THE GILLIAM LINE.
The [Gilliam saddles] for 1898 present a wide variety of styles and shapes, sufficient to meet the demands of every kind of rider.
Their No. 76 is a road or racing saddle, made with a light steel base as foundation, over which is glued thick all-wool felt, the whole being covered top and bottom with the best quality leather. Their No. 76 is a woman’s saddle made on the same lines. They furnish both these saddles with cantle raised somewhat giving more dip or curve to the seat.
The Gilliam Hygienic laced saddle has a truss spring bolted to a hickory cantle (bent by special process), over which is stretched a stripped single piece rawhide frame as shown in cut. By folding and stitching the rawhide in front they obtain the same amount of strength in material as in the rear or broader portion. This at the same time gives a narrower pommel. The top or cover of their Nos. 70 and 75 saddles is made of boarded pebble leather, and being lined with all-wool felt, makes a firm and pliable cushion over the frame. The front end of the soft top covering is not fastened to the frame, as is some times seen in this style of saddle. The advantage in not attaching the top to the frame proper is that it assumes the shape of the rider without stretching or wearing the top.
The Gilliam Company also make a padded saddle, which has a continuous laminated open frame, and which is covered with rawhide drawn tightly over it, thus making a pliable base upon which are built pads of all-wool felt. This pliable base prevents the pads from matting and getting out of shape, and from the nature of the construction the weight of the rider is made to force the pads toward the centre instead of toward the sides. They furnish it with either coiled or truss springs.