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Show - - -f.A " . X" 1 U ; ; X XX ' ' ' X ' . V $ r . ..... s ? ' ' X'i - - t v . 1 ... - x ' xi y " I X - j: RANDAL MERRELL demonstrates a part in how to make ': boots. After instructions and demonstrations are done, the men J h . - ' 1 " : 1 ' '" J J V ' ' "" - '' " i v v' ' A, . i r ,7 x ; ; ' V ' j .. , ; !;:: 1 '. .1 ' !, f - ; 8 f i . ' - ' . X I : , , v ' l , ..... l ; i K - . ' - f " - - ....'-3 I - X ' X 4 RANDY MERRELL demonstrates a principle of boot making . A with Rick Francon and Gary Mekan at the right. - Xi i LHALF OF a boot shows the good arch that is in western boots. i are given the time to apply what they have learned. (Left to right) Randy Merrell, Rick Francon, Gary Mekan, and Bill Harris. ' : ';X-' ' 's - "V ' 1 I ' ' ' ' ff , in XV' " ; i I ! : r - . !x x RICK FRANCON carries out instructions on stitching leather. AAcosver boottmdExer holds Most people don't have the time and money to put into a hobby. This is not the case for Randal Merrell. He is a boot maker living in Vernal making boots for people all over the world. Merrell is holding a boot making seminar from June 14-26 to instruct men on the art of making boots. Nine men have come from various places with many different reasons to learn of this art. Sandy Wilson, a dancer from Colorado, came to learn about boot making so he can modify such boots as Hungarian and Polish to make them light enough to dance in. "I spent six months trying to learn how to do it on my own. They were never really right. Now in two weeks I will be able to walk away and know all I need to know to make them." he said. He learned of the seminar from an advertisement Merrell put in a shoe magazine. Rick Francon from Provo came to learn, so he can pass it onto his children. "It's becoming a lost art." he said. With hard times coming he wants his children to have a skill. "It will be a real character building skill." he added. Francon also learned about the seminar from a shoe advertisement in a magazine. Richard Parker from Boise, Idaho makes custom orthopedic shoes and wants to make a cowboy boot which people with problem feet can wear. "Everybody wants to wear cowboy boots." he Said. "Everybody is down here to gain knowledge of a dying art.The only way you can pick it up is to get it from someone who is willing to do it." Parker added. According to those at the seminar, literature can't be found on how to make boots. It was passed down from father to son. This seminar is a great benefit to those who have been searching for the knowledge on how to make boots. Parker was sent information on the seminar from Merrell who is also an orthopedic technician. Douglas Terry from Great Falls, Montana saw Merrell's advertisement in a magazine he subscribed to. He commented he is a survivalist. "There is a possibility of the economy collapsing and I want me and my family to be some of the survivalists." Randal Merrell started out in Pre-vet at Utah State Universtiy. While on a mission for the LDS church in Brazil he knew a couple of boot makers. About eight years ago he attended school in Massachusettes at Lin Independent Industrial Shoe Making. Collecting tools and materials he made boots for a year. At Oklahoma State Tech in Okmulgee he took a class on boot making for a short period of time. Visiting with boot makers from time to time, he learned more about this trade He is involved in making western boots, hiking boots, and skiing boots. They are custom make with no stockroom boots. For awhile he had three bootmakers working for him, but he found the quality not to be as good as he wanted them. He plans to stay small and make the boots himself. Merrell is also involved in Marrow Boot Company in Vermont. They make hiking fabric and skiing boots. He is president of the corporation and is in charge of product development, design, and production. Trips to Europe are made two or three times a year. There are 100-120 stores in the U.S. that sell their boots. He also has two other partners. Merrell makes boots for people all over the world. Less than ten percent is made for people in Utah. The boots are made with exotic leathers such as ostrich, elephant, and shark. Merrell deals in quality and will stand behind the boots he makes. For this reason he personally measures your feet to get the right sizes to make a boot which will suit your feet whether they be regular sizes or irregular sizes. ! - ? J . f i -. -.i - . ' " , ' : v -St I 5 - r, : ' ..... " " j ; c-vf ' 7 .. : .j:- I ..... " , - ..... 1 L.. . AJ STITCHING IS a big part of boot making. Lee Kerr (left) and San- I dy Wilson (right) use the machines to stitch their boots. I |
