| Author |
Message |
Ben_nobody (Ben_nobody)
New member
Username: Ben_nobody
Post Number: 368
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 1:27 pm: | |
It has been said by someone in Texas that your just not a respectable bootmaker unless your from Texas so Bo Riddle and myself will soon be livin' and buildin' boots at Henrietta ,TEXAS as of June 1 in the year of our Lord 2006. for the legendary brand Olsen-Stelzer. Two Missouri boys with unlimited potential pullin the the plow.
Rebirth Of The Legend Olsen Stelzer
In the immortal words of Brian Thomas
"Ridin for THE BRAND"
Ben Nobody
Bo Riddle |
Mark W. Fletcher (Bronbo)
New member
Username: Bronbo
Post Number: 483
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 8:52 am: | |
Ben,
I happen to call Tom Cartledge last Friday to see if he was going to the Abilene Western Heritage Classic this May. He gave me the good news about the shop opening. I am real happy for Tom, he is a good guy and has worked very hard to get the shop re-opened for the last 10-15 years. It looks like his dream will come true. Hopefully, this will be a boost to the little town of Henrietta. I wish Tom, Bo and you much success in this.
Give us more details when you can. I believe Tom told me it will be in part of the old boot shop and there will be a saddlemaker there too.
There will be two-10 gallon hats, two horses, spurs and chaps awaiting you and Bo as you enter Texas. Also an Ipod with Bob Wills music.
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Gary Cunningham (Gcunning)
New member
Username: Gcunning
Post Number: 202
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 9:10 am: | |
Ben you and Bo are really moving to Henrietta?
Are you going in with the "custom" shop that is already there? I had thought they were going by the Olsen Stelzer name?
Several years back there was another company that used the Olsen Stelzer name. From what I understand they had the boots made in Mexico. It did not last long.
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Gary Cunningham (Gcunning)
New member
Username: Gcunning
Post Number: 203
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 9:24 am: | |
I'm sorry I forgot they go by Montana boot company. |
Ben_nobody (Ben_nobody)
New member
Username: Ben_nobody
Post Number: 369
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 4:17 am: | |
Mark,
Tex made several CD"s of some great Texas music for me a couple of years ago which may have been subliminally conditioning me for this move as I listen to them all the time. Testimony of the effect could probably be confirmed by our local cycling group as I wear tall top boots and THE HAT while pedalin down the road to Bob Wills as well as Tex Robin's CD of "Jamming With My Guitar" So as you can imagine I will cut quite the figure pedalin the highways and byways of North Texas on my Italian built bicycle in my very cute Spandex shorts with tall top boots and a Big HAT yodelin some familiar western swing tune from 50 or 75 years ago. I tried the chap[Woolies] but they rubbed in places that I felt may inhibit my ability to continue to, Well you know.At any rate we are prepared for a Big Time once we get things moved and set up.Tom has kept his dream alive for many years now and has tried to get many other bootmakers along the way interested in rebuilding Olsen-Stelzer,I guess it took a couple of fellers that jus didn't know it couldn't be done to do it.I personally think it was those CD's Tex sent!! Ya'll just wait till I teach Bo how to use this contraption,Cause you know no one alive can out talk that man!!Gary as for what has been I'm pretty much a mushroom but as for what will be I and Bo with a couple of other excellent craftsman as well as a Top Hand saddlemaker will endeavor to live up to Olsen-Stelzer's reputation of days gone by.On the issue of boots made in Mexico most of the multi man shops in this country have benefited from the expertise of the craftsman from Mexico.Their contribution to the cowboy boot has been a dominating factor almost from the very beginning.As in any country you can get great work or not so great of work depending on how much quality and craftsmanship you want to purchase.Yes the same folks that own Olsen-Stelzer also have Montana Boot Co.But with Bo's designs and some different pattern making by yours truly we look for outstanding improvements in quality this year as demonstrated at the Denver Market by the overwhelming response to the new lines and improved products.Gotta go last my last pair as Driftwood Custom Boots as it is getting late or maybe early can't really tell. It must be the music that distorts time or the glue fumes.
By His Grace
Ben Nobody |
Tex Robin (Tex_robin)
New member
Username: Tex_robin
Post Number: 957
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 7:39 am: | |
Ben,
I had almost forgotten about those CDs, if you could call them that. The best thing about them is the Martin doing the work. I have been mixing with some Bluegrass guys here in Abilene so who knows what the Martin may do next. I may have to retire my electric Takamine now. Well, except for the gigs in Coleman now and then!
I hope you and Bo have a smooth transition from Okie-Arkie to Texan. Somtimes there are complications with that kind of transtion. And with two of you there may be all kinds of problems. But Henrietta is really close to the Okie line so you can run back when you get homesick.. It will be a longer trip for Bo though so he may have to spend a week-end or two at "Billy Bobs" to offset the withdrawal!
Actually some of the music I sent was made by a Tennessean named Jim Hendricks, who is about the best all-around guitarist in the country. He was once married to Mama Cass before he got exposed to the good kind of music. The only thing he can't play right is, "Under the Double Eagle", which you gotta be Texan to do right...
I don't envy the move at all and this is the last one good or bad in spite of it for me. So make some good boots, good luck to you both, and welcome to Texas....TR
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Mark W. Fletcher (Bronbo)
New member
Username: Bronbo
Post Number: 485
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 8:37 am: | |
Ben,
I am trying to picture you with spandex shorts, a hat, tall-top boots.........................
I forgot about Bo being a musician, so you better play some of his music too or you may have to watch out for flying hammers.
Gary, the way I remember Tom saying is that when the shop closed in the mid 1980's, some people in Henrietta bought the name/rights to it, hoping to get the shop running again. I think all the old equipment/materials had been sold. I think they did get a maker to work there, but it was just for a short time. They later had an agreement with Montana to make Olsen Stelzer styled boots (with OS patterns) for them. Later, they had Rodney Ammons out of El Paso to do it. I don't know if Montana owns OS now or not, or if they just shared the same building in Henrietta for the last couple years because of Tom. Tom works for both.
Montana is one of the oldest boot companies in Mexico. The founder just died a few months ago.
Tex, I am still playing your CDs you made for me, but I need to make it to Abilene soon to get my TR guitar fix. Good job on the subliminal CDs you made for Ben, they worked! Now if you could just make some that could get about 30 lbs off of me........
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Gary Cunningham (Gcunning)
New member
Username: Gcunning
Post Number: 204
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 9:14 am: | |
Ben wasn't a slam on Mexico.
You will be just a few doors down from one of my best friends growing up. He owns the local drug store. Good guy too.
I have a place North of Jolly and one in Nocona and go see Carl in Saint Jo A LOT. So hopefully I'll get to stop in and see ya'll. |
Ben_nobody (Ben_nobody)
New member
Username: Ben_nobody
Post Number: 371
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 2:11 pm: | |
I got Bo riding a bicycle about 6 months ago and he has been sheddin weight like an onion losin it's skin.Montana and Olsen-Stelzer are both handled by Don Miller whom Tom works for.The equipment that Mr.Horace Parsley bought when he left Olsen-Stelzer and moved to Fulton ,MO. Bo and I just picked it all up and it is now back at Olsen-Stelzer in Henrietta. Boxes and boxes of goodies and patterns from long ago have now been returned home.We are about to embark upon the adventure of a lifetime. And the music playin' will be the stuff Tex sent as turnin Bo into a Texan will take a little Brain Washin!!!
Ben |
Brian C. Thomas (Brian_c_thomas)
New member
Username: Brian_c_thomas
Post Number: 459
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 1:41 pm: | |
"Hey Ben, I see the "Brand" is catching on! |
Ben_nobody (Ben_nobody)
New member
Username: Ben_nobody
Post Number: 376
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 6:50 am: | |
You could say I'm feelin' a little branded lately.Bo and I have moved three sets of equipment in less than 2 weeks.I think we are functioning on pure dee 100% adrenalin over doin' this project at Olsen-Stelzer.Everyone says this is crazy so I reckon this is confirmation of it.Just two months ago when Tex was movin I remember thinkin how glad I was it wasn't me HA!HA!
Definately By His Grace
Ben Nobody |
Ben_nobody (Ben_nobody)
New member
Username: Ben_nobody
Post Number: 377
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 6:13 am: | |
Well it's been a long road with deep valleys and tall hills against a very stiff breeze down at Henrietta but we will prevail.We have setup a temporary shop in the middle building until they finish our new 3000 square foot facility in a few more weeks.I probably don't need to tell anyone from Texas how warm it gets inside a building with NO AIR CONDITIONING!! It gives whole new understanding in raisin' the bar on my dedication to this undertaking.Long about two in the afternoon all you need is a bar of soap as there is plenty of water in the pond your standin' in.Poor Bo is loosin' weight so fast between tryin to keep up with me and the bicycle ridin' and the heat that he can barely speak most days. I reckon it is a rite of passage to purify ourselves to get to live in Texas.I sure will be glad when it warms up and I can take this sweater off.
Prevailin' Against All Odds For The Brand
By His Grace
Ben Nobody |
Christopher M Williamson (Ttex)
New member
Username: Ttex
Post Number: 222
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 12:49 am: | |
Ben
Keep up the good work and the mails. It's fun to read your posts. I wish I was there in the heat with you.
Lovin the heat
CW |
Mark W. Fletcher (Bronbo)
New member
Username: Bronbo
Post Number: 505
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 9:01 am: | |
Ben,
Make sure you post a picture of the first pair of boots made at the re-opened Olsen Stelzer shop. |
Mark W. Fletcher (Bronbo)
New member
Username: Bronbo
Post Number: 538
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 11:30 am: | |
Ben,
We haven't had an update from you for awhile. Or at least a picture of you and Bo bike riding.
Hopefully no one melted away during the 100+ degree heat last week. |
Mark W. Fletcher (Bronbo)
New member
Username: Bronbo
Post Number: 542
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 8:10 am: | |
Ben,
I talked to Tom Cartledge recently and he reported that you and Bo have been making boots up there in Henrietta. Any pictures yet? |
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