History Comes Alive Through Buckles of Brass
Max Bell has put together his second effort in writing his new book on California Gold Rush Belt Buckles. The book is made even more interesting by the fact that he chose to also include a number of photographs of the men who wore them.
Bell says in his preface, “These buckles are as personal an artifact of the gold miners as one could hope to find, sparkling the imagination to ask who made them and why so many of them are lost in the gold camps?” The buckles Bell chronicles are not just any belt buckle. Yes, they were used to hold one’s pants up, but they were also a symbol of their lot in life and the simple pleasures a man employed as he spent his exhausted days working and dreaming of hitting the almighty mother lode. Bell’s introduction lures us into a time when gold was just discovered at Sutters Fort, during the late 1840’s and into the 1850’s. A gold seeker might wear a simple buckle with a cross or anchor, a reminder of their faith or occupation. Other buckles shown bright with eagles or even the Great Seal of California. Either way, Bell’s book shows us a timeline from beginning to end of an era so strife with daily hardship it’s a wonder the men who wore these utilitarian artifacts lasted as long as they did.
The buckles Bell shows us were made in the west mostly, although it’s hard to determine exactly where, it is known that men like William Taussig and Leopold Pollack and his brother Joseph saw a need and filled it. It’s known these men and others were in San Francisco at the time and although these brass ornaments weren’t exactly the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany, they certainly served their purpose. Primarily simple to make and very functional, they were made by either casting them or having them die stamped. They were basically two pieces of metal, the tongue and the tongue disc. The disc would slide into the tongue and a simple flip of the buckle made for a sturdy holder. Depending on the buckle, they were used with both leather and elastic cloth belts. As you can see from the pictures, especially of the men wearing them, these buckles were forefront and center for all to see. The pictures themselves of the men who wore them almost tell the story of tireless souls, their simple smile a reflection of their brass belted attire.
California Belt Buckles is a 136 page hardbound book with plenty of full color photographs and information to intrigue almost anyone. The most ardent fan of the old west will have a pleasurable read whether they collect buckles or not. Collecting early western buckles isn’t just for the wealthy collector either. There are plenty of lesser-valued examples that can be had for a fairly reasonable price. There are also some quite rare examples that command much higher prices. Either way, whether you decide you might want to pick up a few or start a collection, you’ll see how the history and personalized life of our early predecessors is as close as the clasp on one’s pants. As Bell points out in his preface, “As time goes by, I think they will be recognized as one of the great mementos of our time.”
California Gold Rush Belt Buckles is a limited edition and includes pictures of approximately sixty different buckles. It also includes pictures of over 50 daguerreotypes and plenty of great information. It is available for $49.95 plus $5 shipping. To obtain a copy write or send a check to Max Bell 852 Holly Hills Drive. Auburn, CA 95603.
By Jeff Wichmann