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Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: Wade Phillips on October 13, 2009, 09:16:00 AM

Title: Sphinx Bows of Jim Hodek (1917-1973) Michigan Bowyer
Post by: Wade Phillips on October 13, 2009, 09:16:00 AM

Jim Hodek (1917-1973), is one of many old-time Michigan bowyers who are little known outside Mighigan. Jim made bows from the 1940s through the 1960s. Although most of his later recurves are marked, many of his earlier bows are not marked. Thought it might be a good idea to start a thread so guys can post photographs of Hodek bows as some collectors may have one that they can not identify. Feel free to post photographs of Jim or any archery tackle that he made…

Jim's distinctive “Sphinx J.C. Hodek” marking on his mid 1950s engraved riser...

    (http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/cb88d973.jpg)

Woven glass back on mid 1950s engraved riser...

   (http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/4613a93e.jpg)

Title: Re: Sphinx Bows of Jim Hodek (1917-1973) Michigan Bowyer
Post by: johnnyrazorhead on October 13, 2009, 10:00:00 AM

Oops.Sorry Wade,I posted pics of my Hodek bow on the mystery bowman thread before I saw this one.I'll put 'em up here too.
  (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/detroitdeerslyer/HodekbowI.jpg)
  (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/detroitdeerslyer/HodekbowII.jpg)
  (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/detroitdeerslyer/HodekbowIII.jpg)
 I've got a couple more of Jim's bows.I'll get pics up later.

Title: Re: Sphinx Bows of Jim Hodek (1917-1973) Michigan Bowyer
Post by: jcar315 on October 13, 2009, 10:09:00 AM

Beautiful bows!!!

Title: Re: Sphinx Bows of Jim Hodek (1917-1973) Michigan Bowyer
Post by: Wade Phillips on October 13, 2009, 10:15:00 AM

John - I love your Hodek "Swiss Cheese Bow". Jim must have had a great sense of humor.

Title: Re: Sphinx Bows of Jim Hodek (1917-1973) Michigan Bowyer
Post by: Cody Roiter on October 13, 2009, 11:08:00 AM

Wade, Every one tell's me this is a Coe.. It's looks more like a Hodek bow... What do you think Wade ?.

 (http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu197/TradBowKid/Eachbowbow037.jpg)

 (http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu197/TradBowKid/Eachbowbow038-1.jpg)

 (http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu197/TradBowKid/Eachbowbow042-1.jpg)

 (http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu197/TradBowKid/Eachbowbow041.jpg)

Title: Re: Sphinx Bows of Jim Hodek (1917-1973) Michigan Bowyer
Post by: Wade Phillips on October 13, 2009, 01:40:00 PM

Cody -

If you can, post a photograph of the profile view of the bow so we can see the shape of the form it was built on, the shape of the recurve should tell us a lot.

Remember that Hodek and Coe was lived in the same State during the same period. In looking at their bows, it is easy to speculate that some of these Michigan bowyers had an influence on each other...

Undoubtedly, many collectors would be shocked to learn exactly "what" or "who" influenced the design of their favorite bow...

Title: Re: Sphinx Bows of Jim Hodek (1917-1973) Michigan Bowyer
Post by: johnnyrazorhead on October 13, 2009, 02:02:00 PM

Wade-
 Yes,I've thought the same thing,Jim must have been bored and had a sense of humor when he made that thing.Wonder how it would shoot compared to a 1960 Kodiak.LOL