Rope Making – Where it all started
Few people who rope today can remember the days when the only rope available was the coiled aged rope. Back then rope companies would buy nylon rope by the foot from a coil. They would then cut it into desired lengths and stretch it out to lay in the sun and elements, often for several months at a time until it was cured and ready to use.
The first horizontal rope machine was invented by Pete Emmons, of Emmons Ropes, in Grand Prairie, Texas in the 1930’s. At that time he was making rope from binder twine, before nylon was available, and took it to sale barns to sell. Joining Emmons Ropes in 1969, at the age of thirteen, was Curt Matthews.
Al Benson grew up in Minnesota and in 1984 caught a ride to Texas for he and his horses. He also went to work for Emmons Ropes where he met and became friends with Curt Matthews.
In 1985 Curt and his family decided to form their own rope company and started building Classic Ropes in Granbury, Texas. Al joined him and they built the first rope machine, mostly from memory, under Matthews’ carport. The first rope was spun on April 15, 1986. Curt remembers it was a 7/16 extra soft with a leather burner. Today, hanging in his living room, it’s never been uncoiled.
What launched Classic Ropes to another level, was actually a fluke. During the search for poly string suitable to make a blended rope, they received some surplus string they normally used in ranch ropes. Matthews noticed some green poly and decided to spin it and see what it felt like.
Though a green rope back then had a bad stigma because no one wanted a “green” or uncured rope, it felt so good that Al Benson took it to a jackpot that weekend. After placing at the roping the buzz started about the new green rope.
(Pictured left to right - Curt Matthews and Al Benson)
After hearing about the new green rope, Denny Watkins contacted Curt and made a trip to Granbury to try it. After swinging it, Denny looked at it and made the comment, “It’s the color of money.” Al answered, “Actually it’s a money maker.” Thus, the Moneymaker, the first nylon-poly blended rope, was born. The huge popularity was due to the fact that the rope felt as good as aged ropes that took so long to cure, but with immediate availability.
When starting Classic Ropes, Curt’s goal was to produce 150 to 200 ropes per day. By the time he sold the business in 1993, production was up to 1,000 per day. After the sale, Curt stayed on for another year before finishing up the remaining four years of his non-compete as a cattle order buyer.
Meanwhile, in late 1994, two sister-in-laws wanted to start a business in their hometown of Granbury. Approached with the idea of a rope company by a friend, Fast Back Ropes was born. Shortly after, they called Al Benson, still at Classic Ropes, to come straighten out the mess that had been started.
Offered the chance at a career opportunity rather than an hourly job, Al joined Fast Back in 1995. He then spent the next six months fixing and rebuilding the rope machines. Al made a recall for the ropes that had been shipped, but remembers some customers being so mad at the time they wouldn’t even ship them back. It was a trying time for quality fanatic Benson, who worked sixteen-hour days for more than six months until the problems were remedied.
Fast Back initially started with two ropes – one, 100% nylon and the second, a poly-blend. The Fast Back line has since grown to eight ropes, including three four-strands and a calf rope.
Fast Back’s first endorsee was Steve Purcella, who joined them in 1996, and went on to win a world championship that year.
In 1997, Curt took a position with Professional’s Choice building ropes in Tolar, Texas, less than ten miles from Granbury and just a few minutes from his home.
In 2003 Curt Matthews joined Al at Fast Back, reuniting the most experienced team in the business. This is the same team that produced two #1 sellers; first the Moneymaker at Classic, and then again with the Mach III at Fast Back. There’s a tremendous benefit from having worked together so long. Not only do they think similarly, their combined sixty-one years experience leaves little they haven’t seen or tried.
When asked what surprises them most about the evolution of rope making, Curt quickly answered and echoed by Al, “The size. For years the ropes we made were all 7/16, I would never have dreamed ropes would become so small in diameter, or the sport so big.”
Official Rope of
Fast Back Ropes, Inc. • Granbury, TX • 800-479-1851