This listing is for a vintage Sterling Silver Cowboy Boot w/ Spur Tie Clasp by Hickok Manufacturing Company, Made in the U.S.A.  Item # 266.

DESCRIPTION:

The Sterling Silver Vintage Tie Clasp has a Cowboy Boot with Spur hanging from a chain from Tie Clasp.  The reverse side of the Cowboy Boot is hallmarked “STERLING”.  The reverse side on the clasp is also hallmarked “HICKOK” and “U.S.A.” and “STERLING”.  I had this Tie Clasp displayed in a glass case next to my Texas Ranger Badge Collection and Cowboy memorabilia. Texas Ranger worn this style to show they had earned their Spurs.   I have approximately 14 Sterling Silver Tie Clasps that are in keeping with the style that the Texas Ranger & Texas Cowboys wore and still wear presently.  I will be listing all of them on eBay.

MEASUREMENTS:  View pictures with ruler for measurement.  The Clasp is 2.5 inches (2 1/2”) Wide.  From the Tie Clasp to the bottom of the Boot is 2.75 inches (2 3/4”).  The Boot measures 7/8 inch (7/8”) in height and 1 inch wide (1”) including the Spur.

COMPOSITION:  Sterling Silver (.925).

CONDITION:  Used but in excellent condition.  Minor tarnishing on the chain & back of Boot.  View Pictures.

PAYMENT:  Payment can be made by any method approved by eBay. 

SHIPPING:  Shipping within the USA is free and fully insured.  International shipping by eBay Global Shipping Program.

HISTORY:

Hickok was a jewelry manufacturer that started operation in 1909 and switched to mainly men's sterling and gold jewelry in the 1940s.

A classic American Dream story:  Stephen Rae Hickok, an entrepreneurial innovator, built the Hickok Manufacturing Company from a mere $300 investment in a small jewelry plating business on Water Street, in downtown Rochester, NY. This quickly grew into a multimillion-dollar business, and later became the largest and most respected maker of men’s belts and accessories in the world.

In Stephen Rae’s continued efforts to promote his company, he combined innovative marketing with gigantic advertising spreads in National magazines and newspapers across the United States to endorse his full line of men’s accessories, including belts, wallets, suspenders, and jewelry.  It was once mentioned that if a year’s worth of Hickok manufactured belts were laid down end-to-end, it would stretch from Rochester to Moscow. To this day, Hickok is believed to be the force behind helping American men being more jewelry conscious. 

Stephen Rae Hickok, great nephew of Wild Bill Hickok, the legendary Old West figure, founded Hickok Manufacturing Company in 1909 by buying a small jewelry plating business for $300. Thirty-seven years later, in 1936, Hickok opened a plant in Lyons on 83 Broad Street. In 1939 it added a second job site when it built a factory on the east of Lyons on Manhattan Street. The Broad Street facility was closed in 1949 when it was sold to J. L. Hammett Company.

Hickok employees worked on Military goods during WWII, but the plant was originally built to manufacture cloth and web belts, suspenders, armbands, and Men’s garters. In order to keep dust, and other contaminates minimal, a wood floor was installed in the total 3,300 square feet area of the plant. 
When Hickok died in 1945, his eldest son, Raymond P. Hickok, inherited the company presidency at the age of 27. Three years later he added the title of chairman. Mr. Hickok also developed prototypes of safety seat belts, which ultimately became standard automobile equipment and are credited with saving many lives.

Because of his own early struggles as a business official, Raymond Hickok decided to help other fledgling executives by founding the Young Presidents Organization, which drew thousands of members worldwide. He was also a co-founder and honorary chairman of the World Presidents Organization and a leader of the Young Entrepreneurs Organization. 

The Automotive Seat belt manufacturing began in the early 1960s. During that time there were over 300 persons employed on two shifts. Merchandise was shipped to the Rochester Hickok plants daily on a Hickok trailer, and seat belts were shipped to the various customers via freight lines. Seat belts were made for Chrysler, American Motors, Mercedes, Jaguar and Volkswagon. 

By 1966, the demand for suspenders, armbands and garters diminished as a result of the consumers’ desires to be more modern. The following year, due to litigation, Hickok lost the seat belt business. It was hoped that leather belt manufacturing would replace the seat belt business, but that dream didn’t materialize. Eastman Kodak Company also had a contract with Hickok for manufacturing parts for their instamatic camera and accessory business. 
Because of the litigation much of the company’s working capital was lost, and the company took on new investors—all business professors from University of Rochester. Their tactics of operation were faulty and the result was a sale of the company to Tandy Corporation in Texas. In 1971 machinery was shipped from the Lyons facility to Yoakum Texas. The business closed in December 1971 and the Hickok interests were sold to P. J. Parker Co. of Rochester. Raymond Hickok then started a brokerage firm for the buying and selling of other businesses.

In 1950 Raymond and Alan Hickok created the S. Rae Hickok belt, a diamond-studded gold and leather trophy belt awarded annually to the top professional athlete of the year. The trophy was an alligator-skin belt with a solid gold buckle, an encrusted 4 carat (800 mg) diamond, and 26 gem chips. It was valued at over $10,000 in the currency of the time. Mr. Hickok made similarly spectacular belts for boxing champions. For the first 21 years, from 1950 to 1970, it was awarded in Rochester. After the Hickok Company was taken over by the Tandy Corporation, the award was made in larger cities such as Chicago or New York. Recipients included Rocky Marciano, Arnold Palmer, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Jim Brown, Ben Hogan and Phil Rizzuto. Sandy Koufax was the only two-time winner. The last award was made in 1976.

NOTE OF INTEREST:  Here is a partial list of genuine Texas Ranger Badges that I own.  It is again the rules and polices of eBay for me to list these badges for sale on eBay.  Of course if you purchase any of my listing on eBay, I will gladly enclosed a full list for your inspection.  Please be advised I will not sale any genuine Texas Ranger Badges on eBay as eBay will suspend my account.  Therefore, please don’t ask.  Thank you for understanding.

1.    Star Engraving of Houston, Texas, Gold Plated Texas Ranger Captain   

       Badge  w/ original Star Engraving Plastic Box.

2.    Star Engraving of Houston, Texas, Gold Plated Texas Ranger Sr.

       Captain Badge w/ original Star Engraving Plastic Box.

3.    Star Engraving of Houston, Texas, Gold Plated Texas Ranger Chief

       Badge w/ original Star Engraving Plastic Box.

4.    Star Engraving of Houston, Texas, Seven (7) Texas Ranger Badge Set

       consisting of each Texas Ranger Company, Co. A, Co. B, Co. C, Co. D,

       Co. E, Co. F and Headquarters.

6.    Simmang of San Antonio, Texas, Nickle Plated Texas Ranger

       Sergeant Badge from period of 1938 until 1957.

9.   Simmang of San Antonio, Texas, Nickle Plated Texas Ranger

      Badge from period of 1938 until 1957.

10.  Dale Terry, Special Texas Ranger, Extremely rare TSWCRA ’57

       Bottlecap, “HALTOM FT. WORTH” Hallmark.

11. Dale Terry, Texas Ranger Commemorative Commission Badge, HALTOM

      Hallmarked.  Made of Sterling Silver, 1973, Only 75 Badges Made.

12. Dale Terry, Circle-Star Special Ranger Badge “HALTOM STERLING”

        Hallmarked, Made of Sterling Silver.

13. TEXAS & SOUTHWESTERN CATTLE RAISERS ASS. SPECIAL

      RANGER Badge, HALTOM, Hallmarked “H” in a Diamond w/ “SS” below

      “H” indicating Sterling Silver.

14. Special Ranger Badge, current issue “DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

      SAFETY” w/ “35” in center of Star designating when DPS was

      established / formed.  Hallmarked “NIELSEN” for HM Nielsen.

15. STATE OF TEXAS RAILROAD POLICE SPECIAL RANGER Hallmarked

      “NELSON-SILVA CO” “HOUSTON” with Dewey Cooper Copeland’s Special

      Texas Ranger ID Card signed by Homer Garrison, Director Dep’t Of Public

      Safety dated 1-1-67.

16. Texas Ranger Sergeant Badge, 1947-48 Cinco Peso (,900 Fine Silver) 

       manufactured by Haltom but not Hallmarked. “SERGEANT” is hand-                          

       chased. Comes in original Haltom jewelry box.

17.  TEXAS & SOUTHWESTERN CATTLE RAISERS ASS. SPECIAL

       RANGER Badge.  Hallmarked “SIMMANG”.  The particular style was called

       the Daisy Pattern.

18.  TEXAS & SOUTHWESTERN CATTLE RAISERS ASS. SPECIAL

       RANGER Badge. Flat not doomed for carrying in a credential case. Has

       “SPECIAL” across the Star.Die stuck and sawed out by hand, hard-fired

       Blue enameling. Made by Simmang of San Antonio, Texas.

       No Hallmarks.

19.  TEXAS & SOUTHWESTERN CATTLE RAISERS ASS. SPECIAL

        RANGER Badge.  Doomed without “SPECIAL”. Hard-fired blue                                     

        Enameling. Very rare as DWA has only seen 3 of these badges.

        Hallmarked “SIMMANG”.

20.   MISSOURI – KANSAS – TEXAS RAILWAY CO. TEXAS

        RANGER “Bottlecap” Badge.  There is a long description of this

        Badge by DWA wherein DWA states that even though the Badge

        is not Hallmarked it “bears several qualities which lead me to believe

        that it was made by NELSON-SILVIA CO. of Houston”. Included

        is the book “THE KATY RAILROAD AND THE Last Frontier” by V.V.

        Masterson.  Also included a canceled 100 Shares of the Missouri,

        Kansas and Texas Railway Company dated March 5, 1909.

        Badge, Book & Stock Certificate.

21.   Clint Peoples “Sr. Captain” 24K Gold Plated 1947-48 Cinco Peso

        Badge by Haltom of Ft. Worth, Texas and Hallmarked “HALTOM”.

        Comes with original letter signed by Clint Peoples verifying that this

        Is his badge.  The letter is written on U. S. Marshall letterhead and

        Dated March 3, 1982. Includes autographed book by Clint Peoples

        and autographed picture.