The Australian Stock Saddle
and the Saddlers that made them
WILLIAM ALFRED DIBLEY JNR 1882 - 1949
Dibley Exhibit at Glen Innes Show in 1927
Pic Credit: Glen Innes Historical Society
William Alfred Dibley was apprenticed under William Atkins, Grey Street Glen Innes to learn all things saddlery. Atkins had been a saddler in Glen Innes for an unknown amount of time however in 1898 he was advertising his new "dish seat saddle". 1902 bought grimmer times with an advert calling for all accounts to be paid without delay in September and finally voluntary sequestrations with Atkins named in December 1902. Dibley had obviously completed his apprenticeship and took advantage of Atkins' troubles, purchasing the business in November 1902.
A write up in the Glen Innes Examiner in December 1902 confirmed Dibley's business takeover with the following story: W. A. DIBLEY. "The establishment, lately under the control of Mr. W. O. Atkins, is now supervised by Mr. W. A. Dibley, a young Glen Innes man with a good experience. Mr. Dibley, although only recently installed in his premises in Grey Street, has a nice stock on hand, and is prepared to cater for the Xmas trade."
A year later the paper produced another short entry for Xmas, 1903. "The Central Saddlery Depot is now carried on by Mr. W. A. Dibley, who supplies saddlery, harness, etc., of the very best quality, and at reasonable prices. He has always on view an excellent show of his handiwork."
Two advertisements, above 1904 and 1905 and below 1907
Short notifications continued in the paper which leads you to believe that Dibley was trading successfully and making headway in the saddlery manufacturing. He moved to more commodious premises in 1907 however he was still situated in Grey Street. In 1913 he calls attention to the fact that he still continues to supply locally manufactured goods at reasonable prices. "The business is under Mr. Dibley's supervision, so clients are assured of prompt attention and satisfaction. Every requisite in connection with the trade is stocked, while all repairs entrusted to him are faithfully carried out."
November 1917 sees William purchasing the saddlery business of Mr. George Prince, who had been in business in Uralla for nearly 40 years. Dibley packed up his stock and removed it back to Glen Innes.
The Glen Innes Examiner reported in August 1919 of another purchase of a local saddlery store formally owned by George Matthews:
Important Saddlery Enterprise.
"By special advertisement in this issue, Mr. W. A. Dibley announces that he has purchased as a going concern the saddle And harness making business conducted for the past 25 years by Mr. George Matthews. The new proprietor is retaining the service of the staff employed by Mr. Matthews, and will carry on operation in the same premises. Naturally, Mr. Dibley is now able to offer a very fine stock of saddles, harness and general accoutrements incidental to the trade, and, with the large staff now in his employ, is in a position to handle any business that comes along. In congratulating Mr. Dibley on his enterprise, we trust he will reap a due reward."
The purchase of this store was of great significance to Dibley, as Matthew's had a 50 year old reputation in the town. The sale retained the staff, and one of those staff members was Arthur Bussell, who already had a reputation of being a famous saddler throughout “the north”.
The 1920's and 30's proved very successful for Dibley (no doubt with the help of Bussell) and below are some accolades written up in the Examiner.
1924: Mr. W. A. Dibley's exhibit of harness and saddlery is well up to the standard of previous years, and he has again been successful in making a contribution which, in addition to constituting a splendid advertisement for his manufactures, materially adds to the appearance of the exhibition ball. In view of Mr. Dibley's great list of wins at shows right throughout the State, his exhibit creates interest among people who hail from far beyond the precincts of the Glen Innes district. In the display this year, Mr. Dibley has demonstrated that he carries a comprehensive stock of all requirements for the horseman, and for all sports in which the equine figures. Dibley was successful with his exhibit in the following classes: single buggy harness, stock saddle, gent demi-hogskin saddle, lady's saddle, and general collection of saddlery.
1925: Mr. W. A. Dibley, saddle-maker, has just completed an unusually fine saddle in execution of a special order from a district grazier, the saddle is made of white English buckskin, specially imported for the job, and with its counter-lining of blue provides a most effective finish. The workmanship throughout is of the best and the saddle is one of the best ever turned out in the north. As it will be included in Mr. Dibley's display at the forthcoming show those interested in horses and saddlery should make a point of inspecting it. (Note: An extensive search was put out in the Glen Innes district to try to recover some of the history of this particular saddle - to no avail).
1928: GLEN INNES SADDLERY AT INVERELL
At Inverell show last week, Mr. W. A. Dibley, "The Saddler," Glen Innes, had a very fine exhibit of all classes of riding saddles, including jockey saddles, boys' and girls' saddles, buck jumping saddles, stock saddles, revised knee pad saddles and gent’s saddles. He secured the first prizes in the saddle classes. In Mr. Dibley’s display, was a very fine exhibit of plaited whips and all requisites of the trade. It was admitted by people of the Inverell district, that the exhibit was the best staged there for years; and it came in for great admiration.
1930: Referring to the trade exhibits at the Tamworth Show, the "Northern Daily leader" states: "Mr. W. A. Dibley, saddler, of Glen Innes had a comprehensive display of saddlery in the main pavilion. Mr. Dibley has exhibited at four Tamworth shows in succession. This year he has taken the first prizes for a stock saddle, park saddle, set of single buggy harness, and best general collection of saddlery and harness."
1932: Due praise must be given to the display made by Mr. W. A. Dibley in the far corner. There was no doubting the trouble which the erection of this comprehensive exhibit must have involved and the outstanding features were detail and quality. This old established saddlery business is a pass-word amongst the men on the land and they were pleased to be given an opportunity to examine the prize work during the leisure moments at the show. Saddle cloths of different hues made a fitting background and on the walls were to be seen whips, spurs, bridles, leggings, baiters, drenching bits, buggy harness, stirrup leathers and irons and the many other incidentals which go to please the heart of the bushman. There were some particularly fine specimens of saddles, and a stockman's choice worked in black and tan, with a blue lining, came in for a great deal of attention. The raised work on this article was very fine and apparently executed with great care and diligence. A gent's demi-hogskin saddle carried off the prize at the Brisbane Show and was much admired. At intervening spaces round the walls there were displayed a number of certificates and prizes won at. Tamworth, Inverell, Grafton, Guyra, Walcha, Armidale and Brisbane. Testifying to the fact that Mr. Dibley has held prominence in the pavilion from year to year, an enlarged photo of his 1928 exhibit held a central position.
1934: A GREAT SADDLE.
The following letter from Mr. W.F. Buchanan, of "Delamere," Pokataroo, to Mr. W. A. Dibley, the old-established Glen Innes saddler, represents a fine tribute to the good workmanship put into a saddle recently purchased : — "I must congratulate you on your work, as it is the best saddle I have had. It is very comfortable to ride in, and the material and fittings are excellent." The saddle in question was made in Mr. Dibley's workshop by Mr. Arthur Bussell, who is famed as a saddle-maker.
Another mention of Bussell at the local show in 1934 stated:
'The famous "Bussell" saddles were evident in a row of their own, and four first prize winners at the show were arranged in a conspicuous manner.' Had the dynamics changed since Mr Bussell went on a short sojourn to the west and then returned to Dibley's? His name was conspicuous as well, in ensuing adverts.
1935: The saddlery and harness displayed by Mr. W. A. Dibley added greatly to the interest of the pavilion at this week's Show. The arrangement was the work of two of Mr. Dibley's sons, Allan and Eric, and the effect achieved was very gratifying. Surrounding the walls were various pieces of harness of saddlery, while nine saddles, two of which have been awarded first prize at the Brisbane Exhibition, were also included. Dibley's leather dressing and Stewart's hot bombs and B.W.K. (worm killer) for sheep were features of the display. Fine as have been Mr. Dibley's displays in the past this week's surpassed them all.
Advert in 1933 sees the return of Arthur Bussell
W A Dibley - "The Saddler" street view 1939
1940 saw another story of praise of the quality of saddles that Dibley was turning out. The Examiner reported: Mr. W. A. DIBLEY, of Glen Innes, had a most attractive display of saddlery at last week's Grafton Show, when he secured every prize offering. His wins included first and second for stock saddle and first and second for park saddle. Commenting on Mr. Dibley's display, the judge said that in his 20 years' experience as a judge, Mr. Dibley's park saddle, to which he awarded the championship, was the best saddle he had ever judged. The display as a whole, he added, had never been surpassed at a Grafton Show.
A personal notice in the Glen Innes Examiner has Mr Arthur Bussell relocating to Tamworth, where he had accepted another position, in October 1936. Research has not discovered as to when Horace Hartmann arrived as an employee. His skills were comparable to Arthur Bussell as he was a third generation saddler, and had worked for a short time under Fred Kneipp, Tenterfield (date unknown). As Horace Hartmann had filed for bankruptcy in Bingara in 1935 perhaps he had found employment at Kneipp's shortly thereafter and then relocated to Dibleys after Bussell's departure? All conjecture, but very hard to ascertain the true history.
These favourable stories of the quality of saddles being manufactured would definitely have had the hands of Bussell and Hartmann on them. Another report from the Brisbane Exhibition stated: 'Minute examination of the Saddles show they have been made by a Master Craftsman. The shape and styles of the Saddles are all that could be wished for.'— Judge's comments.
Praise of exhibition and show results echoed throughout the newspapers, however an interesting story surfaced in 1951 (in the Examiner), two years after the death of William Dibley Jnr.
No Radical Change In Saddle Designs
Saddle designs have not changed very much in the last 50 years. This was revealed in a comparison of a 1901 hand-made saddle and a similar saddle made this year by Glen Innes saddlers W. A Dibley and Sons. Design has been almost uniform throughout the past 50 years and the same high standard of workmanship has been maintained. To complete their window display Dibleys showed photographs of 'Rosehill', one of the oldest properties in the Glencoe district. The property was originally settled by Glencoe pioneers Mr. and Mrs. R. Wood. Today the property is owned by Mr. A. Hutchison. A photograph of well-known grazing personality connected with 'Kent Park', the late Mr. Harry Ford was also shown. When the saddlery owned by Mr. W. A. Dibley was located in the centre of Grey Street, a photograph was taken of the business in 1907. Well known saddlers of that period. Messrs. A. Wilcocks, W. A. Dibley, A. Wood and A. Allen were included in the photo. One of the sons at present in the business, Mr. Roger Dibley served his apprenticeship under the guidance of Mr. Allen.
1952 saw Dibley's branching out to Singleton with the purchase of another saddlery.
NEW SADDLERY BUSINESS
The old established saddlery firm of W. A. Dibley of Glen Innes has bought out the stock of former local saddler Mr, George Wyatt and has opened a branch in Singleton. The branch will be under the management of Mr. William Dibley, a son of the founder of the firm. They have taken over the premises at 46 George Street where they will undertake the repair and manufacture of all types of saddlery and harness. The branch is expected to open next Monday. Mr. Dibley said today that a speciality of the firm was a hand made saddle which had become very popular in the Glen Innes area. The firm of W. A. Dibley was founded in Glen Innes 50 years ago.
And finally a notice in the Government Gazette 1965, due to the death of one of William Dibley Jnr.'s sons:
NOTICE is hereby given that the partnership heretofore subsisting between the undersigned Eva Myrtle Dibley, of Glen Innes, widow, and Roger Stephens Dibley, late of Glen Innes, saddler, deceased, carrying on business as saddlers at Grey Street, Glen Innes, under the style or firm of "W. A. Dibley", has been dissolved by reason of the death of the said Roger Stephens Dibley, as from the date hereof, so far as concerns the said Eva Myrtle Dibley who retires from the said firm; and all debts due to and owing by the said firm will be received and paid respectively by the undersigned Veronica Margaret Dibley, of Glen Innes (the widow of the said Roger Stephens Dibley, deceased), who will continue to carry on the said business under the style or firm of "W. A. Dibley".—Dated at Glen Innes the 14th day of December, 1965. E. M. DIBLEY. Signed by Eva Myrtle Dibley in the presence of: Henry Liston, Solicitor, Glen Innes. V. M. DIBLEY. And by Veronica Margaret Dibley, in the presence of: P. M. Abbott, Solicitor, Glen Innes.
Dibley's had a fine history of making beautifully crafted saddles, however the old hands of Bussell and Hartmann played an important part in the success of this business, for their forty odd years combined of saddle making.