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Can You Identify This Purse?

I occassionally read through Ask ORblogs, which is like a localized version of AskMeFi. This question caught my eye as it sounds like something a reader of this site might know (and I'm just copy/pasting the question here, so don't blame me for the errors)...

I bought this purse in TN and it has a horse logo embossed over jwm derr Bend oregon USA.Does anyooone know anything about jwm derr? It is a really nice hand crafted leather purse.
Can anybody help him? Either comment over there or here.

Posted by Jake on 07/26/05 @ 01:51 PM
Posted in Interesting, Local | 8 Comments | Permalink



8 Comments

Tom Del Nero said on 07/27/05 @ 05:55 PM:
JWMDerr stands for Jan and Bill Derr.
The had a quality leather goods making business in Bend in the late 1970's early 1980's. Sadly, Bill was killed in a car wreck early-on in venture. Jan continued on for awhile, but I lost track of her.

Buzzweiser said on 08/02/05 @ 03:49 AM:
Thank you all for finding this out and letting me know about this purse...I will treasure it all the more. I knew it was special

Liz said on 05/22/09 @ 10:34 AM:
I just found a purse by this maker. Nice, simple design, good size, good leather.

Martha said on 01/09/10 @ 12:54 PM:
I, too, bought a purse by this maker recently. Very beautifully made. The person I bought it from said that Bill Derr made it for her specifically and that she had used it for years, though you can't tell at all. I treasure mine too.


suebabe said on 07/02/10 @ 09:24 AM:
my name is suebabe i worked for jan and bill derr for years after bills death i worked w jan at her store coyote creek collective in the early ninties and then lost track of her we made beautiful custom handbags and clothing and i carry on that trade they taught me 30 years ago with white buffalo creations...suebabe

Bruce said on 11/29/10 @ 11:00 AM:
I lived in Bend, OR from 76-95. I knew both Jan and Bill. I had Jan make a custom bag for me to show my custom ceramic tile. It has buffalo gusseting and cow hide panels. I have used it extensively back then and now, and it's only gotten better w/ age.

marguerite said on 12/18/10 @ 07:01 AM:
i found this jwm derr ben oregon usa at a antique consignment shop i love it it is blavk leather with looks like fuax fir tales on each end it is the softess leather i have in anything i wonder what it originally cost i know i got a deal on it ?????

Leah said on 06/25/11 @ 04:47 PM:
I own a thrift shop in Huntington Beach, CA. I just got a small JWM DERR leather zippered pouch donated. I used to live in portland and loved going over to Bend. I will treasure this little special bag. So glad to find all this info!

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