In 1982 Bob Thompson designed the first Zipper bow. The standard riser with classic limbs is a very similar design to that original bow. Bob still has that first bow. He also has the last bow he built in 2005. Lord only knows how many he built in between.
HERE IS TO YOU BOB!!!! :notworthy:
Bill
The way my new one shoots you can sure tell there is many many years behind it.
Great work Bob and Bill.
:clapper:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Happy anniversary Bill, Tracy, and Bob!! A quality business producing quality bows - both are obviously built to last :thumbsup: :archer:
A Zipper is bow is a cut above. Congrats!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer2:
Cool stuff
Congrats on the longevity and hopefully you get more and more successful with each year :)
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Very cool Bill.
Congrats, Someday im gonna get you to build me a new set of limbs for my old riser. The originals cracked. If I remember correctly Bob said my bow was the only 66" solid curly maple he ever built. I shot that bow for about 12 years and loved it. It was my highschool grad. preasent.
Happy anniversary Bill, Tracy (and Bob)!!!
Congratulations on another milestone and best wishes for more success.
Here's to continued success and growth.
I have always appreciated and desired o Zipper,now I am waiting for my second.
Great bows and great talent in both the bowyers.
Happy BDay Bob,Tracy and Bill.
Congrats on the anniversary and for continuing the legacy Bill!
Here's to another 30!
I found this links below a while back and looks like Bob's doing quite well for himself as a luthier!
http://www.bobthompsonguitars.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FekRhehJGlM&feature=player_embedded
I've also seen pictures of some of his pool cues. They looked outstanding!
He's seems like quite a talented fellow.
I wish the best for both of you in your future endeavours!
I still shoot my 1988 standard and it's a really fine piece of craftsmanship! Great looking quiet and quick. What else could you ask for?
Thanks Bob. And now thanks Bill for continuing in Bobs footsteps
I think you've filled those shoes and then some!
Congrats Bob on starting a great product.
Congrats Bill and Tracy for continuing and building upon that start, and adding your own special touches.
See you in a couple weeks?
Happy Anniversary! Thank you for carrying on the tradition. As Ray said above and beyond!!!
Happy Anniversary :clapper:
Happy Anniversary!
That's a great milestone, with many more to come, I'm sure. Hopefully my bow happens this year to be part of the celebration.
Keep up the good work.
Congrats to Bob, Bill and Tracy ! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congratulations to everyone for a great product and carring on the Tradition.!
........... :clapper: ............
Oh my, now I want a Zipper and a guitar.
Fantastic!
I spoke with Bill at Baltimore last year. What a great guy. Now to know the roots of the business and see what Bob is producing. Nice pedigree.
The parlor guitar is most interesting!
Yes, there is a Zipper in my future.
Martin
Figured I would chime in. In college I would send away for brochures (what's that, no computers and website wasn't even a word). I loved getting mail and Zipper had the most striking curly maple bow . I would stare at it for hours. Only a pipe dream at that time as there was no money for a bow . As fate would have it , I finished my schooling and moved 1/2 hour away from Bob and soon ordered my first Zipper. Spent some time at his shop and spoke with many people that worked with him. He's a smart cat and his products speak to his craftsmanship. His pool cues, instruments, and gun stocks are spectacular.I really am fortunate to have spent time over at his shop and get to see his ability and shoot his bows. Definitely the first big step in my "bowholic illness" and amplified my passion for bowhunting (if Bob could shoot a deer with a recurve using his feet because his arm was injured.....surely I could kill one with two good arms !)
It's just Zipperterrific !!!!
:thumbsup: 30 years that's cool, I have a standard and a ILF riser, fast becoming one of my favorites!
quote:
Originally posted by Tater:
Congratulations to everyone for a great product and carring on the Tradition.!
........... :thumbsup:
:campfire:
Congrats on 30! many more to come, my two zippers are works of art one from each era you guys are the best
Thanks
Very cool Bill, congratulations.
:thumbsup: :archer: :archer2:
Impressive milestone to celebrate. With that tradition in the past and Bill and Tracy's innovations for the present and future, Zipper zips ahead! :thumbsup: :clapper:
Bob built my first custom bow back in 1990. I still have it today (although I have retired it).
I have seriously been considering a new one...maybe I'll see a lefty at the Baltimore shoot that I can't live without! :goldtooth:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
30 years! that makes it a classic!
I don't own a Zipper bow but have admired them on several occasions. Congratulations Bill and Tracy. You are a class act. :archer2:
Happy anniversary! Thanks to Bob for the foundation and for Bill and Tracy taking Zipper Bows into the future.
Like most T-Gangers, I'de like to have just "one more bow"! Of all the bows I dream about the Zipper never comes to mind. Now before your hair stands up just listen. We all have our favorites and take downs just aint on my list. Here's the kicker, If I ever choose to own a takedown, Zipper is my choice hands down. The risers I guess is what pleases the eye for me as most 3 piece curves have a "squared off" bulky design Zippers have clean smooth lines, real lookers! Happy anniversary! Oh, and you might be asking if I ever shot one, well no and if I ever do I might just throw my other bows out.
It is great to see a company sustain for the long haul and build an incredible product to boot.
Congratulations on 30 years and here's to 30 more. :clapper: :archer2:
I met Bob about 1984, and I had him build me a TD using all black locust wood from our region. I hunted hard with that bow and I killed some deer with it. Ultimately, I ended up selling it when I switched bows. Although I don't miss it, I'd love to see what it looks like today...out of curiosity.
I made several visits to Bob's home outside Ravenswood, WV over a few years...spent some time shooting bows with him off his elevated back deck. The guy was probably THE most intelligent and innovative bowyer of that time. His art was totally unapproachable by most bowyers of that time. My recurve had an angled, offset grip which was unheard-of until Bob did them I believe. He was devising and building his own taper-grinder (not sander) when most guys didn't even try to produce tapered laminations. His bow shop was state of the art, but half of it was machinery he customized for bow work.
This was just about the time that he started finding and using curly maple in some of his better bows. He traveled around to sawmills in WV, and searched out the wood he desired.
I have a pretty good memory of a canoe that Bob built. It hung on the wall at his place and fascinated me. It had inlays and contrasting woods designed into it. The ribs, gunnels, thwarts and seats were works of pure art themselves. He even made paddles to go with it. A boat like that might cost you $7,000-$10,000 today. He even had it on water a few times. I asked him how it performed and he answered, "Pretty much like crap...that's why it hangs on the wall now"! The guy always had a little smile going on, and a twinkle in his eye.
Bill and Tracy: My best congratulations to you for carrying the torch and keeping Zipper alive. In reality, your bow company is a long-term icon in the traditional world. We appreciate you. Thanks!
Bill and Tracy,
Congrats on the milestone and hope to see you at Baltimore in May!
Bob changed the trad bow world with his sculpted, exotic risers and fancy veneers. I remember the first I saw, my jaw still doesnt quite go back in its socket.
First off congrats to everyone involved! I've been a Zipper fan for along time and from what I'm seeing Bill and Tracy are the perfect folks to keep Zipper on the right track for the future. Awesome folks awesome product.
I bought my "first" Zipper not long after they first started. Bob is a incredibly talented individual. He was just dabbling in pool cues at the time, didn't know he was a luthier now. Cool link to that video thanks. Good luck, I'm sure Zipper will be around for a long long time.
:thumbsup:
Congrats to all,my elk horn riser bow with curly maple limbs is the best bow I have ever shot.
Love the product and especially the service! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thank you all! Hopefully we will be around another 30.
Bill