Antique Star Steel Silver Buermann Panama 1916 Low Curb Bit Made in New England

Description

Antique Star Steel Silver Buermann Panama 1916 Low Curb Bit Made in New England
Antique Star Steel Silver Buermann Panama 1916 Low Curb Bit Made in New England
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Description
This listing is for an original
☆
marked Buermann Star Steel Silver "Panama" low port curb bit.  This bit is marke
d
"Star Steel Silver
☆
" on the right side of the mouthpiece and "Made in New England" on the left.
The Panama bit was patented July 19, 1914 and was sold by A. Buermann Mfg. Co. and
featured in Buermann Catalog #35, item number 1916.
Buermann was bought by North & Judd, a huge hardware company, whose trademark was the famous anchor brand in 1926.  They continued to make some cavalry goods until 1948.
This bit is in very well maintained pre owned condition especially considering the markings indicate it was manufactured sometime between 1914 and 1926, making it almost 100 years old.  The shank measures 6-1/2 inches long with a 2-1/4 inch long purchase for a 2.89 to one leverage ratio.  The mouthpiece measures 4.7/8 inches wide with a low curb port measuring 1/2 inch in diameter.  The bit has a lovely soft patina and is in very well maintained antique condition.  This is a great piece to use to start your collection or add to an existing collection
.
Born in Hanover Germany, August Buermann apprenticed with a locksmith there before sailing to New York in 1864.  He initially worked for Alexander Barclay who was one of the earliest saddlery hardware manufacturers in Newark, New Jersey.  In September of 1864 he joined the 9th infantry regiment of New Jersey Volunteers.  Shortly after the Civil war he returned to Newark and purchased Barclay’s business.  Early on Buermann began to patent features on his bits, and spurs. His special attention to California and Southwestern trade set the standard for such work.  The August Buermann Mfg. Co. became the largest firm in the business.  The last catalog, #35, listed 441 spur types, and 496 bit styles.  Buermann’s sons eventually took over the business, and tried to transition into the motorcars, and truck business, but eventually sold out in 1926 to their longtime competitors, North & Judd, who honored the old firm by keeping the Buermann line separately in their catalogs for over a decade keeping the original catalog, factory, and logos.  North and Judd continued to produce many popular Buermann patterns but changed to the Anchor logo after 1926.
The Buermann company was one of the first to mass produce bits and spurs, although they also maintained a line of hand forged equipment of high quality.  Buermann was adept at keeping pace with the changing styles and tastes of the day and was known to heavily borrow from the designs of other makers whose designs proved popular.  He employed people who lived and worked out West to keep him informed of popular styles.  In addition to bits and spurs, the Buermann company produced saddle trimmings, stirrups, buckles, conchos, and other decorative items.
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