Bootmaker
Edward H. Bohlin
Edward H. Bohlin was a Swedish-born saddlemaker and silversmith who immigrated as a teenager, worked as a cowboy in Montana and Wyoming, and opened a leather shop in Cody before moving his business to Hollywood. Saddles, spurs, and silver work were the core of his trade, but he also made cowboy boots: Tom Mix reportedly bought a pair and encouraged him to sell to other Western film stars, and Roy Rogers was known to wear Bohlin boots and spurs.
Known for
Hollywood saddlemaker to the stars who also made boots
Biography
History
Edward H. Bohlin was a Hollywood saddlemaker and silversmith who also made cowboy boots. Born in Sweden in 1895, he immigrated to Illinois — sources differ on his age at departure, with the Center of the West giving 17 and Antique Week giving 15 — and worked as a cowboy in Montana and Wyoming before opening a leather shop in Cody, Wyoming.
He later ran the Edward H. Bohlin Co. on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, where saddles, spurs, and holsters were the larger part of the business. Antique Week says Tom Mix bought a pair of Bohlin's cowboy boots and encouraged him to sell to other cowboy film stars; Cowboy State Daily says the shop branched into boots and other Western goods, and that Roy Rogers wore Bohlin boots and spurs, though saddles and buckles remained the shop's main work.
Antique Week dates his life 1895-1980.
Sources
Identification and markings
Maker-specific markings guidance has not been documented yet. Preserve the complete stamp and compare it against dated sources.
Sources and references
Historical references are cited with the history above. Each catalog record includes its own supporting evidence.
Encyclopedia references: CowboyBootsDB and maker archives linked where available. Historical dates and attributions can vary by source.