GEORGE LUDWIG UHL         1842 - 1905

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Not much is known of George Uhl’s early years but in 1864 at the age of twenty two years he joined the firm of Cobb & Co as a saddler/harness maker and continued working for them for the next twenty one years.  In 1882 Ludwig decided to venture out on his own and form a saddlery and harness shop with a staff of two men (one being his son, George Louis Uhl). His business was to become famous in the state of Queensland and beyond. Three years later, it was said he had over forty men continually employed, all hand stitching the goods, as he kept no machinery, rightly believing that handmade work was superior to machine work. He carried a very large stock of saddlery and harness goods including importations from England. Also by this time he had won a good proportion of prizes for his saddlery at the shows. Ludwig had successfully tendered for the manufacture and supply of Boer War saddles for the boys in South Africa.

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It was reported in the Courier Mail in 1900 that Ludwig Uhl had built up a saddlery and harness business that may rank second to none in the trade. He adhered strongly to his conviction (bought of lengthy practical experience), that handwork was superior to machine work. Still around the figure of forty employees, these men were turning out saddles, harness, collars, belting and every requisite in this particular branch of business. A splendid assortment of ladies’ and gentlemen’s saddles, with the latest improvements, could be seen in his showroom, along with an array of leather goods. Mr Uhl’s motto in trade “Not how cheap, but how good, at the lowest possible price” was a sentiment that he held firm to in business, and maybe said to be at the foundation of the success he had attained.

By 1901 Uhl’s had secured a special prize and first order of merit for stock saddles at the Brisbane Exhibition. At this particular exhibition a large display was featured of coaching collars made by Uhl’s, which were exactly as used by Cobb and Co., his former employer. It was claimed that no less than 1200 horses used by Cobb and Co. were fitted with these collars.

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Four years later in 1905 staff had increased to fifty hands and they were kept industrious filling orders mainly from the country. Visitors were welcome to come and view a busy up to date saddlery establishment. No doubt purchases were made or orders placed after they had finished their tour of the premises. It was around this time that Uhl’s purchased the famous full size white horse mannequin for their front window display. The horse was regularly adorned with various saddlery and harness and continued to be so for many years. Interstate free trade had also been established in 1905, however Uhl’s pushed their business ahead in spite of the competition from the south, not only surviving, but succeeding further.

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The death of Ludwig Uhl in 1905 reflected the change of name to L Uhl & Sons. Two sons, both earlier apprenticed to their father to learn the saddlery trade, took over the reins after their father’s death. They were George Louis and Alfred Uhl. They had the same foresight as their father and continued with the hand sewing of all goods, spurning machine stitching as inferior to that of the hand. By 1908 the business had prospered under the guidance of the two men, which had then required them to purchase bigger premises in Queen Street. This led to an increase of staff to one hundred.  The new shop was known to have window displays that rivalled any other Brisbane city store and the white horse took pride of place displaying their fine hand stitched saddlery products. The two brothers embarked on a tour to the home country of Germany and came home with fresh, modern ideas which were immediately put into action, and the ensuing stock displayed in the front windows. In the course of the year a wholesale department was opened and the success of this was assured. An impressive feature of the stock was the great variety which led to an excellent retail turnover.

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The following year in 1911, the innovative brothers secured the knowledge of a qualified Canadian veterinarian by name of Professor Edward Bates, a man who was described as a very daring rider. His expertise led to the invention of what was called “The American Stock Saddle”, however it was a poley stock saddle with swinging fenders, a style never seen in Australia previously. A window had been specially set aside by the firm for exhibiting these saddles, in which a boy rides a pony. This proved a great "draw." The saddle was advertised as “Combining features of the American and Australian saddles devised by that famous old time horseman and vet Professor Bates. Fenders move with the stirrups, less flap against the horse. Lining and seat construction as in regular Australian saddles”. Stockmen of the day would have found, in using the saddle, that the fender would have kept the sweat off their clothing and there would have been less chafe than the ordinary stirrup leather. However they also would have discovered that the fenders were much more restrictive with regard to leg movement, and were not as adjustable as a stirrup leather, plus more expensive to repair, should the need occur. It was reported that this saddle created some levity at its inception, however it was still being advertised in their 1967 catalogue as a Bates Poley X48 Professor.

 

An article was published on 26 February 1939 in the Sunday Mail by Allan Fleming called 'There's Still Romance in the saddle.'  He had obviously interviewed Wizard Smith prior to strolling up to Uhl's to interview George Uhl, the son who originally moved over with his father when they commenced the business in 1882. It reads as follows:

There was no need to walk far to find another master of the needle and awl. He had once been a director of Cobb and Co. and his firm had begun business in 1882. He, too, had sent saddles to many parts of the world— to other States, to British North Borneo, to Ceylon, to the Argentine, and to Rhodesia. A small saddle, ordered as a Christmas present for a boy, had travelled by air 2000 miles to Wave Hill station, near the Western Australian border. Specifications for saddles often arrive by air mail. A stockman at a northern station, hundreds of miles from any railway, writes a note to his favourite maker. He explains in general terms what style of saddle he wants, and then adds: 'I am 5ft. 10in. tall and weigh 13 stone.' The saddler knows that he will need a saddle slightly larger than the usual, and he proceeds to tailor it, making allowance for fairly large hips. Another outback rider says: 'I am 6ft. tall and weigh 10 stone, 'That calls for different tailoring. The man will be thin and lanky— so the saddle will be tailored for small hips. From details like that the saddler had learnt to know men whom he has never seen. He has a fairly good idea of the size and build of the men of the outback. 'The rider of to-day is a bigger type of man than he used to be.' said one. 'He uses a larger saddle. Most of the men seem to be between 6ft. and 6ft. 2in. tall.'

Making Fashions

It is the taste of these men for improvements or alterations that helps to make Brisbane the Paris of saddlery fashions and a section of Queen Street its horsey Rue de la Paix. Fashions had changed, the saddler said. But what; made them change?  He described the source of inspiration for a new 'model.' A man who is often in the saddle takes a dislike to the style of pad and the length of the flap. He comes to town on a visit and calls on the saddler. Yes, he wants a new saddle, but could it be made with a pad so long, a flap shaped this way, and slightly longer?' 'And If you could do this I think it would be a big improvement,' he adds. The saddler takes a note of all his ideas and incorporates them in the new model. Someone else sees the saddle when it is completed and likes it. Gradually the style becomes standardised, and a new fashion has been set— though change comes much more slowly than it does in milady's frock. And that reminded the saddler that milady herself has changed her taste in riding gear in these emancipated days. He hasn't made a side-saddle for years and years. Prices, too, have changed. A saddle that cost £4 20 or 30 years ago would cost £15 to-day. But the rider who wants a good job done is as ready to pay for it as he ever was.

No Pancho Villas

Most of the fashions remain typically Australian. Only one rider in 100 makes an inquiry for a Mexican or American type. Hopalong Cassidy or Pancho Villa might look smart flying across country with stray ribbons hanging from the saddle and silver decorations gleaming in the sunlight, but the Australian sticks to simplicity. 'The sturdy old coves won't touch the flash designs.' said the saddler. 'Occasionally a bright young lad who has been going to cowboy films comes along and thinks of having one made, but I reckon they get a bit scared too when they think of the leg-pulling they'll get from their cobbers. 'Lassoo ropes to be used in the American fashion are sold frequently among the many side lines that find their way into the shop. American style spurs have been popular. 'But we have lost the 'swanky' rider who used to come out here and canter along on a flat saddle,' he said. In the early days there were famous riders but rodeos or campdrafts were not held, he explained. Townships and districts might, have a bit of fun among themselves and one local champion might challenge another local champion.'  There were great drivers, too, but nowadays the saddler rarely had any work to do for a driver. The work went to the garage or service station. There was scarcely any harness hanging on the shop walls, and it had almost disappeared from catalogues. Sidelines helped to make up for the loss of that trade. The saddler might sell purses, cash bags, travelling bags, sheaths, belts, &c. Still, he estimated that trade had declined to about one-third of its old dimensions. Probably because of the feeling that the trade is declining, the old fine hand-workers are gradually dying out. Not many young men came forward to take their places. The saddler believed that it would take a man five years to become reasonably proficient as a master craftsman with the needle, awl, and knife. But right through his life he would be learning. Creating a hand-made saddle was a work of art. A man who could make three first quality saddles in a fortnight would be doing well. And as he finished talking, he turned again to punch a hole in a piece of thick leather. 'Not as young as I used to be,' he said. 'Still, they keep me busy — and I must keep on learning!'