George Lawrence Co.

In 1857, Samuel Sherlock, a pioneer with exceptional skill in the art of leather craftsmanship, opened a shop in what is now Portland, Oregon. His specialties were making harnesses, saddles, gun belts, and holsters.  In 1874, Mr. George Lawrence came to Portland to join his brother-in-law, Samuel Sherlock.  Though a dry goods man by training, he tackled and mastered every job that came along in the harness business and was fully prepared to take charge of the business when Mr. Sherlock died two years later.

  In 1893, at the age of sixty-one, and in the face of one of the nation's worst panics, Mr. Lawrence secured additional capital and with his own savings and those of his sons and daughters, bought and incorporated the business as The George Lawrence Company.  By 1905, the Company had built a large building for itself, covering one-quarter block.  Mr. Lawrence, Sr. died in 1922, and his son George, consultant and advisor to his father, was elected to the presidency of the company. The harness and saddle factory employed over 250 mechanics during World War I.

  In 1985 all divisions except the leather goods manufacturing were divested and the manufacturing operation was moved.  The Lawrence family sold the building built by George W. Lawrence in 1903 at SW 1st and Oaks Street in Portland, Oregon.  It has been renovated on the inside and converted to a commercial building.  

 

In 1989, the leather goods business was sold to Gould & Goodrich Leather, Inc. and moved to Lillington, North Carolina.   Now, under the name of Lawrence Leather Co.  Jim Buffaloe is the sole craftsman carrying on the Lawrence tradition.  The current motto is "When you own Lawrence Leather, you own a legend."

Marks:

1)  Early "football" mark            This mark was in use during the 1940s.

2)  "Steer hide" mark           

3)  "Saturn" mark                      Rare.

4)  Later mark                      

5)  Challenger mark                On Challenger line of holsters & belts