| When buying antique cowboy spurs or heel spurs, | | | | equipment for the soldiers in the America Civil |
| you will probably come across some of the old | | | | War and the US Army. The famous mark of the |
| makers known in the collectible circles as "The Big | | | | North and Judd spurs is the "Anchor Mark" which |
| 3". These 3 designers and manufacturers of | | | | was stamped on to each of the spurs they made. |
| cowboy spurs, bit and tack are famous for | | | | Another of "The Big 3" is the Crockett spurs |
| bringing the cowboy spur to mass market and | | | | company, started by Oscar Crockett in the early |
| also for providing us with supplies for our armies | | | | 1900's. Oscar learnt the skills to make Cowboy |
| and cowhands who drove cattle hundreds of miles | | | | Spurs from his brother and began to make |
| across America. | | | | custom sets of spurs to order as well as |
| One of "The Big 3" makers was August | | | | standard aluminum or steel spurs for the mass |
| Buermann, born in Germany in 1842, he travelled | | | | market. When the Crockett company purchased |
| to the US to complete training to become a | | | | the Shipley Spurs outfit in 1940, they were |
| locksmith. At the age of 22 he began to make | | | | making and selling over 170 types of spurs from |
| spurs and equipment for civilians and military | | | | their catalogs. Crockett spurs are marked with |
| personnel and by the early 1900's the majority of | | | | the word CROCKETT or C&G. |
| the US mounted cavalry were wearing spurs that | | | | The last member of "The Big 3" and perhaps the |
| were commissioned and made by Buermann. | | | | largest member of this group is a company called |
| Buermann spurs are easily identifiable by their | | | | Renalde spurs. The owner of this company |
| "Star Brand" logo which is usually located under or | | | | eventually ended up owning the other major spur |
| near the buttons of the side of the spur. Despite | | | | making companies. He bought the Kelly Bit and |
| his success and fame, the Buermann company | | | | Spur company in 1965 and the Crockett Spurs |
| and trademark was bought in 1914 by North and | | | | company in 1951. The Renalde company was also |
| Judd, another large and established hardware | | | | a popular maker of saddles, buckles and other |
| company. | | | | horse tack and blacksmith items. Eventually, |
| North and Judd are also one of the famous spur | | | | Renalde became the largest manufacturer of |
| makers and had their roots in making saddlery, | | | | Cowboy Spurs in America until it was closed |
| cowboy equipment and boot spurs as far back as | | | | down in 1980, taking with it a long history and |
| before 1800. In 1878 they became the North and | | | | smaller companies and names it had purchased |
| Judd Manufacturing Company and had over 500 | | | | over the years. |
| staff working for them, producing spurs and | | | | |