silversaddle1
Well-known member
SO I have been told by two different sources that the saddle from my other post is indeed gold plated. OK, I will believe it when I see it with my own eyes. But, with that in mind, the one jeweler's report says 18-22 karat gold plated over nickel. SO lets just say it is indeed gold plated. Now we must then figure that if is gold plated over nickel as the reports states, then the plating would have to be very thick, thicker than mil-spec for sure. Otherwise it would wear right off something as used as a saddle, right?
This brings up some interesting questions then. Since the saddle has press formed "spots" as shown below, one must think that the spots were formed first, then plated. So we can assume the plating will be on both sides of the spot. Now, with that in mind, after the spot was formed, Flowers would have to solder a split rivet or two onto the back of each spot to mount it to the leather. So how would that heat affect the plating? Or, do you think the rivets were soldered onto the spot before plating as well?
Now the next thing would be the engraving. Since the saddle is not solid gold, but gold over nickel, then we must again assume the corner plates and other flatwork on the swells and horn, etc. were also plated after they were made as the engraving in them would show as nickel, not gold. So again, the plating should be on both sides of the flatwork as well.
So with all that said, take a look below at a spot from the same maker and you can see it's just over 1 1/2" square. Could some one figure up the surface area and what the gold value would be if the plating was just mil-spec? I have this saddle bought, and the final sale is after my personal inspection. I know what the saddle would be worth if it was just a silver saddle, with no gold. The gold is the wild card.
I'm estimating there will be over 600 of this type of spot alone on the saddle, not including all the other styles and shapes on the rig.
And Harold, please feel free to delete the other saddle post if you wish as we have sorted that out. Thanks guys!
This brings up some interesting questions then. Since the saddle has press formed "spots" as shown below, one must think that the spots were formed first, then plated. So we can assume the plating will be on both sides of the spot. Now, with that in mind, after the spot was formed, Flowers would have to solder a split rivet or two onto the back of each spot to mount it to the leather. So how would that heat affect the plating? Or, do you think the rivets were soldered onto the spot before plating as well?
Now the next thing would be the engraving. Since the saddle is not solid gold, but gold over nickel, then we must again assume the corner plates and other flatwork on the swells and horn, etc. were also plated after they were made as the engraving in them would show as nickel, not gold. So again, the plating should be on both sides of the flatwork as well.
So with all that said, take a look below at a spot from the same maker and you can see it's just over 1 1/2" square. Could some one figure up the surface area and what the gold value would be if the plating was just mil-spec? I have this saddle bought, and the final sale is after my personal inspection. I know what the saddle would be worth if it was just a silver saddle, with no gold. The gold is the wild card.
I'm estimating there will be over 600 of this type of spot alone on the saddle, not including all the other styles and shapes on the rig.
And Harold, please feel free to delete the other saddle post if you wish as we have sorted that out. Thanks guys!
