A little Texas historical story - A. W. Brill Holsters

Leather goods are not my thing, but I will pass along pertinent parts of a brief article which appeared in the August 2017 edition of Ranch and Rural Living Magazine published every month by our local electric co-op (Rio Grande Electric Co-op) for its members in West Texas. It may be of some interest to holster collectors. It was written about the author's inheritance from a grandfather of group of guns and holsters, among which items were two holsters stamped "A. W. Brill/Maker/Austin, Tex." The present owner did some research and found that "A. W. Brill" was August William Brill, born in Welcome TX in 1872. He moved to Austin around the turn of the 20th Century, where he was listed as a saddle maker and salesman at W. T. Wroe and Sons Saddlery. In 1896, he had a son, Arno William Brill. By 1912, August and son Arno began making holsters (among other leather goods) on their own (possibly having bought out Wroe Saddlery). Their holsters were reported to be popular among Texas Rangers. The A. W. Brill Company operated in Austin until the 1950s selling holsters and leather goods. The Brills also became active in Texas real estate and lakefront property development in the 1940s. Arno's oldest daughter was named Idanell, born in 1919, and was always called Nellie. August Brill died in 1954, followed by Arno Brill in 1968. The interesting part of the story was that in 1940, Nellie marred John Connally, later a long-time and popular Governor of Texas who was in the presidential limousine when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, and was himself wounded in the attack.

This is a link to a more complete history of the Brills: A.W. Brill Company History and Maker Marks - www.vintagegunleather.com California

Great info,thanks for sharing.

Good information. Thanks for sharing that and I'm impressed that your electric company, even in Texas, was willing to post something about Guns without worrying about offending some customers.

A. W. Brill is quite well known within the leather goods business. Beautifully executed holsters of the single-loop design, frequently hand carved in the floral style, and matching belts and accessories.

Ranger Joaquin Jackson credited Brill for his personal carry rig in the autobiography "One Ranger". Jackson's career as a ranger was during the 1970's to 1990's, so Brill's shop was apparently still in production to that era. I have not heard of anything during more recent years.

I would love to have a scan of that article, for completeness' sake, but a PM to you 'bounced' because your box is full

DWalt said:

Their holsters were reported to be popular among Texas Rangers.

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I like to think that my one and only A.W. Brill holster was DEFINITELY owned by a Texas Ranger!! That is my story and I am sticking to it!

They do have a really interesting history.

If you are driving thru Waco, Texas,,,be sure to stop at the Texas Ranger's Museum!!!
It is easy to find and easy to see a treasure of firearms.

I was under the impression that Tol Dawson, a retired TexasRanger, made Jacksons leather.

usmc2427765 said:

I was under the impression that Tol Dawson, a retired TexasRanger, made Jacksons leather.

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And the book cited, One Ranger, would seem to agree with you:



(I don't have the book, so had to hunt around a bit w/ my friend mr. google.)

I am always interested in TX history, and the TX Rangers. I grew up in TX. Thanks for the information.

I read that A.W. Brill was Nellie Connolly's father. Her husband, Texas governor John Connolly, was wounded when JFK was shot.

El Paso Saddlery makes a copy of the Brill holster called the Model 1930 Austin. I have one and like it very much. El Paso Saddlery – Custom Leather Holsters & More

N J Rabensburg was the maker of the "Brill" holsters and not Arno W Brill

I am Neale Rabensburg, the grandson of saddle and holster maker, Newton Joseph Rabensburg, who was associated with the A. W. Brill Company in Austin, Texas for 23 years both as an employee from 1932 to 1935 and as the successor/owner from 1935 until about 1955. During his retirement, N. J. Rabensburg continued to make holsters, belts and other leather products at his home workshop located at 1903 (N.) Lamar Blvd. in Austin. He died in 1961 at the age of 71.

N. J. Rabensburg probably made many (if not all) of the A. W. Brill holsters from 1932 forward. The “glory” years for the A. W. Brill Company (the Company) occurred with the arrival of Rabensburg in the late summer of 1932.

Arno W. Brill (Arno) was a part of that equation, at least until 1935, but served the Company not as a holster maker but rather as traveling salesman of custom leather products made by others. The Austin Statesman newspaper dated May 18, 1924, describes Arno's position with the Company as "head road representative of the leather house. Young Mr. Brill (Arno) sells a large volume of leather goods to the retail trade in such towns as Brady, Mason, Junction, Llano, New Braunfels, Georgetown and Taylor”.

One vintage leather company notes the position of Arno W. Brill as “Traveling” according to the 1929 Austin City Directory. This description appears to be very accurate with Arno continuing as a traveling salesman for the A. W. Brill Company.

The A. W. Brill Company (the Company) was established by August W. Brill in 1912. August took over the existing saddle and harness business of the Kluge Brothers, Henry and Charlie but not the W. T. Wroe and Sons Saddlery and Harness as reported by others. The Kluge brothers continued to work for the Company according to the Austin Statesman dated May 18, 1924. Henry served as an accountant, and Charlie reportedly made quality saddles. In 1924, the A. W. Brill Company was located at 218 E. 6th Street in downtown Austin.

On April 14, 1959, the esteemed columnist, Anita Brewer (Brewer) of the Austin American newspaper, chose to write about the leather and holster career of Newton Joseph Rabensburg. Noted in that article was the following: “Since 1932 he has worked in Austin, taking over the business of the late A. W. Brill (August).” The newspaper photo of N. J. Rabensburg shows him tooling a belt with a 2nd belt and six holsters in view, which are tagged and ready for sale. The topmost holster, when enlarged, indicates the "Brill" name as maker. Two leftover leather holster cuffs within the Rabensburg Tool and Leather Collection (the Collection) bare the A. W. Brill mark. Much of the Collection has been donated in recent years to the Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives in La Grange, Texas.

If Arno W. Brill had been the known maker of the A. W. Brill holsters, then the Austin American newspaper and its writer, Anita Brewer, would have interviewed Arno for her 1959 article. Instead, Brewer and her newspaper chose N. J. Rabensburg because each of the two were aware, as were thousands of customers, business associates and close friends in Austin, central Texas and around the State and nation, that N. J. Rabensburg was the maker of the A. W. Brill holster and the head of the A. W. Brill Company.

Important to note is the A. W. Brill maker stamp, which continues to remain in the Rabensburg Tool and Leather Collection. A donation of this important artifact, which measures 4 inches in length and cast in solid steel, is anticipated in the near future to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, Texas. This A. W. Brill maker stamp was used by N. J. Rabensburg during his retirement in his home workshop in Austin from the mid-1950s until his death in 1961 and probably was used years earlier at the downtown E. 6th Street location for the A. W. Brill Company store starting in 1932.

N. J. Rabensburg became the "Successor to A. W. Brill" in a notice to the public published in the Austin American newspaper on June 27, 1937. The store location at that time was given as 300 E. 6th. However, the Bastrop Advertiser newspaper notes an earlier date by almost two years for the transfer of ownership. This earlier date is September 26, 1935 and gives an Austin property address of 302 E. 6th Street. The two notices are probably repeat notifications in Austin and surrounding towns of Rabensburg's acquisition of the A. W. Brill Company.

From several written accounts, N. J. Rabensburg's leather career began first as a teenager in La Grange, Texas. There he worked for La Grange Saddle and Buggy Shop probably starting at the age of 16 or 17 years. One of his duties may have included road trips to Austin during the years of 1907 to 1909 for delivery of his Company's wholesale leather products or to receive wholesale products from saddleries in Austin.

When he was about 19, he moved to Dallas, where he was a wholesale leather supplier, then to Silver City, New Mexico and then for a two-year period to Price, Utah. He reportedly owned his business in Utah where he made saddles, chaps and other leather products. He returned to La Grange in 1915 at the age of 25 years and married the mayor’s daughter. That same year, he bought a partnership in an existing saddlery, which became known as Zwiener and Rabensburg with a town square location.

N. J. Rabensburg married Lillian Edna Speckels in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in La Grange, Texas on July 23, 1915. Lillian was the daughter of Henry W. Speckels, who was the Mayor of La Grange and Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department. In 1920, N. J. Rabensburg bought a saddlery business in Llano, Texas, which was located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country and about 150 miles to the northwest of La Grange.

N. J. Rabensburg served the Llano Town Council both as an Alderman and as Mayor. His tenure as Mayor, however, was cut short when he made the decision to accept a job offer with an option to purchase at the A. W. Brill Company in Austin, Texas. The year was 1932, and N. J. Rabensburg and his wife Lillian and their three sons, Aubrey, Walter and Newton, Jr. made this their final relocation. The family took residence on the crest of a hill at 1104 W 7th Street.

In the late 1930s, N. J. Rabensburg built a new house on the side of hill fronting Shoal Creek Drive in Austin. Shoal Creek and Pease Park were across the street. Unfortunately, the front yard and a portion of the hill were removed by a new road during the early 1940s. The home address changed from 1903 Shoal Creek to 1903 (N.) Lamar Blvd. During his retirement, N. J. Rabensburg continued to make A. W. Brill holsters, belts and other leather products within his home workshop from the mid-1950s until his death in 1961.

Following their 1935 departure from the A. W. Brill Company, August W. Brill, as the former owner and operator, and his son Arno turned their attention to residential real estate development along the shores of Lake Travis to the northwest of Austin. The lake and dam were under construction during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The surface area of Lake Travis would eventually cover almost 30 square miles and would take years to fill. Two Arno Brill subdivisions were created in 1944 on Hudson Bend, which is located to the northeast of the present-day Lakeway home and resort community on Lake Travis.

Arno W. Brill as reported by one vintage leather group was the maker of the A. W. Brill holsters. Documentation, however, from the 20th Century, says otherwise. My sister, Gayle Herring of Austin, and myself, however, are not only N. J. Rabensburg’s blood-related grandchildren, but we also watched our grandfather make holsters and belts in his home workshop. Many of the holsters, if not all, carried the A. W. Brill maker marks by evidence of the following:

1. The “Brill” maker stamp. This stamp still exists today and was used by N. J. Rabensburg in his home workshop and probably years earlier at the A. W. Brill Company store on E. 6th Street in downtown Austin.

2. Article and photo dated April 14, 1959 by Anita Brewer of the Austin American newspaper on the leather career of N. J. Rabensburg. The “Brill” maker mark is clearly visible on at least one of N. J. Rabensburg’s six holsters shown in the newspaper photo.

3. Two existing leather remnants within the N. J. Rabensburg Collection bear the “A. W. Brill” maker mark.

Arno W. Brill was an important element of the A. W. Brill Company up until 1935. He was the “head road representative” serving a number of towns in central Texas. He apparently had little or no skills, however, in leather making on a commercial retail basis.

August W. Brill, Arno’s father, was head of the A. W. Brill Company and made his departure as well in 1935 and pursued, along with his son Arno, a new career in real estate residential development along the shores of Lake Traves. N. J. Rabensburg was the successor and owner of the A. W. Brill Company from on or before September 26, 1935 until his retirement during the mid-1950s. However, he continued to make holsters and belts and other leather products for his customers in his home workshop located at 1903 (N.) Lamar Blvd. until his death in 1961.


IN SUMMARY

Everyone in the 20th Century, who knew and did business with N. J. Rabensburg, were all on the same page including the Brill family. Thousands of customers, business associates, friends and family and also a newspaper reporter, Anita Brewer with the Austin American, were all aware of N. J. Rabensburg’s prowess in the leather making business including the “Brill” holster, at least, from the time of his 1932 arrival in Austin.

Unfortunately, all of these witnesses are now dead with the exception of my sister and myself, who saw N. J. Rabensburg as the maker of the “Brill” holsters during the 1950s and early 1960s in Austin.

N. J. Rabensburg’s tenure at the A. W. Brill Company corresponds with the “glory” years at the Company. August and Arno Brill were primarily retail and wholesale merchants selling the custom leather products made by others. Since the Brill family left the company in 1935, no Brills were present for most of the “glory” years of the 1930s and 1940s, and, thus, were not making A. W. Brill holsters, belts and other custom leather products.

My sister and I would like a correction from those gun and holster enthusiasts, who have reported the “Brill” story incorrectly. These enthusiasts need to make their errors known to their colleagues as well and to note 20th Century documentation, which states that Arno W. Brill was as a traveling salesman for the A. W. Brill Company and not as a custom leather maker. N. J. Rabensburg was the recognized maker of the “Brill” holster and owner of the A. W. Brill Company by evidence of the April 14, 1959 article and photo by Anita Brewer of the Austin American newspaper.

By: A. Neale Rabensburg

Thank you for that history article Mr. Rabensburg. It fills in a lot of blanks
for us holster nerds.

Mr. Rabensburg's essay absolutely deserves to be in its own post.

N J Rabensburg & A W Brill Co. Newspaper Article/Photo Austin American Newspaper 1959

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=542999&stc=1&d=1637171861

A W Brill Maker Stamp Used by N J Rabensburg

N J Rabensburg chose not to change the maker stamp to his name when he assumed control of the A W Brill Company in 1935. These were still the Depression years, which were about to conclude at the end of the decade. The "Brill" holster already had a large following due to his efforts starting three years earlier. A change might cause confusion with new customers, who were looking for the name "Brill". Rabensburg kept the "Brill" name, which became his pseudonym for the balance of his leather career.

The Austin American newspaper 1959 photo copy shows N J Rabensburg with two belts and six holsters. The holsters are classic "Brill" holsters with the one at the top sporting the "Brill" name when enlarged.

Submitted by A. Neale Rabensburg

N J Rabensburg My Handsome Grandfather Age 25 Years La Grange, Texas

N J Rabensburg was a prodigy. He was a dedicated artist and found his niche in an industry, which was already in a rapid decline. He had owned three saddlery businesses before coming to A W Brill Company in Austin in 1932. He was recognized in Price, Utah as an accomplished leather saddle maker, and he was only in his early twenties.

According to the "Stan Nelson" document, N J Rabensburg worked with Captain Hughes of the Texas Rangers stationed in Austin for the design of the concealed gun weapon, which was adopted by the Texas Rangers and used for the next half century. Rabensburg was seventeen years of age when he met with Hughes.

Mr. Rabensburg, thanks for the information. I have a Brill holster that, if I remember correctly and I may not, Red said he thought was probably made by your grandfather. I think it was something about the stitching.

Do you happen to have any of your grandfather's holsters or other work you would like to show us? We always love pictures!
Larry

"Brill" holster under construction by N J Rabensburg

This basket weave pattern "Brill" holster was either under construction in 1961 at the time of N J Rabensburg's death or was an earlier discard. The sewing threads are still attached. This holster was displayed a few years ago in an exhibit on N J Rabensburg's leather career while living in La Grange from 1915 to 1920.

A completed A W Brill holster made by my grandfather, N J Rabensburg, was given to my father, Aubrey, during or prior to retirement. The holster has, unfortunately, disappeared into someone else's hands. It was safely stored in a gun case at my parents home in Houston, but several people accessed the case to buy guns following my father's death in 1986. The holster may have disappeared at that time.

I do have a basket weave and floral designed belts by N J Rabensburg. Also, a leather binder for documents and a tube to store a collapsible sheet music stand. These were both made during the early and mid-1930s for my father, when he was attending Austin High School and the University of Texas.

N J Rabensburg's Leather Remnants from his Home Workshop in Austin Texas

Leather remnants from N J Rabensburg's home workshop located at 1903 N Lamar in Austin, Texas. Also, shown is a completed sheet music leather tube or case with lid. This was made during the early 1930s for my father, Aubrey Rabensburg, who played the clarinet and saxophone in the high school bands in Llano and Austin.