Need help identifying Crosby saddle!

[hiddenriver]

Hopefully this is the spot for my question. I’ve been searching the forum over and over but can’t find an answer. I have a Crosby XLM7 7 1554 02481 RD . Is anyone familiar at all with how old this might be or where I could find out how to read the serial numbers, etc. I know it’s an XLM 17" with suede knees. Other than that I’m lost and frustrated!

My daughter recently got an Oldenburg that is slightly out of condition and tried a Tad Coffin A5 because the previous owner said that fit him the best. Problem is that she’s used to my cushy Crosby and for the $1k price, I’m not going to make her “get used it.” LOL

I think I’m realizing good old Crosby’s are going to be hard to find (heard newer are not so great?) and may not be the best fit for her horse anyway. But I’d love to find out more about this saddle! I appreciate anyone’s input and apologize for not having a pic, will try to upload. Thanks in advance!!

[BAC]

I can’t answer your questions except that I remember Crosby saddles with suede knees being very popular in the mid-80s and possibly in the 70s as well, in fact suede knee rolls were popular in many brands during that time frame.

[pattnic]

I think XLM might indicate that it’s a Crosby Excel Michael Matz. After searching for that saddle model on the Google, I come up with 02481 indicating that it’s a suede flap (the self-padded flap was 02480). RD is most likely the initials of the person who actually made the saddle. That leaves the 7 7 1554 as the serial number… knowing how long ago these were made, maybe made in July 1997, saddle number 1554.

[NO-CTRL]

I suspect the RD is Ruiz Diaz - the saddler that made saddles for a lot of different companies and is Argentina based . (They did crosby, collegiate, anky, some pessoas etc)
As for age I’m not sure what the time period was when RD made saddles for Crosby… But I’m sure a bit of googling would be able to tell you.

[pattnic]

@NO-CTRL

I suspect the RD is Ruiz Diaz - the saddler that made saddles for a lot of different companies and is Argentina based . (They did crosby, collegiate, anky, some pessoas etc)
As for age I’m not sure what the time period was when RD made saddles for Crosby… But I’m sure a bit of googling would be able to tell you.

Normally I would agreed with you, but Crosby saddles were made in England by Walsall Riding Saddle Company, so unless Ruiz Diaz was working in England at the time, I don’t know if that is to whom the initials belong. Collegiate saddles were definitely made in Argentina at that time, and those did come out of Ruiz Diaz’s place.

[hiddenriver]

Thank you all and yes pattnic, after I posted, my daughter turned over the saddle and what did we find? Yup, Michael Matz “signature”. So yes BAC that would put it in the 80’s category. Still perplexed on the RD, but it is Walsall Co. imprinted in script (initials WRSCo.). As far as I can see the stirrup bars have BS6635 but Google search didn’t help either. So I’ll try some more research, I love the saddle so not looking for resale possibilities, just curious. Thanks again for all your input!

[ecileh]

If you know what you are looking for and are patient, you can save searches on Ebay and the old school Cosbys do come up from time to time. That’s how I got both of mine (for a song, I might add!).

I believe Walsall sold to Bates, who are still making the saddles under the Crosby name, but not as well (IMO). I also think I remember hearing that Walsall is still making saddles with the old Crosby patterns, just not under that name. So maybe you could find one of those and it might be similar enough to work?

[Inclined]

Crosby and Collegiate were both brand names owned by Miller’s. When Miller’s went out of business, the brands were sold to Weatherbeeta who has also aquired the Bates and Wintec brand names from the Bates of Australia. Newer saddles that are similar to the old Crosby line are made under the brand name Exselle by Walsall Riding Saddle Company. (The newer “Collegiates” are the Ovation line and are still made by Ruiz Diaz in Argentina.)

[mvp]

@pattnic

Normally I would agreed with you, but Crosby saddles were made in England by Walsall Riding Saddle Company, so unless Ruiz Diaz was working in England at the time, I don’t know if that is to whom the initials belong. Collegiate saddles were definitely made in Argentina at that time, and those did come out of Ruiz Diaz’s place.

Ruiz Diaz is a saddle designer, not a maker/manufacturer. You are right about the rest of it-- who and where Crosbys were made.

[pattnic]

@hiddenriver

Thank you all and yes pattnic, after I posted, my daughter turned over the saddle and what did we find? Yup, Michael Matz “signature”. So yes BAC that would put it in the 80’s category. Still perplexed on the RD, but it is Walsall Co. imprinted in script (initials WRSCo.). As far as I can see the stirrup bars have BS6635 but Google search didn’t help either. So I’ll try some more research, I love the saddle so not looking for resale possibilities, just curious. Thanks again for all your input!

BS6635 is quite commonly stamped on the stirrup bar of English-made saddles. The BS stands for “British Standards” and 6635 is the number of the standard for “manufacture of saddles made from wood.”

In my Googlings, I found another Excel Michael Matz with photos… they show a similar format for serial number, but instead of “RD,” the letters are “AE,” so I’m still going with it is the initials of the saddle maker (as in, the actual guy who physically made the saddle).

[pattnic]

@mvp

Ruiz Diaz is a saddle designer, not a maker/manufacturer. You are right about the rest of it-- who and where Crosbys were made.

Thanks for the clarification; I had been misinformed.