Carlos Figueroa moved from Mexico to Los Angeles in 1901 and worked as a bit and spur maker. He moved to the US with his brother Jose and while they both were active in making bits and spurs they did not work together for much of their careers. There are no known examples of bits […]
Jose Figueroa moved from Mexico to Los Angeles in 1901 and worked as a bit and spur maker. He moved to the US with his brother Carlos and while they both were active in making bits and spurs they did not work together for much of their careers. Jose is the only one known to […]
The Field Family produced spurs for 4 generations in Santa Barbara starting around 1870 when Edwin Field (1820-1900?) moved to California and settled. Edwin had two sons John Chester Field (1865-1942) and Frank Field (1865-1942) who both worked in the family shop and produced bits and spurs, their work is unmarked. John Chester had two […]
The Faupels are a father and son team that produced bits and spurs (mostly bits) in Winnemucca, NV. Leonard Faupel (the father) married Marguerite Miller who was a half-sister to Elmer Miller who would later open his own bit and spur making school. Leonard worked as a butcher and police dispatcher for many years and […]
Juan moved to the US with his father J.J. and learned the trade of bit and spur making from him. He eventually moved to Elko, Nev and worked for G.S. Garcia where he learned the engraving style used by Garcia and others at the shop. He worked in Nevada for around 25 years doing work […]
J.J. Estrada was born in Mexico and later immigrated to the US where he worked as a blacksmith and bit and spur maker in Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. He was married and had two sons, Juan and Francisco. Francisco would apprentice with J.J. and become a bit and spur maker in his own […]
Albert Espinosa learned bit and spur making from Jesus Mardueno and was also associated with Abbie Hunt. He learned their style of silver inlay work and his work is typical of this style of manufacture. Espinosa did not mark his work.
El Gato is a brand name marked on spurs that were made and imported for Bob McBride. He originally started having popular old bits and spurs copied by makers in Mexico, primariy by Aguilar Navarro Bros., Bravo Bros., and Lunas family. These pieces exhibit many styles and types of construction because they were making copies […]
Juan Francisco Echavarria was born in Chile and immigrated to the US at age 22 in 1869. He lived and worked in San Jose, California for the duration of his life and produced silverwork for many other makers including LD Stone, Main and Winchester, H. Messing and Sons, Clarence Nelso, Visalia Stock and Saddlery, and […]
Sam Duckworth worked most of his life in the oil industry in California, but always had an interest in bits and spurs and he taught himself engraving and his work was popular with cowboys in the central valley of California. He made bit and spurs part time until around 1930 when he built a house […]
