I have been fascinated by history (real people doing/pioneering real stuff) for most of my life. I have been pondering a couple of things recently and am bringing my questions to the best place that I know of to get answers - the TradGang Trad History/Collecting Forum. So, here is my first question (I will post the other on a separate Topic):
Who are some of the lesser-known bowyers who worked for and made significant contributions to some of the big-name manufacturers?
Here are a few pump-priming examples:
Nels Grumley was Fred Bear's bowyer in the early days of Bear Archery (until 1948). And, we are familiar with some of his contributions.
Owen Jeffery was also one of Fred Bear's bowyers. Dates? Contributions? Owen went on to found Jeffery Archery.
Bill Stewart worked for several of the big names: Howatt, Bear, and Wing (Bob Lee). Dates? Contributions?
And, how about Tom Jennings and Smithwick Archery?
Now, guys & gals, I turn to our History/Collecting community to fill in all of the gaps that I am leaving.
Ray
Well the more I learn the less I seem to know but I thought Stotler was the head bowyer at Howard Hill at some point. Jim
Owen Jeffrey made most of Dan Quillian's bows. Dan designed them and Jeffrey made them.
Owen was a good friend when I lived in Columbia SC in the eighties and I'm pretty familiar with his contributions. He began his professional career as Earl Hoyt's bowyer- both had worked for Macdonald Douglass. He came aboard with Bear around late '65 or '66- I'm doing this without notes so forgive me if my dates are shakey, but it was after or about the time Stewart left Bear- and was instrumental in developing the Takedown design, especially the limb configurations and latch system. He also was the primary reason for the changes you can see between the '67 Grizzly and '68 models, softening the reflex and taming the handshock. He also shortened the bow a couple of inches though it went back to 58" a little later. He was a Bear Vice-President under Victor.He also was the archery coach for the French Olympic team during this time. As the company changed under the corporate umbrella, Owen was hired by Shakespeare to head their archery division- that's how he ended up in South Carolina- and as the compound took hold and Shakespeare's mkt declined, they decided to eliminate the archery division, Owen bought the plant and opened Jeffery Archery. Don's right- Owen was still building Big Dan's bows when I was hanging around there and he was building bows for other "bowyers" as well. Fascinating character and an incredible shot. Great machinist and an innovative mind. The best days of a not so great period in my life were spent with Owen. Grant
hey Ray I'd admitt I learned alot about the basics of how a bow works and how they were built in the good old days by reading this little interview with none other then Tom Jennings of S&J Archery.Great thread bd
Larry Hatfield was Damon Howatt's bowyer. The years I don't know.
Larry Hatfield is still Damon Howatt's bowyer as well as Don Jewett. Pretty sure they've both worked there for over 50 years.
Frank Eicholz and Gordon Composites
Back to the 1930's to 1950's, Frank Eicholz put plastic then fiberglass on the first composite bows. Frank had a number of inventions including the Micro Flite shaft. He put fiberglass on a bow for Harry Drake that Harry used to set a flight record with and change flight shooting. Frank also introduced Howard Hill to fiberglass and put it on one of Hills bows, guess where that lead.
http://www.gordoncomposites.com/history.htm
I THINK JOHN SCHULTZ WAS HEAD BOWYER FOR HILL IN THE EARLY TO MID 1970?
Thought-pretty sure Robert Barrie was the bowyer for Herter's. He later went on to form Rocky Mountain Broadheads.
Groves bows were built by ? , dang this CRS(can't remember s*&^) is bad when you get old. Anyway, Harold Groves designed the bow but most of them were made by Jim Elrod!
Did a search and found this and wanted more.....what about Browning's bowyers? Montgomery Ward bows...?
Wes Wallace was Jim Brackenberry's bowyer and went on his own after Jims death.
The Fasco archery company started in San Diego in the late 1950's with some of their top of the line bows made with beautiful wood carving such as basket weaving or oakleaf carving. Some even had inlays of ivory in ebony.
Fred Anderson was a bowyer for them and moved to Seattle in the early 60's when Fasco was sold to Seattle Archery. The company bought Drake Archery in later years but Harry Drake kept the flight bow manufacture part of Drake Archery. Fasco manufactured the Fire-Drake, Hunter-Flight and Shark bows.
Fred Anderson began making his own line of outstanding bows when Seattle Archery went under and just recently retired near Seattle. He has written a couple outstanding books on trad archery (The Traditional Way and Toxicated).
How about Denny Behn? He was Fred Asbell's partner and outstanding bowyer when they began the Bighorn company in the late 70's.
Later Denny Behn would team up with Steve Gorr to help design those excellent Cascade bows.
I knew you guys would add info to this thread.....amazing to think "hey, i just picked up a 1960 something bow and this guy probably made it..." adds to the personal history of the bows....not just some factory churning out products.
Here's a bow by Glenn and Ron Nelson right after their Bighorn days. Short lived venture but I killed a whole bunch of critters with this. 64# osage lams and accent.
(http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab184/GBPHunt/nelsonBrosClose.jpg)
(http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab184/GBPHunt/NelsonbrosFull.jpg)
"Dont think the Cravotta brothers made any for anyone else, but worthy of mention."
I have in my hands a Galaxie bow, model Ceres, that looks a LOT like the Cravotta Bros. bows. Looks like a Black Hawk Mosquito. Grey back and yellow 1950s type kitchen countertop belly.
Killdeer
And no Pics, Killie?
Glunt, was that Northern Lights?
QuoteOriginally posted by frank bullitt:
...Glunt, was that Northern Lights?
No, it was "Bowyer & Fletcher". Glenn & Ron made bows and a couple other guys did custom arrows. Early 90's, can't remember when exactly.
Frank, I believe Glenn eventually started North Star Bows.
Shick
Damon Howatt was killed in 1962 and Larry Hatfield kept working behind the scenes as plant manager (from bowyer) building bows. Eventually for Gail Martin & Martin Archery. Don Jewett, as well.
Walter L. Miller introduced the plastic faced bow in 1941 and secured a patent for it in 1943.
Anyone heard of Bob Bitner? I think he was one of Freds Bear Archery Bowyer or Plant managers and then Root and I beleive Hoyt also.
You must be familiar with Tellum bows.....