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.
Comments
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.
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
I just found a purse by this maker. Nice, simple design, good size, good leather.
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.
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
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.
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 ?????
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!
i’ve kept a black overnight bag made of thick leather, for more than 10 years, and i clearly remember having bought it in a thrift shop here in the philippines. other than the fact that it is is made of genuine very good-quality leather, the bag looked to me then as an ordinary leather bag. i couldn’t see any identification of the brand, so i had considered it just a leather bag. tonight, while looking for an overnight bag i could use for a 4-day trip, i saw this bag again in my storage room. i cleaned it with apple leather cleaner and softened it with the accompanying conditioner. suddenly, i saw this logo of the head of a horse and underneath it are the words “jwderr, bend, oregon, usa.” so there was a brand after all! imagine a bag that has kept its form and leather quality for more than 10 yeaRS!I AM GLAD I GOOGLED THIS BRAND AND FOUND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT THE MAKERS. I, TOO, WILL TREASURE THIS JWM DERR OVERNIGHT BAG.
I live in Eugene, and a while back found a large lovely black leather bag in a thrift shop. It’s the size of a small brief case with a large fold-over flap with a zipper pocket on the underside, and a shoulder strap. It’s beautifully made, and the leather is of such good quality! It too had the horse logo, so I Googled and found this! It makes it so much more special, and meaningful, to know this background. Thanks to all of you for writing in to help the person who originally asked. I feel so fortunate to have found this bag!