Trad Gang
Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: johnnyrazorhead on April 29, 2012, 01:34:00 AM
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Soon as my daughter returns home from Florida with my,er..I mean her camera,I'll be taking some pictures. :thumbsup:
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Can't Wait!!!
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John,
Bring them over I have a camera!
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C'mon over with your camera Jack,too many bows to lug around.
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Well......... :campfire:
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No wheels John. Traded my truck for a 59 Kodiak.
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Sounds like a good trade to me.You are a shrewd businessman.Having no wheels is a good thing whether it's a truck or a bow! LOL
Larry M.- I hope all this suspense is worth the wait.I set the hook,now I just gotta reel all you fellow tradgangers slooowwly into the bow room.Actually it's killing me NOT being able to take these pictures and share them with everyone.
Today's word for our lesson is "patience". :bigsmyl:
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John, I find myself humming the "final question music" from Jeopardy everytime I check in...
You are a master of suspense!
:goldtooth:
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Not meant to be taking this long to post pictures fellas.My wife,daughter(and her camera) just got home late last night from Florida and I am going into work early the rest of the week so I will try to take pics and get them posted as soon as I am able.I work afternoons and don't get home until late at night so time is scarce when working the overtime.
Hobow- Now you've got me humming the "final question music" from Jeopardy. :banghead:
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TTT,
PLEASE JOHHNY!
:coffee:
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Chuck,I swear I'm trying.This week has been brutal.I will get some good pics soon and post them I promise.Just a little bit looonger...... I know that I'm :deadhorse:
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I know what it is like when the wife makes off with the camera, drive me nutzo,
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I've got an old cheapy digital camera that I could have used but the pictures aren't very good with it.I want to take some high quality photos to post and to archive so that's why I'm waiting to post them.The camera is home now but I haven't been due to some crazy work hours.Hopefully soon they will get done.It takes so darn long to take the photos,download them,send them to photobucket for re-sizing,and then getting them posted here on Tradgang.Just not enough hours in a day it seems.
I just hope you find the pics worth the wait.
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Sounds like you may need to take a vacation day John.
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Jack,
Funny you should say that.I had just used up the last of my vacation days for the year(they start over every May 1st)and had the whole week off turkey hunting and doing stuff around the house.Didn't end up picking these bows up until Saturday,one day before I was back to the grind.Shoulda went Bear hunting earlier in the week instead of turkey hunting I guess.
I did manage to take several pictures this morning,all I need to do is get them to photobucket and on here.Getting closer.... :thumbsup:
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Great! Can't wait to see what you have found now.
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Alright-I'm doing this in a bit of a hurry but I wanted to get the ball rolling.Took a little trip up north to hopefully pick up a couple of take-down bows.Spent the day with a good friend and former Bear employee,going through all kinds of goodies in his barn and workshop.Stuck in an old barrel out in his barn were a few old Bear bows so I decided to take a little look-see.Pulled an old tarp off of them along with some other "stuff" to expose several limb tips of bows protruding from the barrel.We started pulling them out one by one.They were covered in years of dust and dirt.I wasn't really sure what they were at first.As they exposed themselves more and more I could ssee that most were Tamerlanes of one kind or another.Now,I'm not a real big Tamerlane/target bow collector although some of the earlier '63 and '64 Tamerlanes are quite stunning in my opinion.But these were looking kind of interesting.
Well anyhow,I set these filthy old bows aside along with the rest of the "Bearied-treasure" I found and brought them home.It was late when I got home and I should have gone straight to bed but I just had to see what was underneath all this dirt,so I got a wet rag and started wiping them down.This first bow shown here was simply wiped down with a wet rag and not polished up(yet) like I do to most all of my bows.It ended up being in remarkable condition.Again,not being a real big Tamerlane collector,the bow isn't something to do handstands over,but it is another piece of cool history from the glorious early days of Bear Archery's R&D Dept..I'm guessing this is an early 1970's era bow.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza001.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza002.jpg)
This picture shows how similar,at least to me,this riser looks to that oddball '65/'66 Kodiak I recently showed on here.The accent stripe is very similar to me.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza006.jpg)
There were no silkscreens on this bow at all,very common on alot of these EXP bows I have come across.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza005.jpg)
Here you can see the factory specs written in gold:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza004.jpg)
As with several other EXP marked bows I have found,some weren't marked with "EXP" written on them in gold or black but had a piece of tape on them with EXP written on it.This bow had both.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza003.jpg)
That's it for this morning,gotta run to work.Just wanted to get started on posting them up.More to follow.
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Sweet Johnny. Thanks man.
CTT
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John,
Great find! I have a few of the Tamerlanes. Not really collecting them but just ended up with four or five one way or another. Beautiful bows though.
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What a great find John!
That's one cool looking bow.......Philip
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Really interesting.
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While we're looking at Tamerlanes,I thought I would include a few pics of another nice one I picked up recently.This one is a very nice 1964 model,one of my favorites as far as Tamerlanes are concerned..I got this bow along with that cool little white glass 1961 Kodiak Magnum shown in another post recently.Both belonged to the same former Bear employee,but not the same one the other bows in this thread came from.And both I believe were made especially for her considering the low draw weight of both bows.I really love the look of this one,the grip really has a nice,contoured feel to it.My hand falls right into place on it.There is no serial number on this one either,only the specs,and it was not marked EXP in any way.I was told by someone that worked at Bear that it was common not to put a serial number on a bow if it wasn't made for production.
Anyhow,here's a couple pics of this bow:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza007.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza008.jpg)
Love these little wedges on the caps:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza009.jpg)
Note the lack of serial # on this pic,as well as the short 63" length and the custom 24#@ 24" draw weight.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza010.jpg)
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:thumbsup: Cool bows John, I really like the early ones... :cool: Hink
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Thanks bill.I agree.Those '63 and '64's are gorgeous!!
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Very Very Cool. I love the unique stuff!!!
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Nice finds!
-Jay
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cool bow John, I really like that it doesn't have the sight window routered out for a sight or plate.
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:cool: pieces of history. Love them old Bear bows :archer2:
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Great bows John! I'm generally not a Tamerlane guy, but there is no denying the coolness of those two bows. I especially like the way that the grain was rotated in alternating directions on the wedges of that early bow.
The main, triangular belly slabs of the EXP Tamerlane and Kodiak risers do appear to be almost the exact same cut in size and angle, they definitely look related.
Good job finding those, keep 'em coming!
Brad
:clapper:
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Hobow(Brad)- Like you,I am not really a Tamerlane guy.But this next bow might change your mind like it did mine.This bow was also found abandoned in that barn sticking out of a barrel along with the others.It was so filthy and covered in dirt and dust,I wasn't sure what it was.It found it's way home with the others and after another late night cleaning with a wet washcloth,it started to come alive.After giving sponge baths to several bows that night when I got home and long after I should have been in bed,I just had to put some polish to this one.It was worth it!The best of the bunch. Not sure what the wood is other than spectacular.Brownish in color,it looks like melted chocolate.Brown glass overlays on the tips and riser like I have never seen on a Tamerlane.Another piece of history from the R&D Dept.Enjoy! :thumbsup:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza025-1-1.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza013.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza012.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza016.jpg)
The ever present white tape with EXP on it.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza015.jpg)
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Check out that swirl!!
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza018.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza014.jpg)
Again,no silkscreens:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza023.jpg)
Brown glass overlays like Nick's(oldskoolarcher)'66 Kodiak:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza019.jpg)
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John, Some could digging there , thats a sweet looker.....I do collect some of these for the collection so just saying.....if ever trade/sell
Thanks for saving these for sure, because you never know what might have happen to them if you didn't shake the bushes.. :clapper: :cool: Hink
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Beautiful bows John!!
I myself like the Tamerlane's and view them as a significant part of the Bear History. I have in the past known several individuals who shoot these quality made recurves very efficiently in 3-D competition.
More then worth the wait for the cool story and pics. As usual John, great stuff.....
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John, that looks great! I like the brown overlays very much. After looking at the pics of the grain that chocolate bow looks like it's made of futurewood, is that correct?
Regardless, that's one heck of a way to kickstart a Tamerlane collection, bravo!
Brad
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Wowza... Beautiful find John!!!
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Brad- I wouldn't doubt that it is some sort of futurewood.The bow appears to be from around 1966 going by the glass color and the serial number.I'm sure Bear was starting to experiment with futurewood then.Wonder why they didin't make anymore brown futurewood bows.I love it!!! :dunno:
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I like it too, that wood with brown glass in a '66 Kodiak would be sweet!
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That Tamerlane bow has a laminated handle. Which today is universally referred to as Actionwood. If it is dyed, it does not look like maple. It actually looks like the Yellow Birch that is used today, but without seeing it in hand...
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Love seeing these......thanks for finding them in the barn and sharing the pics too!
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Great to see all these unique finds, on the last one you posted (66 EXP) that swirl in the grain reminds me of quilted Maple it is beautiful. Thanks for sharing... :thumbsup:
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Got time for more goodies.This is an interesting little bowcase.Never saw one quite like it before.I've seen the larger Bear soft cases that hold a riser and two sets of limbs with the red lining.Lets take a look see,shall we?
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs001.jpg)
Very cool.Holds a riser and one set of limbs.And the lining is yellow.Hmmm....
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs002.jpg)
Ah.Very nice.A wood C-riser.I didn't have one of those.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs003.jpg)
Looks like a dandy.Clean.Nice small grip.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs004.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs005.jpg)
It's got the brown bears on the latches.My favorite!
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs006.jpg)
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Nice set of white limbs with black tips.And the recessed wedges.I love that!!
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs009.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs011.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs010.jpg)
How cool.A set of White Knight limbs.I believe those were named after Victor Berger,right? Or not.Either way,I love 'em.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs012.jpg)
What's this on the side of the riser?More writing?What does it say I wonder???
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/CustomC-riserlimbs008.jpg)
What a great looking riser,and "Customized by Bear".I've seen that on one other C-riser I once owned years ago.Got it from a former employee that shot for Bear.Wonder who this one was made for.Oh well,we may never know the answer to that question but another very cool piece of un-earthed treasure.Hope you enjoyed seeing it.
Finally,the family is complete.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/ABCRisers.jpg)
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Ah,what the heck.One more,then it's off to bed.Picked up this cool set of take-down limbs with the other stuff as well.Now,I've seen some like these in the past.I even have two other sets like them.And I know of a couple others.All of the sets I've seen like these have been #2 limbs.Why,I don't know.Maybe a set of #1's or #3's will pop up somewhere.Anything is possible.
These limbs also had the small piece of white tape on them marked EXP.Now,for those of you that might think I'm just putting all these little pieces of white tape on these things and writing EXP on them to make it interesting...
SHAME ON YOU!!!! I would never do that.This is how I got them,O.K.?Just wanted to clarify that.I'm not sure what riser these would look good on.They're sort of a pea green or mustard colored glass and the core is some sort of maroon colored phenolic or something.
I guess when you consider the time frame when they were experimenting with all these different things at Bear I suppose it seemed "normal" at the time.I mean,it was the late 1960's you know.Hippies,Woodstock.LSD.Maybe they were experimenting with alot more than just bows in that R&D Dept.I'm just throwin' it out there.Maybe Bowdoc would know.Anyhow,I want to hate them but I find myself being strangly attracted to their unique appearance.What do you think? Thumbs up or thumbs down? and how many others have seen or own limbs like these?Just curious.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPYellowtake-downlimbs001.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPYellowtake-downlimbs002.jpg)
Here's the EXP sticker that I DID NOT put on myself!!
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPYellowtake-downlimbs003.jpg)
The limb specs written backwards compared to most limbs,starting with the C,then the B,and finally the A.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPYellowtake-downlimbs004.jpg)
The silkscreens in black:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPYellowtake-downlimbs005.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPYellowtake-downlimbs007.jpg)
And white tips.I may have some with black tips,I'm not sure.I'll dig 'em out and see.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPYellowtake-downlimbs006.jpg) :wavey: See ya later!!
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Damn John - do you live in one of those "vortex" areas like the Bermuda Triangle? Weird Bear stuff sure seems to find its way to your area of MI.
Nice finds........those are some unusual limbs!
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John,
You always come up with the cool stuff! Nice!
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Hayslope- Things have "sucked" here in Michigan for so long with this economy that I suppose I could be in some sort of vortex.LOL.So many manufacturing jobs have left this state.All this weird stuff is just evidence of the good ol' days when that little factory along the shores of the AuSable River in Grayling was in it's prime cranking out all this great stuff and making history in the process.Bear Archery was definitely one of the bright spots in Michigan's past.Thankfully some of what remains of those days is still popping up around me.Just gotta dig a little bit.
I agree,the limbs are certainly unusual.
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Thanks Jack.But I gotta tell you,that beautiful 70# 1964 Kodiak you found is pretty impressive.I think we need to hang out a little more.You're a pretty good treasure finder yourself buddy. :thumbsup:
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Wow John
More cool stuff. That Customized C Riser with the limbs are a treat for the eye's. Neat Stuff Indeed!!!!!!
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you're such a bow tease John....
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hmmm, yea, I got a camera around here somewhere...
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Originally posted by hayslope:
Damn John - do you live in one of those "vortex" areas like the Bermuda Triangle? Weird Bear stuff sure seems to find its way to your area of MI.
Nice finds........those are some unusual limbs!
X2, I'm with hayslope on this one, keep finding this kind of stuff and I think the "BEAR-muda Triangle" would become the perfect name for your collection John...
That is a pretty unique grip, it would seem to be easy to recognize, I'll keep my eyes peeled as I go through my old magazines.
Great stuff as usual and keep it coming!
Brad
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Brad- I like that,the "Bear-muda Triangle".I don't know how you guys come up with stuff like that.I may just use that if I need a name for a display in the future.
Chuck- Get that camera out!!! I know you're sitting on a treasure-trove of Bear-ied treasure yourself.Time to share 'cuz I'm running out of stuff!
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I have a few more items to show you from my recent "Bear-ied treasure" find and wanted to save the best for last.But with little time to take pictures and post them in the order that I would like,I decided to get these pics up while time allowed.
Fred had always wanted a bow that could be broken down for travelling.He was flying all over the world hunting all kinds of animals with his bow and travelling with a full length recurve didn't always work out the best.Being able to break his bow down in a smaller carry-on package was a huge plus for him.At that time I'm sure one could easily board a commercial airline with a bow disassembled and cased.Not so much today.Fred messed with the idea of a take-down bow for awhile before him and the boys in R&D finally came up with the ultimate idea.Not actually a "take-apart" bow that required some sort of tool to assemble/disassemble the bow,but one that could be taken apart without needing any sort of tool.You know the system I'm talking about,one still being made and used today.These are examples of two of the earliest versions ever made.I have,over the years,referred to these bows as the "brass bears" as they have small brass bears mounted on the latches as opposed to the more familiar plastic brown bears we find on the early production bows.I was told that as these bows were getting ready for introduction to the sporting goods industry,Fred sat down and drew up these small bears and had the boys in the tooling dept. make up a few sets.These brass bears were brazed to small screws and mounted on the risers.I was told that less than ten sets of these "brass bear risers" were made,making them truly some of the rarest "Bear-ied treasure" known.Fred wanted a few of these risers completed,bears and all,for the upcoming trade show where they were to be shown for the first time.
Sit back and enjoy a couple of these pre-production,prototype,whatever you want to call them,take-down risers.Truly history in the making as the take-down bow was Fred's favorite bow of choice,his Holy Grail,and the last bow he ever hunted with.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza027.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza028.jpg)
Serial numbers are very low and in sequence on these two.B1007 and B1008
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza031.jpg)
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Here's a couple of pictures of the "brass bears"
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza032.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza033.jpg)
Here's a couple alongside a plastic brown bear on an early production riser:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza046.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza045.jpg)
You can see how much the production riser(top) was trimmed down compared to the prototype version:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza043.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza044.jpg)
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A couple more pictures:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza030.jpg)
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza029.jpg)
The inside of these latches are marked "Model B" as opposed to "Model 10" as found in the production sockets.Sockets and latches are pretty much the same as on the production models except for a couple of early changes that were made out of necessity.I was told an interesting story about these changes and will share it with you here,along with photos so you can see them.These were last minute changes made to correct a problem that Fred discovered shortly before these bows were to be at that trade show.
Unfortunately it is past my bedtime so I will leave you with this one last picture until I can finish the "show and tell" on the latches.
(You're right Chuck,I am a tease!)LOL :jumper:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza039.jpg)
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:scared:
You definitely live in the Bearmuda Triangle!
Great finds!!!!
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WOW. That is awesome. I am truly jealous. Thanks for sharing!!!
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:campfire:
Can't get enough of the TD inside info!!!
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Nice John :)
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Thanks for sharing those handles John.
Museum stuff right there........
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John, suddenly I find myself strangely attracted to you.... or at least your bow room.... nice handles, wow.
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Nice handles?
You fellas still use that?
Killdeer :laughing:
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Killdeer,
Now you know where the true term "Love Handles" came from. They came in A, B and C.
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Glad you guys enjoyed these.I figured any Bear fan would like to see them.
Phil- If I wasn't committed to buying these two beauties,and hopefully more besides,I would be all over that MSJ take-down of yours.Absolutely gorgeous.And I've got a set of MSJ made take-down limbs here at the house.Clear glass over zebrawood,look just like the limbs that came with the Signature bow.Boy would they look great on your handle.No trades???
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Hi John. I gotta visit you someday to see those handles in person. So special! And I mean it when I say Thanks for sharing them. Such a pleasure.
Now about this handle.
It is so unbelievably beautiful. Essentially a signature bow with black glass instead of brown.
MSJ limbs are also amazing. I have a set of #3 yew wood under clear glass that are stunning and the fastest shooting set I have encountered to date 56#.
Your limbs sound sweet too!!!
If I could get photobucket to cooperate tonite, I will post some pics.
PS:
The limbs for the signature bow were Yew wood under clear glass........... ;)
...........Philip
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Phil,
I would have to dig my limbs out,but I imagine it's very likely that they are yew and not Zebrawood.If I can get some pics of them I will post them..
Anytime you're near Michigan,the Compton shoot is coming up,let me know and we'll get together.
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That is one thing I must do someday.
Visit you John and spend a day at Compton with you.
Here's the Yew limbs......Philip
(http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt247/87philip/msjlimbs2.jpg)
(http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt247/87philip/msjlimbs1.jpg)
(http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt247/87philip/msjlimbs3.jpg)
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Sounds like a plan to me Phil.Let me know and we'll get together.And my wife makes a pretty good home-made ravioli and sauce.Italian food would definitely be in order.
If I remember correctly,the limbs I have look very similar.Maybe they are yew wood too.I'll dig 'em out a.s.a.p.
Just saw the double post above.Don't know how that happened.
John
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WOW! I don't know what else to say John, what an amazing find!
Aside from the riser thickness, are the sockets and overall dimensions the same as production risers and do they accept the production limbs?
It proves that you never know what is still out there in hiding, just waiting for someone who is willing to dig deep enough to find it.
Btw, I find it very impressive that you were able to hold your excitement back and start with the (still great) Tamerlane pics...
Thank you very much for finding these and sharing with us, congratulations!
Brad
:clapper:
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Hobow(Brad)-Yes,the sockets do accept the production limbs.Other than the pics and story I will be sharing with you soon,they are the same as production sockets in dimension.
And you are right,you never know what still lurks out there in someone's closet,garage,under the bed,barn,etc... I'm sure more items will surface.
It was hard to start with the Tamerlane's first.As impressive as they are,these risers were the real excitement for me.I had known about these risers,and several more,for many years now.I never really thought I would end up with any of them.I actually offered to sell the B1008 riser for the owner and offered it to several interested collectors,but the price was pretty steep(his price) so no one wanted to bite.I finally decided that as much as I like them,I should stop kidding myself and just buy them for myself.So I did.Initially I had hoped to own just one for myself,but it snowballed.Thankfully.They are such a huge part of Bear Archery history and it seemed wrong to break them up,especially when you have consecutive serial numbers like these two have.They belong together in my opinion.
And "thank you" for the thank you about sharing them.Shortly after I started collecting old archery stuff,I started putting together some displays and set them up at a handful of shows here in Michigan.I really enjoyed having the stuff but I wanted others to be able to enjoy it as much as I do.Work,and time don't allow me to set up my display as often as I would like,plus only us Michiganiacs would get to see it.By taking pictures and posting them on websites like this,I think alot more of us trad/collecting guys get a chance to see it.Who knows if /when someone like yourself,living in Oregon would have ever had the opportunity to see such items as this.I am just glad to share these historic items with others that have the same passion for it as I do.Kinda like a cyber campfire.Glad you like them. :campfire:
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John, Many thanks again for sharing. Appreciate you taking the time to post it here and let us admire them from afar.
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Thank You John for Sharing all you Do!!
Out here on the Left Coast we don't get very many opportunities to rub shoulders with Serious Bear Collector's who manage to come up with the truly unusual and unique. It certainly is a Treat (and an education) to see the wonderful postings that come up frequently on this site by yourself and others.
Please keep them coming.......
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Larry- I am very happy that you enjoy seeing all this stuff as much as I like to show it to you.I'll keep it coming as long as I can keep finiding it.There is a wealth of information on this site for all of us trad guys and I too can't get enough.
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I thought I might add this. This is B 1002. It was originally owned by the great Alaskan Bowhunter George Moerlein. He shot a World Record (P & Y) American Bison with it in 1972. I do not know much about Mr. Moerlein, but I have seen a few pictures of him with this bow, so it may have been his go to bow. It is currently part of The Pope & Young Museum collection. All specs are identical to the two handles John posted. Enjoy...
(http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae64/Missaukee/Bear%20Takedowns/100_4611.jpg)
(http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae64/Missaukee/Bear%20Takedowns/100_4610.jpg)
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Don-
That is too cool! Thank you so much for posting those pictures of B1002.It fits perfectly with this thread.There is an A-riser with the same serial number.Now that would make a real nice pair.Great photos.
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Almost wrote to you that I would trade my Takedown Grumley for the signed TD riser, and thought twice. lol
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Well,I've got a minute before I leave for work so I'll try to finish the story of the latches.
I was told that shortly before these risers were to be shown to the public,Fred was at the plant late one evening doing some last minute experimenting with the bows.My friend received a phone call at his house from Fred telling him that they had a problem and he needed him to come back to the plant.So back to the plant he went to find Fred looking distraught with a red bandana wrapped around his lower leg and blood trickling from beneath it.Fred was testing to see what would happen to the bows if a string were to break unexpectedley so he was holding the bow with his foot and drawing the string back with one hand and then cut the string with the other.The limbs had somehow popped out of the sockets and ended up whacking Fred in the shin.He needed to know why this happened as they couldn't have this problem with the new bows.After some further research including some high-speed filming,it was determined that the latch was slipping out from underneath the samll spring loaded keeper that holds it down.Both the end of the latch and the keeper were flat on the ends and the stress concentrated on that portion of the limb caused the latch to flex slightly and slip out from underneath the keeper.So they decided the solution to the problem was to change both the end of the latch and the keeper so they were "hooked" at the end and not flat.This small change seemed to work with no further problems.I always found that story interesting,to know the amount of thought that went into even the smallest detail of these remarkable bows.Here are some photos showing the earlier flat latch system and the "new and improved" system with the hooked ends.Riser # B1007 has the flat latches and riser # B1008 has the new system.You can see that the latch itself on # B1008 is made from a different metal than the socket,more of a black color instead of the grey colored metal on the socket itself.The same black latch appears to be found on the production models.
Note the flat ends of the latch and keeper on B1007:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza041.jpg)
Also note that some of the keepers were sort of "T-shaped" whereas some others only had the hook on one side.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza040.jpg)
Here is the new and improved latch on B1008.You can see the slight hook on both parts:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza042.jpg)
Can you see the darker colored,black latch on B1008?
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/EXPBonanza033.jpg)
I just thought that was an interesting story in regards to these wonderful bows.Hope you enjoyed seeing history in the making. :wavey:
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John,
It's interesting how the C riser retained much of the prototype 'socket to wood design" you show here in pics.
Thank you again for all the pictures, stories and history of these magnificent works of Fred Bear.
Your stocks have surpassed facebook stocks!
I would like to purchase some shares..........Philip
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Thanks so much Johnny for posting! I wasn't aware of these preserie TD!
Now I think I have just to send you some good Parmigiano-Reggiano(Parmesan is the fake staff)
for enjoy those ravioli with Philip!
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Thanks Felix.You know there's always room for one more at the table when it comes to Italians.You like ravioli,don't you?
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You bet!one of my prefered food,just like the Bear TD!
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Philip- I noticed that too,how the C-riser kept that shape where the riser meets the latches.If my stock were worth what the Facebook stock is,I would gladly be selling shares.Lots of them!!
Felix- You are so right.Gotta have the "real" cheese if you're going to have "real" home-made ravioli.I would rather you hand deliver the cheese to my house so you can show me the proper way to apply it to my ravioli.LOL
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When ever Felix gets to posting,I always get hungry. I REALLY need to save up for a trip.
Johnny, Your collection and the stories that go with are great. Thanks for sharing.
I am of German/Native American decent, but I like Ravioli too.(and cheese,wine,take downs) LOL
Thanks guys, Have a great day,
CTT
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Chuck- Sounds like you would fit right in on our little Italian dinner.You would be more than welcome and you would have a lot less travel time than either Phil or Felix.In all honesty,you are welcome to stop by anytime if you would like a closer look at the risers(or anything else).
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Thank you Johnny, I have been to Italy several times. I loved it an really want to go visit with Felix and the mountains.
If I ever get down that way I will see about a visit. THANK YOU for the offer.
CTT
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Chuck- Where about are you in Michigan? Just wondering how far of a trip you would have if you did make it down my way.I'm only about 2.5 hrs. from Grayling.About 2 hrs. from Clare.1 hr. from Birch Run.Got plenty of room if you need more than 1 day. John
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Chuck,you are always welcome like the other friends down here.
Kevin Bahr,former president of the PBS and member here, and fimily just left on yesterday,happy for the stop and the wine.
He was able to hunt one night with a bow of my collection:a 1955 Kodiak signed by Fred.No luck that evening,but we were able to get close to a Ibex sheep the next day.
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I am in Ovid Johnny, Also about 2hrs south of Grayling. I thought you lived near Detroit. I will keep it in mind, if I ever need the inspiration.
Felix, I still have our PM's from last year, I will like to do the trip one day. I am glad you had a good visit with Mr.Bahr. Always good to share the hunt.
Thanks guys, Good folk around here! yes sir.
CTT