1904 J O BASS Maker of BITS & SPURS Quitaque Tulia Texas JAMES OSCAR Atlanta GA

Description

PLEASE READ BEFORE BUYING:
I sell ONLY ORIGINAL items and NOT ANY reproductions.
This sale is
for
ONE
adv
erti
sing
LE
T
T
ERH
E
A
D
from
J.
O
. B
A
SS
(
The letterhead quotes: "bridle bits and spurs a specialty, work guaranteed, blacksmith and
woodworkman,
all repair work
promptly done-terms cash" )
in
Q
UiTA
Q
UE , T
E
XA
$
during the year of
1904.
This
le
tt
er
is
H
A
ND WRi
TT
EN
&
$
i
g
ned
by
J.
O
. B
A
SS
.
CONDITION:
Normal letter folds, some minor flaws, there is a chip off of the upper left corner, some toning, one mild filing hole,  but in good condition.
Sold as is.  The "EBAY ITEM" thing is just a loose piece of paper that is not attached to the item that is for sale.
APPROXIMATE SIZE
of
LETTERHEAD IS
6" X 9 5/8" .
Bi
O
GR
A
PHiCAL N
O
TE$:
J.O. Bass (James Oscar)
was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1879
,
one of seven children. His family moved to Texas when he was 11 and settled in
Quitaque
in the
Texas panhandle.
It’s unknown exactly who taught Bass the craft of blacksmithing and bit and spur making but he learned well and his pieces always exemplified the highest quality. Bass began working in general blacksmith work in Quitaque for ranchers and cowboys. In 1905 Bass and his new wife moved to nearby Tulia, Texas where he would live and work until the tail end of his life. Bass was one of the few masters who worked continuously instead of employing others in his name and did a lot of custom order work and as such most of his work is high quality and quite rare. Since Bass did all his own work, there is not the quantity of it available that you would find with makers who employed others to do work for them. Bass is famous for having kept a ledger of his work that shows sketches of each piece as well as numbering each pattern he produced. His ledger also kept record of who had ordered each piece as well as what they were charged. Just as J.O. Bass was particular about keeping good records, he also was helpful to collectors for the detailed markings he stamped on the bits and spurs themselves. His work would be stamped
“J.O. Bass Tulia, Tex.” (or Quitaque for his earliest pieces),
as well as the pattern number, and sometimes the date. Bass also invented a locking rowel that is unique to his work. He was fond of using card suits as decoration, but because most of his work was custom ordered, there is a huge variety and breadth to the patterns and designs that can be found.
Born: 1879
Died: 1950
Locations: Quitaque and Tulia, Texas
Markings: “MADE BY J.O. BASS TULIA, TEX” or “J.O. BASS QUITAQUE, TEX.” along with pattern number. Letters are stamped individually along the cheek of bits and on the off side of the spur heelband.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
Immediate PayPal payment is required.
Free shipping
to the continental U.S. only.
When you receive your item, PLEASE leave feedback (I will see it) and I will reciprocate feedback at that time.
PLEASE view my other Ebay store items for related ephemera, antique documents, and paper collectibles.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH and GOOD LUCK TO YOU.