Featured in this lot is this Buermann "Gal's Leg" San Joaquin without hood bridle bit. The bit shows lovely iconic "Gal's Leg" style shanks with a San Joaquin type of bit without a hood. August Buermann immigrated to the US from Germany in 1864 and enlisted with the US Army. He fought in the Civil War and, afterward, returned to Newark, NJ, which was a major manufacturing city, and worked for Alexander Barclay’s company. Buermann was a great businessman and bought out Barclay and renamed the company Buermann Manufacturing Co in 1866. Over the next 60 years, Buermann’s company produced the most complete catalog of bits and spurs of any company in the US, producing as many as 441 spur styles and 496 bit patterns. The condition of this bridle bit is good, with no obvious signs of damage and oxidation and patina consistent with the age of the bit. The measurements of this San Joaquin bridle bit are 5" x 5 3/4" x 2".