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Tony Lama BeltsTony Lama Belts are rugged, tough and dependable. Tony Lama Belts are the heritage of the American Frontier!
Tony Lama® belt with native flair Tony Lama Belts Historytaken from http://www.sheplers.com/tonylama_history.cfm Before and after the Civil War, cowboys wore whatever they could
aAfter the turn of the century, Lama joined the U.S. Cavalry as
a cobbler for the soldiers and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas.
After completing his service, he was discharged in 1911 and decided
to stay in the nearby border town of El Paso. The mild desert climate
was a welcomed change from the severe winters of New York. Lama
met and married an El Paso pianist and music teacher, Esther Hernandez,
and soon opened a small shoe and boot repair shop on Overland Street. Word traveled quickly throughout the southwest that Tony Lama also designed and made the best western boots in the area. Cowboys and ranchers joined cavalrymen at his doorstep, carrying hides and requesting custom made boots. The first year, Tony Lama and one helper turned out 20 pairs of boots. Soon, Tony Lama concentrated exclusively on making quality western boots. In the 1930s, western wears stores in the southwest began asking for Tony Lama Belts. He developed methods of producing greater quantities without sacrificing key steps in hand crafting; setting standards in the fine art of boot making. Over the next two decades, Tony and Esther Lama¹s six children became actively involved in the growing family business. The company began marketing its boots nationally during the 1950s. In 1961, nearly 50 years after the first store opened, the company moved into larger quarters and began making 750 pairs of boots a day. Tony Lama passed away in 1974, but his sons and daughters continued his tradition of quality and hand craftsmanship. A third generation of Lama family members are involved in the operations today. While the obvious changes have evolved over the years, the care and pride with which Tony Lama made his first boots remain evident in the company¹s employees. Many of them have been with Tony Lama for over 30 years. . |
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