This is a vintage tooled painted leather belt.
I will do my best to describe and tell you what I have found about this item to the best of my ability. Any questions feel free to email me.
First let me describe this to you. It measures 41 3/4" long. The buckle is not available. Just the belt.
The buckle would be attached by a piece of leather folded over and snapped in place around the buckle.
It has 4 lighter than air ship or hot air balloons hand tooled (I believe) then painted with yellow. The balloon has a netting on the top of it. Inside the balloons are the numbers 1908.
The name Gary is spelled out with hobnails ? they are rounded pins with two prongs that are pounded into the leather leaving a slightly flattened top. The prongs go through the leather and are bent over together fastening them to the leather. There are 61 total.
10 oblong rings are fastened by woven leather in the center of the belt and held in by a hand set punched in rivets the tops and bottoms of which are indented from being pounded in. It appears that this was lengthened or repaired at one time by splicing another piece of leather onto the end. Two rings measure 7/8" across the other 8 measure 1" across.
The belt has some wear but no tearing or holes. It still is very supple. The brass pieces have a green patina from age on edges but overall they are still very bright.
Now on to what I have learned about the who may have crafted and worn this.
Due to the craftmanship I believe this does indeed date to 1908.
I have done some research and contacted some experts in the field and can come to no definitive answers as to what exactally this is. One theory is that this is a carnival souviner sometimes referred to as tramp art.
Other theories include the famous balloon race in chicago.
At that time the The International Ballooning Contest Aero Park Chicago Il July 4th 1908.
participants in the July 4, 1908 race at
Chicago's Aero Park (Chi. Tribune, p. 20):
Capt. P. S. Hudson & Lt. J. J. Mende
C. H. Leichliter & Capt. Martin Peterson
J. I. Case - Illinois
C. A. Coey & Capt. G. L. Bambaugh - Chicago
Capt. A. E. Mueller & George Schoeneck - Germany
Col. A. P. Shirley & H. B. Wild - US
Lt. Preston & John Bennett - Canada
Dr. Frederick J. Fielding & Capt. A. E. Honeywell - San Antonio
C. H. Perrigo - Chicago
In attendance during this race was the Wright Brothers Wilbur and Orville. Since G L Bambaugh lived in Indiana it is possible that Gary stands for Gary Indiana.
The other possibility is that gary stands for Judge Gary of Indiana. 1846?1927, American lawyer and industrialist, b. near Wheaton, Ill., grad. Union College of Law, Chicago, 1868. Rising rapidly as a corporation lawyer, he became mayor of Wheaton and served two terms as county judge?afterward he was always known as Judge Gary. His able organization of the American Steel and Wire Company prepared the way for J. Pierpont Morgan to entrust him with the organization of the Federal Steel Company in 1898 and in 1901 with the organization of the U.S. Steel Corp. As chairman of the board of directors, Gary was the dominant personality in the corporation until his death. He closely directed its physical expansion and aided in founding the steel town, Gary, Ind. (named for him).
In 1909, the Aero Club of America joined up
with the Automobile
Club. Cortland Field Bishop was president of the Aero Club and Jusge E.
H.
Gary was president of the Auto Club (Chi. Trib. 3/28/09, p. C1).
So it is possible that Gary stands for Judge Gary.
Whatever the true answer to this mystery this is a
fascinating piece of hot air ballooning
history.