers of this brand are still around and making tack, because their stuff was lovely!)
Korsteel - Brand sold to WeatherBeeta
Roma - Brand sold to WeatherBeeta
Borelli - Made in Argentina, predecessor of Collegiate, defunct since 1982
Cortina - Made in Argentina, predecessor of Lancer’s? Now defunct
Nottingham - Made in England, now defunct
Nice Quality Saddlery - Made in Argentina, designed by Michele Devecoux, now defunct, manufacturer now makes HDR tack
Pessoa - Made in England (by Harry Dabbs?), no longer distributed by Eiser’s, now made in Argentina by Ruiz Diaz
Dominus - Made in England? Manufactured by Harry Dabbs, designed by Peter Menet, brand introduced c. 1998, brand sold to WeatherBeeta - last manufactured in India as a WeatherBeeta promotional line c. 2008?
Klimke-Miller’s - A dressage line made in Argentina by Ruiz Diaz/part of Collegiate, introduced c. 1995, now defunct
Some other brands I know nothing about: Albacon, Gatsby (I read somewhere this was an Eiser’s band at one point)

Whitman/Foxwood:
Campbell - Made in England, now defunct
Platoon - Made in India? Now defunct
Coventry - Made in England, now defunct

Libertyville Saddle Shop:
Gold Medal - Made in England, now defunct
Regent - Made in India, now defunct
Some other brands I know nothing about: Equi-Bette, Cushion-Air, International

Even some old brands from other companies:
Essex - Made in India from Indian leather, maybe a Stateline brand?
Newbury - Made in India from English leather, maybe a Stateline brand?
Cambridge - Made in England of English leather, Stateline brand

Thank You!

Essex was a stateline house brand. They were the junk saddles of their day, a full package retailer for around $200.

millers used to sell Hartley, which was very popular. English made.

[Highflyer]

Eisers’ sold the NICE brand saddles. Millers’ was originally owned by the Miller family-- it was sold to Dover.

[Oliver4Ever]

I had a Borelli. Bought it in the early 70s. My first pancake saddle before I got my Prix de Nations.

[mvp]

@Highflyer

Eisers’ sold the NICE brand saddles. Millers’ was originally owned by the Miller family-- it was sold to Dover.

I believe Miller’s was always an American distributor. It contracted with Walsall Riding Saddle Company in order to make saddles under the Crosby nailhead. WRS Co. made (using the W.R.S.Co. in cursive in gold lettering on the underside of the sweat flaps on saddles made in the 1990s at least).

I think Miller’s also made Roma textile stuff.

But I think Miller’s was bought out initially by Eiser’s and Eiser’s, like Miller’s, was only a distribution company. Perhaps Eiser’s later sold out to Dover? IIRC, they were associated with Pessoa saddles (and strap goods), and Hampa boots, but I’m not sure about the latter.

Other connections— Did the makers of Grand Prix paddock boots also make the leather open front boots of the same name? I think all of those plus the Hunt Coats come from the same distribution company, Fancisi (sp?).

Also, I’d like to know about Tony Moritz’s stuff. His bridles were beautiful. Same for Joseph Sterling, the line still sold by Schneider’s Tack.

Oh, and E. Jeffries used to make all of Beval’s strap goods when it was lovely stuff.

Great thread!

[amb]

@mvp

But I think Miller’s was bought out initially by Eiser’s and Eiser’s, like Miller’s, was only a distribution company. Perhaps Eiser’s later sold out to Dover? IIRC, they were associated with Pessoa saddles (and strap goods), and Hampa boots, but I’m not sure about the latter.

I think of Miller’s as more than a distribution company–I believe they contracted directly to have stuff made all over the world to their specs, and in the 80’s at least their retail shop in NYC was amazing.

The best writeup I know of of the end of their corporate existence is here: https://www.equisearch.com/HorseJournal/the-current-status-of-miller-brands. (The Joseph Miller obit also has some background: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/nyregion/joseph-miller-who-sold-horse-tack-to-the-well-heeled-dies-at-93.html.) Both Eiser’s and Miiller were bought by the same investor, who couldn’t keep it going, and it all folded in 2003 with WeatherBeeta buying the brands and Dover the retail business.

[ParadoxFarm]

Interesting thread.

[shayaalliard]

gatsby and davinci are horseloverz (choice brands group) house brands, made in india.

circle L is made in kentucky and some in PA

perris halters are made in PA, but the bridles are india

[red_mares]

Crump was an American saddler, going back to around the Civil War, located in Richmond. They had contracts to supply the Army. They might have had a contract to make bits, there was a No.2 curb bit that started the discussion, as it was marked “BTC” on the mouth piece.

[Squirt]

The Whitman saddlery was sold to Miller’s in the late 90’s

[173north]

@amb

I think of Miller’s as more than a distribution company–I believe they contracted directly to have stuff made all over the world to their specs, and in the 80’s at least their retail shop in NYC was amazing.

The best writeup I know of of the end of their corporate existence is here: https://www.equisearch.com/HorseJournal/the-current-status-of-miller-brands. (The Joseph Miller obit also has some background: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/nyregion/joseph-miller-who-sold-horse-tack-to-the-well-heeled-dies-at-93.html.) Both Eiser’s and Miiller were bought by the same investor, who couldn’t keep it going, and it all folded in 2003 with WeatherBeeta buying the brands and Dover the retail business.

Miller’s was multi-pronged: they manufactured products all over the world & wholesaled them to other tack shops, they had the retail shop in NYC, and they had a catalog business.

When they folded, Weatherbeeta bought the wholesale side of the company - Roma, Crosby, Korsteel, etc. Dover bought the catalog business (and the Miller’s name).

The retail store was bought by the company I work for, originally called Copperfields and now known as Manhattan Saddlery, and we’re still right here on 24th St. We bought the store in 2002 so I’d guess the Weatherbeeta & Dover purchases happened right around then too. If we had a time machine we’d go back and buy the Miller’s name, but hindsight is 20/20!

Pessoa is now distributed by English Riding Supply and a lot of former Eiser’s/Miller’s folks work there, and have been working with the brand for many years, so perhaps ERS picked up that brand from Eiser’s at one point.

[TWH_Girl]

Interesting, but confusing thread- trying to figure out how many of these companies fit together. Several of them did saddleseat/cutback saddles as well. The ones I have had experience with are:

Crosby- very good
Barnsby (not mentioned, but defunct)- very good
Granada- junk, cheap, stiff Indian leather
Campbell/Whitman- very good- my favorite cutback though I rarely use it
Gatsby (bridle)- I actually thought it was a good bridle for the price
Regent- junk
Cambridge- junk
Borelli- had an old, hard cutback years ago. It was mid-line quality.

Saddles, I am not a loyal name brand person. I like Barnsbys and have County dressage saddle. All my other tack is Walking Horse specific hand made in TN by Bedford Tack at a price that’s affordable. I much prefer that to generic name brand mid-line stuff.

[HappyTalk]

@Squirt

The Whitman saddlery was sold to Miller’s in the late 90’s

I have a Whitman double elastic dressage girth that I still use. Has weathered time very nicely.

[TackCollector]

@TWH Girl

Interesting, but confusing thread- trying to figure out how many of these companies fit together. Several of them did saddleseat/cutback saddles as well. The ones I have had experience with are:

Crosby- very good
Barnsby (not mentioned, but defunct)- very good
Granada- junk, cheap, stiff Indian leather
Campbell/Whitman- very good- my favorite cutback though I rarely use it
Gatsby (bridle)- I actually thought it was a good bridle for the price
Regent- junk
Cambridge- junk
Borelli- had an old, hard cutback years ago. It was mid-line quality.

Saddles, I am not a loyal name brand person. I like Barnsbys and have County dressage saddle. All my other tack is Walking Horse specific hand made in TN by Bedford Tack at a price that’s affordable. I much prefer that to generic name brand mid-line stuff.

Was the Cambridge you had experience with the Stateline house brand made in England or the newer, cheap Indian one?

From doing some more reading, I think most of these companies were owned by English Equestrian Group towards the end of their existences. Equestrian Products Corp. (EPC) is another one.

[TackCollector]

@173north

Miller’s was multi-pronged: they manufactured products all over the world & wholesaled them to other tack shops, they had the retail shop in NYC, and they had a catalog business.

When they folded, Weatherbeeta bought the wholesale side of the company - Roma, Crosby, Korsteel, etc. Dover bought the catalog business (and the Miller’s name).

The retail store was bought by the company I work for, originally called Copperfields and now known as Manhattan Saddlery, and we’re still right here on 24th St. We bought the store in 2002 so I’d guess the Weatherbeeta & Dover purchases happened right around then too. If we had a time machine we’d go back and buy the Miller’s name, but hindsight is 20/20!

Pessoa is now distributed by English Riding Supply and a lot of former Eiser’s/Miller’s folks work there, and have been working with the brand for many years, so perhaps ERS picked up that brand from Eiser’s at one point.

That’s so cool that you work at Manhattan Saddlery! I think Miller’s went under around 2002, though some links posted above by others have a 2003 date (though I think by going through Wayback Machine and looking at their old site, by 2003 they were pretty much clearing out their inventory, kind of like HorseLoverZ had that Libertyville Saddle Shop Liquidation area of their site for a few years after Libertyville closed; I remember buying a few things from it in 2014 and they closed in 2011).

[TackCollector]

Does anyone know why WeatherBeeta discontinued Crosby as well?

[TackCollector]

Thank you all for your help! From doing some more reading and checking out some of your sources, it seems like this is the Miller’s and some of the English Equestrian Group timeline:

Miller’s was founded in 1912 and was owned by the Miller family until being sold to MPO Videotronics in 1975. It was then sold to investor Stephen Dent in 1999, who also purchased Eiser’s and Circle Y in 2000 (as well as Whitman during this time frame), and formed English Equestrian Group in 2000, which consisted of Miller’s, Eiser’s, EPC (a part of Eiser’s), and Whitman. I believe Foxwood may have been a part of the equation somehow as well. Circle Y remained a separate company, of course. EEG fell apart around 2002, and that is when everything was sold.

I remember Libertyville Saddle Shop closing in late 2011.

Does anyone know if there are any of the big companies from those days left besides Dover, Schneider’s, and State Line? It’s kind of sad that so many of them are gone now.

[wsmoak]

State Line Tack isn’t what it used to be… it sold to Sporting Dog Specialties years ago. (Remember when they had State Line Tack sections inside all the PetSmart stores?)

I didn’t realize it had been sold again. According to Wikipedia, "In 2007, it became a subsidiary of TABcom, LLC and continues to operate as an online retailer.

[TWH_Girl]

@TackCollector

Was the Cambridge you had experience with the Stateline house brand made in England or the newer, cheap Indian one?

From doing some more reading, I think most of these companies were owned by English Equestrian Group towards the end of their existences. Equestrian Products Corp. (EPC) is another one.

It was the cheap Indian one Thank for all of this info! I often wondered what happened to some of these brands over the years.