TRAIL TALK WITH BOBBI JEEN Featuring TOM BALDING
Welcome to “Trail Talk with Bobbi Jeen!” Today we are visiting with one of the newest members of the National Bit, Spur and Saddle Collectors Association, Tom Balding from Balding Bits & Spurs.
Tom Balding has a wonderful success story about going after goals and dreams and succeeding.
Tom Balding Bits & Spurs has been in operation since 1984. He has been crafting state of the art bit and spur designs, backed by industry leading technology and innovation for riders seeking a balanced product that offers ease of use, quick response, better movement and longer product life. Tom works directly with world class professional riders and trainers to ensure all their needs are met.
Tom has been running a very successful business specializing in bits, spurs and other Western products for 38 years. He has mentored, motivated and inspired others to go after their goals and dreams in the Western industry, just as he himself has done.
A few years ago I had the honor of stopping by Tom’s shop in Sheridan, Wyoming, where we talked about his passion, drive and desire to make some of the best, most functional bits and spurs and what has been the key to his success. Recently I caught back up with this multi-talented gentleman to see what he has been doing since our last interview.
Bobbi Jeen: How has everything been going for you these past few years?
Tom: The business is doing amazing and my employees are great. I don’t know what I would do if I lost any one of them. One just celebrated 30 years with the company and two are at 20 and most of the others are around 10-15, with one that has been here just a year. There are six full time employees and we are so busy that we’re about eight to nine months out with orders.
Bobbi Jeen: Do you teach your employees everything you know about the business to keep the brand consistent?
Tom: Yes, it is a real long process and it is important who you bring into your business.
Bobbi Jeen: You have been in business for almost 40 years, what has been the key to your success?
Tom: The hard work that has been put into the business, my drive to always do my best, focus on quality and being consistent with our products, are some of the most important aspects in my business.
Bobbi Jeen: What got you started making bits and spurs?
Tom: I moved to Wyoming (from California) in 1980 specifically to live the Western lifestyle. I immersed myself in horses and worked for near by ranches. A neighbor came over with a broken bit and asked if I could weld it back together. I made the comment, “I could make you a new one,” and a light bulb went off. I welded the bit, which took just a couple minutes, and that evening I had made my very first bit. The next day I went to town and ordered business cards.
Bobbi Jeen: You have been a master welder most of your life, specializing in TIG welding (sometimes referred to Gas Tungsten Arc Welding or GTAW, which is the process of using an electric arc with a TIG electrode made of tungsten, which does not dissolve or burn off when welding. When TIG welding you are simply melting metal together without using a filler metal as you do with MIG welding). Do you believe that is a part of why you have had such success in this industry?
Tom: Oh, with out a doubt! I started in California and then let the knowledge of welding flow through to Bits & Spurs. I was 22 when I received a highly prized, prestigious government certification for precision aircraft TIG welding. Nobody was TIG welding bits and spurs until I started implementing it. It makes a cleaner product and is faster, plus you can weld dissimilar metals (stainless steel, mild steel, etc.) easily. No matter what I was welding, I always wanted to make that perfect weld.
Bobbi Jeen: Were you the first to utilize “mixing metals” in your creations?
Tom: Yes, by using the two dissimilar metals I could come up with a very distinctive look. The “tuxedo look,” stainless steel and mild steel (black gun finish or browning) and the TIG welding with the beads, which has to be perfect.
Bobbi Jeen: You have numerous registered trade marks including the dots, using dissimilar metals, browning technique and more. How many trade marks do you have and why did you trade mark them?
Tom: We have about a dozen different trade marks. In the early 2000’s we were being ripped off and copied by foreign companies. People would send me broken bits, spurs or complain about the quality and they were not something I had made. Some people believed me and others did not. It took many years and lots of money to regain my reputation and fight the frauds. So during the process of fighting these companies that were coping us we started protecting different designs and different aspects of our business.
Bobbi Jeen: Do you recommend trade marking designs for others that want to get into this business?
Tom: I get asked that a lot because of what we went through, and we don’t do it anymore. It is very expensive. You have to enforce it (police it) and it is very time consuming. I think your time and money is better spent coming up with new ideas and getting them out there. If you have a good idea, make it and get it out there and keep moving forward.
Bobbi Jeen: You are known for coming up with your own original designs, why is that?
Tom: It is something I’ve always done since I was young. I loved building and creating, it always had to be different — if it only came in two doors, I would build a four door.
Bobbi Jeen: What has been the most difficult thing you have ever had to work through in your career?
Tom: Being knocked off and copied by companies overseas. They were even stamping my name on them. It absolutely devastated our business for many years.
Bobbi Jeen: Tell us about the first pair of spurs and bit that you made.
Tom: (Laughing) The day I went to order my business cards, that evening I went home and made my first pair of spurs that are still sitting on the shelf in my office. I made one, then realized it was going to be hard to make the other one and have it match. I spent the next few months building, tooling, bending fixtures, sizing, adjusting, etc., learning everything I could about building spurs.
Bobbi Jeen: How many pairs did you throw away?
Tom: (Laughing) I have a barn filled with hundreds and hundreds of bits and spurs that I culled.
Bobbi Jeen: How many bits & spurs do you make a year?
Tom: In the very early days my goal was to build one pair of spurs and one bit a week. For me that was a good week. Over time I became more efficient and purchased better equipment (get the best quality tools you can afford, it’s worth it) and now we have a state of the art shop where we build around 6,000-7,000 bits and 1,000 pairs of spurs a year.
Bobbi Jeen: You have a wonderful relationship with Billy Klapper. You have spent time at Billy’s workshop, discussing the processes he uses. What are some of his applications and lessons you utilize to this day from Billy?
Tom: I spent a couple of days at his shop, he had some questions about TIG welding and I had a lot of curiosity about how he does things. Billy and I do things different. I admire and worship his work. It’s unique. It has this Western character and it has Billy all over it. We are at each end of the spectrum of manufacturing yet can appreciate each others talents and work.
Bobbi Jeen: Who was your greatest mentor?
Tom: My father, he was a welder and I learned by watching him. He taught me how to figure it out and do it myself, which was an amazing gift. Hands on has been the best teacher for me.
Bobbi Jeen: What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Tom: If you could take one bit that represents everything that I’ve ever worked for in this business it would be what we call the Ball-hinged Ring Snaffle which Buck Brannaman encouraged me to come up with and he made it famous.
Bobbi Jeen: Who is the most famous person you have ever made something for?
Tom: Ben Johnson was one of the first (it was my first legitimate bit and first famous person). Ben had a summer home near Sheridan and he called, asking if I would make a bit for him. He had this old bit that was very special to him and he wanted a copy made. I took it home and made one exactly like it (actually two, I kept one) It was very complicated with loose shanks, chains, etc., it took two attempts to get it just perfect. Ben really liked it and we became friends afterward. Then Harrison Ford called me and wanted a bit. I sent him some pictures and made him a bit. That was a thrilling moment for me also.
Bobbi Jeen: Did you frame the checks?
Tom: No, I wish. But they did send me autographed pictures. That’s pretty special.
Bobbi Jeen: I heard you have retired. Why did you decide to retire?
Tom: I have worked almost non-stop for many years. Now I have the best team in place and I can do a few things for myself. I’m getting some eye issues taken care of, but I’m still in and out of the shop quite a bit.
Bobbi Jeen: What do you hope you’ll be remembered for?
Tom: Really high quality bits and spurs. Being known for quality is a pretty big deal.
Bobbi Jeen: For people wanting to get into this business, what is some advice you can share?
Tom: Good luck, work hard, get a mentor. If you don’t take the shot you won’t make the basket. One of my mottos is, I never failed at anything — some things just didn’t work out very good.
Bobbi Jeen: Will people still be able to purchase a Tom Balding bit or spurs?
Tom: If someone wants to order a bit or spurs you can talk to Kelli (she has been taking orders for over 20yrs). A bit order can take 1-2 hours to put together and spurs take easily 2 plus hours of back and forth. On the website there is a bit/spur creator that has 10 million combinations you can create and order from also.
Bobbi Jeen: Tom you are such a talented artist and an extremely humble and kind man, it truly has been an honor visiting with you and sharing your story with others, thank you!
If you would like to find out more about Tom Balding Bits & Spurs go to TomBalding.com and if you would like to see the live interview go to National Bit, Spur & Saddle Collectors Association on YouTube.