Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: joe skipp on January 29, 2007, 01:51:00 PM
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We all know Fred Bear and Howard Hill are the names everyone associates with Traditional bowhunting.
However, are we leaving Ben out? This man was a innovator, designer and manufactured some great shooting hunting and target bows. Plus, he was a great advocate of the sport with his shooting exhibitions and hunts on film. I personally feel Pearson deserves alot more credit and praise for his years as a hunter and bow designer.
:archer:
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I feel Ben gets the short end of the "stick" a lot too!
My first bow was a little Ben Pearson bow.
No pun intended!
But I believe I read somewhere long ago that he actually furnished arrows for Bear.
Is my memory correct?
I may have it backwards.
But I think it was like railroad cars full of arrows!
Then again, the older I get, the more I remember stuff that didn't happen, than stuff that did!
hnh
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In two words "Hell No" I also started with a Ben Pearson Bow and still have and shoot it
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I think Gray Buffalo took the words out of my mouth.
I've got family that knew and worked for Mr. Pearson, and they still call him that to this day. Mainly, because of the respect they have for the man himself, as a person. Yes, he's worthy of praise for not only his ability and contributions as an unbelievable shot, engineer, businessman, etc., but as a great man period. The world could use a few Mr. Pearsons these days....
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Joe you are absolutely correct. But what is different from Fred to Howard to Ben? Both Bear archery and Howard Hill archery are in operation producing traditional equipment today. There are numberous movies and books on both Fred and Howard in publication today. I think it keeps there legacy alive and growing. There are movies out there of Ben (and he was a great shooter and hunter) but they are few a far between. The Pearson company has all but disowned it past history of recurve and longbow manufacturing. All of the archers that followed Fred and Howard, wrote about their exploits, reproduced video of their factories, hunts and so on go a long way in cementing their legacy. Ben need some of that. dino
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I own More Pearson Bows than anything, and I say
The Proof is in the Pudding!!
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Back in the early 70's I remember how everyone wanted to get one of those gorgeous Pearson recurves. The wood combos and designs were unreal. As a kid I never could come close to affording one(I had a Shakespeare Sierra I got cheap because it was left handed and wouldn't sell), but I sure did covet...
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I aggree with Joe 100%!!!!!
Now I'm older than most.....But not as old as some LOL!!!!!
When I was a kid I watched Fred Bear and Ben Pearson on The American Sportsman,and The Wide World of Sports.....(when they were "outdoor" shows not "athletic" shows) Fred and Ben were my childhood heros!!!!!
However.....If you had asked me when I was about 10 years old.....I would probly have answered....."Who's Howard Hill?????"
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He absolutely deserves more, but very few people new him as the great shooter that he was and more for his bow building company.
He didn't put out the great movies as Fred or Howard.
Even in New York City, who didn't have a Pearson Bow growing up?
Ben Pearson -- The quiet GIANT in the field of Archery who was the doer and not the talker at least to me. :clapper:
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About six years ago I wrote the Pearson Company and requested they get back into the Traditional end of the busines. I would have carried a few of their bows here in the shop.
I said if they bring back a few of the more popular hunting models like the Maruader etc...at a fair price, hunters would buy them. I never received an answer or inquiry. Just like the Howard and Groves bows, Pearson is destined to be buried forever.
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I have a Ben Pearson Lord Mercury bow. its designed for olympic trget shooting and its still used for paper targets. great quality bow
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Are there any books written by or about Ben Pearson? I'd like to learn more about him and as you describe, he isnt as well publicized.
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Ben Pearson was born in Saline County, Arkansas on November 16, 1898. Events are hazy and accounts conflicting, but it's safe to say that Ben made his first bow sometime prior to 1926, a six foot hickory patterned after the English longbow obtained from instructions on bow building in Boy Scout articles written by Uncle Dan Beard. Later, in the Boy Scouts' Merit Badge Series for Archery, he would author his own instructions with "How To Make A Flat Bow." Ben performed numerous exhibitions across America for youth and scout groups and according to a recent article by Arline Chandler, "Pearson never charged a fee for his demonstrations, nor asked for expenses."
In 1926, Ben entered the Arkansas State Championships held in Little Rock and placed next to last. It was a humbling experience for the budding archer. Determined to improve his skills, Ben worked at upgrading his equipment and learning to shoot. The next year, he once again entered the Arkansas State Championships, but this time he walked away as the Arkansas State Champion. During the next 10 years or so, Ben would become a regular fixture at target events, develop into a highly respected competitor and place seventh behind Pat Chambers during the 1938 NAA National Tournament and 24 places ahead of a young Fred Bear. Pat would later go to work for Ben in 1940 as a field man and author "Archery," the first publication issued by Pearson Archery.
After completing grammar school, Ben worked on the family farm in Lonoke county until he was drafted toward the end of WWI. The Armistice was soon signed and Ben's short lived service came to an end. Ben returned home, but the farm couldn't hold him and he moved to Little Rock. In Little Rock, Ben would land a job with the Little Rock Railway and Electric Company, move on to the Arkansas Power & Light Company and as the Depression deepened in 1931 he would take off on his own. He tried the floral business in Pine Bluff, but with little money and even less experience his venture soon collapsed and he resorted to selling caterpillar tractors for John Riggs, doing some work for Lee Woods, Inc., of Pine Bluff and producing archery equipment in his garage.
It was during this period that a chance meeting would forever change his life. It seems that Carl Haun, a retired oil man from Blackwell, Oklahoma, had purchased a bow and arrow set for his grandson. It didn't take the grandson long to lose or break all his arrows. Grandpa set about to replace the youngster's arrows but found the task more difficult than anticipated. Upon learning of Ben Pearson, Mr. Haun cranked his airplane up and flew to Pine Bluff. Soon Mr. Haun was knocking on Ben's door and Mr. Haun's arrow problems were solved. According to Roy Hoff, "That was the beginning of a great partnership little known to the user of Ben Pearson equipment. Carl listened intently as Ben explained his dream of mass producing archery tackle and became intrigued. This was still during the depression years, but evidently not in the oil business."
Ben later commented on the meeting. "He was tickled to death to find some arrows for his grandson. So, Mr. Haun invited me to `go for a walk'. He said he wanted to look for some For Sale signs. He took a dim view of mass production in a backyard garage. We came upon an old sorghum mill with a For Sale sign on it." At that moment Carl Haun's financial support and Ben Pearson's mechanical knowledge were joined, forming Ben Pearson Company. Ben Pearson Company would later lay claim to being "the world's greatest mass-producing archery tackle manufacturer."
Ben Pearson retired from the archery manufacturing business in 1967 and passed away four years later on March 2, 1971 at age 72, after revolutionizing the manufacturing of archery tackle, providing quality, functional equipment well within the means of the average person. He left a legacy in the "Bushmaster" and the unsurpassed "Deadhead." He left another in Longbow, a 400 acre retreat near Prim, Arkansas, now restored by his son Ben, Jr. in tribute to his father and those who stalked the hills before him. His presence is still felt there in his get-away cabin. The cabin provides an awesome view of a waterfall cascading off a rock bluff into the blue-green pool below.
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'The Legendary Hunts of Ben Pearson'
See if you can find that video.....the man was a shooter let me tell ya, and like HH, he didn't hold at anchor very long either.
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Joe,Skipp, cool! thanks for that, being a Arkansas resident and visiting the longbow resort and being old enough to remember and have owned Ben's bows, he has not gained anywhere the credit he is due, he was an amazing man, and one I would have loved to meet. His son came to our State Trad championships a few years ago, that was pretty cool.
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I agree Joe. I've shot field archery with him, shot in archery demonstrations with him, hunted with him, ate with him, slept in his house. Of course my Dad was with me :) He was low profile for the masses as far as fame was concerned. But did more for archery than any man on the planet I believe. A soft spoken Christian man that produced more archery equipment during his time than anyone ever has or ever will :archer: ...Van
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Joe, if you're going to cut and paste my article from the History Section of Stickbow...least you could do was give me credit. :)
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mr.pearson gets know where near the recognition he deserves I bought a howatt hunter just about a month ago and would give it up for another pearson in a heart beat pearson is all I have ever shot till the howatt came along recently but I'm ready for a trade in my personal favorite bow of mine is my pearson hunter 709 55# it's great
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Yea Joe, what's up with that? :wavey: ...Van
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I pulled it off an internet search....didn't even notice it was part of Stickbow...if I offended anyone, I apologize....but..thanks for the article Liquid Amber..it was well done.
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Although I never got to meet Mr. Pearson (the closest I came was talking to his wife, Mrs. Mary Pearson), he's the archery pioneer I most admire. One of the main reasons for that admiration is because he obviously wasn't in it for fame or to make a big name for himself--he loved the sport. I have talked to folks that shot with him and watched his demonstration, and I have the video "The Legendary Hunts of Ben Pearson". He was an amazing archer, hunter, and inventor.
I forget who brought it up, but according to the video, at the height of their business Pearson Archery was buying feathers (to fletch arrows) by the boxcar load.
Not only a hunting pioneeer, Mr. Pearson was also a pioneeer in mass producing archery equipment--the Henry Ford of archery--making it much more affordable for the average guy.
Unless I was misinformed, after sitting in a warehouse for many years, the original presses and even a lot of the old glass from Pearson Archery was sold a few years ago. At least the fellow who bought some of it is another big Pearson fan.
Chad
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He's not forgotten as long as I'm around. Ben was good friends with Hill, Bear, Earl Hoyt and a host of others.... not all of that bunch got along. ;)
Look in Hill's movie "Tembo" and you'll notice the arrow boxes being carried by the bearers have Ben Pearson printed on them.
As far as I'm concerned he was the premier trick shot of all time. Just uncanny is all I can say.
Since I was a boy my dream bow was (and still is) a Pearson Bushmaster just like Mr.Ben used... they are real hard to find and cost many, many, sheckles when you do. :scared:
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You didn't offend me Joe, if you had, I'd of accussed you of shooting a girly bow. :) If you have stuff on the web, it gets linked any number of places.
I've visited Ben Jr. and stayed in the Bushmaster cabin...a great place to visit if you like solitude.
Van's father, Sterling had a book given him by Ben P. It was titled "Arkansans of the Years" by Fay Williams, 1953. Sterling had allowed me to copy the chapter on Ben Pearson but I couldn't talk him out of the book. :)
My wife and I had a weekend planned at Hot Springs when Sterling became ill and lapsed into a comma. I talked with Moselle, Van's Mother on Friday and she told me not to cancel my trip as there was nothing I could do by staying in town. We went to Hot Springs and Sterling passed away on Saturday and I didn't find out until I returned home on Sunday evening.
My wife wanted to visit an antique mall but I wasn't too keen as it required waiting around for an hour or so for it to open. When I walked in, the first booth I noticed was one littered with books. With nothing to guide me, I walked up and looked at the first shelf, eye high and right there was a copy of the above mentioned book.
What are the odds? I always figured I had a little divine help....old Sterling was still watching out for me as he had for several years as my neighbor and friend.
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Joe, JC, Gray Buff... ditto ditto Amen! My first hunting bow was a Ben Pearson Take Down Longbow, model 304, 45@28. Loved that bow.
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Terry is right, If you have never seen the video
"The Legendary Hunts of Ben Pearson" It's well worth finding a copy. In the video, you will see just how good of a archer Mr. Pearson was. He made some unbelievable shots.
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Rumor has it that it's available in DVD now ;) ...Van
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Hey Van...my goal this year was to harvest a deer with a Deadhead....didn't happen. Zwickey prevailed. Every time I selected the arrow with the Deadhead...nothing showed up.
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Yep, I know the feeling :biglaugh: ...Van
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I have seen a lot of excellent archers shoot their bows but Ben Pearson was the best! He toured in the fifties doing demonstrations.He was the real deal no smoke and mirrors, just great shooting.I do think he wasn't as good of a promoter as Bear and Hill.It is a shame he doesn't get the reconition he so rightly deserves.I also wish Harry Drake got the credit he deserves. Pearson and Drake were my idols.
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Dr Ed Ashby just left my house yesterday. He hunted with all the great Archers of old. Ed told of spending time with Fred Bear and Ben Pearson. Ed says that everyone notes Howard Hill but always forgets Ben. Ed tells that Ben actually hit moving targets better that Howard. He even noted a shot made by Ben on film where a guy told him he couldn't kill a javelina at a distance of around 120-140 yards. They hauled out the enormous camera, Ben drew and released, the arrow sailed, took the javelina in the goodies and he piled up inside of 40 yards. I'ts supposedly on film somewhere.
Ed also talks of Ben Jr's Bed and Breakfast cabins that have waterfalls running around them. He says the cabins have old bows that were Bens hanging in them. It sounds to me like Ben's not gotten recognition but most of the greats of the bow didn't do things to be recognized! CK
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The long shot on the javelina is on "The Legendary Hunts of Ben Pearson", along with several other hunts (including wing-shooting ducks and pheasants with a bow) and trick shooting.
Chad
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My 1st bow was a Ben Pearson, I have 6 or 7 Ben Pearson bows plus a back quiver.
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Well, for me it started some 3 years ago with an old Ben Pearson Pinto that I had bought through e-bay. It had bad twisted limbs, I cut off the limbs and added new, black, limbs to it and from then I was hooked with refurbishing bows as well as building them. Since then I bought 2 Pintos and 9 Mustangs, refurbished and sold them again. The buyers really liked them a lot.
The picture shows my first refurbished Ben Pearson Pinto.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l118/V-Archer/V-Archery-Pinto11.jpg)
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V-archer, that is one pretty bow!
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V-Archer, that is very interesting. I've often thought of all those old beautiful risers of the 60's and why someone didn't figure out a way to salvage them and install new limbs. Would love to see more of your work :thumbsup: Good luck...Van
Ed tells that Ben actually hit moving targets better that Howard.
Heck, I could have told you that :D :D
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I don't think Ben gets even 1/10 of 1% credit he deserves. :mad:
Now where can I get a copy of "The Legendary Hunts of Ben Pearson"? :confused:
Last friday I took delivery courtesy of Erik Krewson :bigsmyl:
My son owns a Bear Kodiak and a Pearson Mustang and guess which one he grabs first either to shoot targets or to hunt with?
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My first hunting bow was a Ben Pearson hunter.
55LB 68inch,red riser wood with black limbs.
A truely beautifull bow.
Fred Bear was the big name then and I really wanted a Bear bow,,but I stumbled on the Ben Pearson hunter and discovered I had gold in my hands.
That was thirty some years ago but I'll never forget the bow or the name that came with it.
Sure wish I had that bow today.
Wish I was 16 again too,,,LOL.
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I think Ben didn't have the noteriety of Fred because he wasn't the self promoter Fred was. Ben marketed his equipment and Fred marketed himself.
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Yep I know what you mean. he was a great shot and hunter. Bear isn't known so much for his shooting, (duck!- incoming!!!!). But for his hunting - videos and books, memoirs, etc.
Kinda like the Wright brothers getting all the credit for flying first. What was that other guys name that actually did??? !!
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His son owns a resort in Arkansas, and sells the video. It's quite good. Javalina, ducks(flying) and mountain lion with the bow. Polar bear also, if I remember correctly.
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I don't remember the "name" of my first Ben Pearson bow. It was a 40# with white laminates and a blonde wood core, the riser was of the same wood. My next Ben Pearson I still have and shoot a 56# "Colt" with green fiberglass laminates and dark wood core & riser. I also have a Ben Pearson Compound with black glass laminates and dark woodcore and riser and a Lord Mercury target bow that I would like to get relaminated but don't know if that work is or can be done in today's "throw away world."
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Where is that DVD available from?
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You can contact Ben Jr. through his website.
http://www.longbowresorts.com/
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I found a Pearson lemonwood longbow in a custom fitted wooden box with six arrows, a glove, and armguard...it was a boxed set. I sold it years ago when I had a shop...someone really wanted it..and I wish I had kept that thing!
I've looked around trying to find that setup in a Pearson catalog but no luck...perhaps it was an early early thing when he was first starting out or something...but it sure was neat.
I have an old black and white movie of he and Howard Hill bowfishing together and hunting pigs and goats on Catalina Island. He was quite the shot!
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You can add me to the list. My first bow was a used Cougar, and I took my first deer with it. You never forget your first right? Just from what others are saying about him, I'm sure he'd be happy to hear of so many that got into archery with his equipment.
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Great topic...and good to see it revived.
As others have mentioned, my first "production" bow was a BP Hunter.
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d108/lwscott/benpearson.jpg)
Here's another BP Pinto, a classic from the early 60's.
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d108/lwscott/bow-3.jpg)
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Man I learn something new everyday. I don't live but about an hour from the cabins. Is it set up kind of like a museum for people to look at?
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I agree completely- Pearson is too often passed over. His work with groups like Boy's Clubs and the Scouts and other benevolent groups should be enough to qualify him as a "Great", and that's not to mention his enormous influence in the field of archery manufacturing- that pre-dated Bear's by a good bit, and I'm a Bear fan- and bringing affordable quality equipment to the attention of the general public. My first bow was a Pearson hickory longbow set which I received for my sixth Christmas in 1960. My next was a Pearson "Jet" solid glass bow three years later. Like Terry said, the man could SHOOT, too. Ask Van- he knew him pretty well. Grant
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My first hunting bow was a Pearson Gamester at 45#. I still have it. I killed my first deer ever with it back in the 70's. I also got a neat longbow from my father in-law. It is a Hill style bow of hardwood (probably lemonwood but I'm not sure) backed with bamboo. The only marking on it is the Ben Pearson decal with the arrow through the Peasrson name. Don't know how old it is but it looks similar to one I once saw in a 1940's era Pearson catalog. It pulls 55#, which I've been told was quite stout by the standards of the 40's & 50's. A lot of bow hunters got off to a solid start because Ben Pearson offered good equipment at affordable prices. He doesn't get the notoriety of others in the field, but he certainly had a tremendous influence on archey.
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Ben Pearson made my second REAL bow and I bought it secondhand in 1970 or thereabouts for twenty dollars. It was a Colt 707, a little under 35 pounds with a beautiful olla wood riser. I got pretty good with it, won some stuff in college with it. I ought to shoot that bow more, 'cause I don't shoot as well now as I did back then...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/Misspent%20Youth/1975BParchery.jpg)
Bowdoc refinished it for me a couple of years ago, along with another Colt that belongs to a friend. I often have said that I think the lines of the Colt are far more graceful than a Super Kodiak's.
Now I have two Colts, a Stallion, an All American and a little Bronco in the box, cute as a bug's ear. My zebrawood Hunter is on loan to a coworker. I think I might pry that loose from him this spring, and chalk up the arrows as a loss. :rolleyes:
Never met Mr. Pearson, indeed, never heard of him until shortly before his death. He holds a warm, fuzzy stronghold in my heart, though, and I never get tired of hearing about his accomplishments and skill.
Killdeer
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He gets ALL DUE RESPECT from me ;)
Love my Pearsons!!!!
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Same here trap, my first bow was a signature series my mother bought my father for there first wedding annaversery back in 63 and i still have it. Now I have added several more BP bows and still adding.
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Like you all, I don't think he gets the same reconition. I have a video of him put out by his son pretty good. I think Ben was more of the behind the scene guy, who promoted archery, which to me makes him more special. wish we had more footage. Would love to see someone do a book on him like done on Mr. Hill and Mr. Bear. I would buy it.
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my first new bow was a Ben Pearson; and I took many squirrels and rabbits and woodchucks with it; and even went deer hunting with it... then I joined the Air Force after winning the draft - and loaned it too someone. I sure miss that bow !!
Maybe - just maybe the person who borrowed it; will still have it in an attic somewhere...
I too think Ben Pearson was overlooked. Seemed like his bows were more availible; as I recall you had to have a Bear dealership to sell Bear Archery bows; and short of that; you could not sell them. So a lot of us bought Pearsons; and they were good bows !
tip of the hat to you Ben !!!
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My second bow was a Ben Pearson, my first bow was the result of a neighbor kid sneaking some hickory sticks out of his Dads work shop. I was eleven and the other guy was about 15. I guess my uncle did'nt think to much of our creations. He bought me the little 20lb fiberglass recurve, I wish I still had it. I'm 55 now and still at it, have 6 recurves I play with. It' good to reflect on where we came from. Thanks Mr Pearson. :clapper:
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First real bow was an early 60s Old Hickory. Quality control of these mass produced youth bows, at least the one my dad bought me, was sad.
Still have the old crooked stick, just as good as new.
Result?
My first real hunting bow, bought a few years later with my hard earned dollars, was a Bear Super Grizzly. Didn't even ask to compare with a Pearson. Now, 40 years later, I can see that BP made some fine bows, but his mass produced youth bows probably cost him a lot of return biz.
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Ive been hunting for ben pearson lefty recurve 64 incher @ about 55-58 pounds for years no luck yet!!!Ben was the man!!! :wavey:
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Ben Pearson bows are still "working" today to get people into Archery. They are still around because they are quality bows and generally at a lower price. I have had many pass thru my hands to people young and old that wanted to try Archery. I have a "Deerslayer" and a couple of "Old Hickory" bows in my collection as a constant reminder of the Legendary Man!
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Thanks for the contact information, Liquid Amber!
If anyone's keen on getting that DVD, just contact Ben Jr. via his e-mail address on that website Liquid Amber provided. Ben Jr. is happy to help.
Cheers,
Ben
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Its not well known but Ben Pearson was the largest manufacturer of archery equipment for nearly three decades.