My neighbor returned from a local auction and mentioned that he saw a notice that Martin Archery was on the schedule. The James Murphy Auction company was going to be in charge of the auction in Walla Walla, WA.
A quick "Google" turned up this:
MARTIN ARCHERY
9AM - WED & THURS - SEPTEMBER 25 & 26
Preview 8-4pm, Tuesday, September 24
2134 Heritage Road (Old HWY 12), Walla
Walla, WA 99362
Machine Shop, Manufacturing Equipment & Archery Inventory
Preview Coming Soon
I know it has been up for sale for a couple years, and with no buyers stepping up, it looks like it will be gone for good.
Needless to say, a sad day is coming.
That's sad...
while it certainly is sad, it might be an interesting event to go see or atleast preview what is for sale.
Not good news... :(
... mike ...
Realy sad! Love their bows. Have a Hunter and a X200, but wanted to have many other of their line.
Maybe somebody will pick them up and continue making their classic bows.
sad news indeed
Is Damon Howatt under Martin or is it an affiliated company?
Martin bought Howatt Archery back in 1976 and the trad line stayed in Yakima, Wa. However, that changed a couple years ago when Martin brought it all together at the Walla Walla facility.
Sad news.
Howatts were/are great bows. I didn't know they were in jeopardy of going under. I'm puzzled, I would have thought trad sales would be pretty good these days???
Check this out:
http://t.union-bulletin.com/news/2013/aug/24/holding-string/?
Man! If only I could hit the lotto! I would gobble up that opportunity in a second! With all the knowledge of how to make a traditional bow that Larry Hatfield has and the way that Trad Archery is making a comeback, you could start a line of custom bows and keep the current models (like the Savannah) going. That Savannah is a sweet shooter! I hope the guys at Howatt keep going.
Yes, traditional archery is growing, but it seems like they were mostly in the compound business, which is all latest and greatest, and I guess not enough people thought Martin was. I imagine the compound is where most of their profits and losses were, and that trad had become a side business.
I'm surprised they didn't separately sell the trad business (but maybe they tried). :dunno:
I wonder if they'd auction or sell the traditional end of the business. I don't really have interest in the compound side of things. But, the Martin name, traditional designs, patents etc would be worth continuing.
Does anyone have info about this possibility? Let me know.
Like Bear Archery, I wouldn't want to see them fold.
BassBow,
You could contact Dan or Terry Martin at the plant. Longrifleman's link tells the tale.
This is sad for another reason. Besides their long history, I'd guess Martin was the broadest line manufacturer left in the US. Just my guess but, like other struggling domestic manufacturers they had likely let key employees go, trimmed costs everywhere possible, and looked to foreign suppliers. A few months ago, Gail showed us all the kids and youth bows they are selling-recurves,longbows, & compounds as well. He said it's a big part of their new business, and I suspect it is a big part of that "comeback" mentioned in longrifleman's link. But, what I saw were skids and shelves full of fiberglass kids archery bows that looked to be from Asia. It did NOT look American-made. I didn't ask because I did not want to offend him. We don't win the economic fight by sending manufacturing jobs elsewhere. Companies say they have no other choice....and maybe they don't. But, Americans have choices, and we're not making good ones regarding this issue!
That said, I do not want to criticize Martin Archery. Gail also showed us their "new" DH mfg area, the new leather goods mfgs area(some beautiful quivers), and other areas that he was definitely proud of. It is truly sad that it won't continue.
That's awful, I hope someone can step in and buy the company, unless it's already too late.
The trad line are all excellent bows.
Tom,
I'll contact the plant.
Yeah, the overseas outsourcing seems to be the path of most businesses these days. Globalization...Blah...
It is unfortunate that business owners sacrifice quantity for quality. I am not saying that a person overseas can't make a quality bow. It can be done. I just think that "quality" is a multifaceted concept that can be whittled down to craftsmanship, and a true love and passion for your work/hobby. You can see this quality in the bowyers represented on this site. They have a desire to create a weapon that is functional, beautiful, and of a lasting quality. They are definitely not in it to get rich. Those who get into businesses like this to get rich are missing the point.
This being said, I think the USA made Martin Traditional line could continue as a smaller and stronger bow company as long as it adheres to the ideals and principles of the traditional archer.
We will see...
QuoteOriginally posted by oldbohntr:
Companies say they have no other choice....and maybe they don't. But, Americans have choices, and we're not making good ones regarding this issue!
You are absolutely right about that. The problem is a perpetual cycle though. Americans are struggling just to get by, so they shop at the Walmarts of the world to save a few bucks for their families. The Walmarts come into a community and decimate its economy to the point where the only jobs left are those at Walmart and the pay is such that you can only afford to shop at Walmart.
Sorry for the rant, but as it pertains to traditional archery, I make it a point to only buy American made goods and try to shop at the smaller bowyers whenever possible. It is better for the economy as a whole, and besides, their work is crafted with heart, not with the sweat and tears of child labor.
I will be sad to see Martin go. My first deer and elk were taken with a Martin compound. Many deer were taken with a little Martin recurve I had. I always wish I had kept that bow, but even more so now than ever.
What do people expect to happen!? With all the taxes and regulations in this country and new health care comming to a country that has forsaken God! And people wonder why the "sky high prices"
All very good points above. It will be a damn shame if Martin goes under. I too think that in the right deal and situation that their traditional line could survive, but all the stars would have to align.
Ted Nugent should buy it! I'm kinda surprised he doesn't already have his own brand of archery gear. Lol.
Sad times for sure. The original Super Ds, Hunters and others were/are really great bows. Even Jack Howard thought so as he purchased their recurve blanks to refinish and put his own name on a lower end recurve.
QuoteOriginally posted by Boomerang:
What do people expect to happen!? With all the taxes and regulations in this country and new health care comming to a country that has forsaken God! And people wonder why the "sky high prices"
It's comments like these that show how little Americans really understand economics. It isn't excessive taxes and regulations that are the cause of outsourcing, but rather the opposite. Lack of tariffs (taxes) and regulations (NAFTA, CAFTA, Etc) are the forces that allow companies to produce goods oversees at a profit. We have less regulations and lower taxes now than at anytime in nearly 100 years. The last time was what led to the great depression.
Ok, enough of the economics and history lessons. I know this isn't the place for that.
I wonder to what extent they've considered filing for bankruptcy? If they really have turned around, this seems like a good move. I own 2 Hunters and one Mamba and love them.
QuoteOriginally posted by TraditionalGuy:
QuoteOriginally posted by Boomerang:
What do people expect to happen!? With all the taxes and regulations in this country and new health care comming to a country that has forsaken God! And people wonder why the "sky high prices"
It's comments like these that show how little Americans really understand economics. It isn't excessive taxes and regulations that are the cause of outsourcing, but rather the opposite. Lack of tariffs (taxes) and regulations (NAFTA, CAFTA, Etc) are the forces that allow companies to produce goods oversees at a profit. We have less regulations and lower taxes now than at anytime in nearly 100 years. The last time was what led to the great depression.
Ok, enough of the economics and history lessons. I know this isn't the place for that. [/b]
Exactly. Its the taxes American companies have to pay here in the USA that forces companies to have there products made overseas at a cheaper cost. Why do you think they go overseas to have their products made if they could have them made here and make the same profit. :banghead:
Wow, if only it was 10 years from now and I had the flexibility to do something here. I wonder if that $1.7M includes the company IP or just the real estate??? Seems like a bargain to me; especially if you can get them to split the trad stuff out.
p.s. Complaining about globalization on a Chinese made computer seems sorta hypocritical to me.
QuoteOriginally posted by John Scifres:
p.s. Complaining about globalization on a Chinese made computer seems sorta hypocritical to me. [/QB]
Exactly what I'm talking about. Why do you think we have Chinese computers!
OK back to the original topic. Who is going to buy Martin Archery? :D
IMO one of the best off the rack bows to be bought!
Ok so lets see. If a guy was to sell 1000 Martin trad bows a year and he makes $100.00 a bow profit. That would be $100,000 a year before taxes and about $60,000 after. Hmmmm, it would only take about 28 years to pay back the $1.7 mill with 0% intrest. I don't think too many will go for it with trad only.
I am sad to see Martin go as well.
But, looking on the bright side, at least this will help Bear Archery by limiting the amount of competition in a very small mass production market for traditional bows. So, maybe this will just make it easier for Bear's trad bow line to stay at it longer. :dunno:
It's possible that Bear or another major company will swoop in and buy them up, mostly for their patents. It happens all the time. Then they can have a Martin line of bows; most likely with a smaller selection, but with the name and designs intact.
Really enjoying the dialogue here even though it is a sad situation.
How about this. $1.7 mil divided by +/- 40,000 members here is $42.50 each.
Just sayin... :dunno:
QuoteOriginally posted by Chromebuck:
Really enjoying the dialogue here even though it is a sad situation.
How about this. $1.7 mil divided by +/- 40,000 members here is $42.50 each.
Just sayin... :dunno:
Now you're talkin.
Martin Archery owned by Tradgang?? Hummmmm.
I am in!!
I've seen the same thing happen several times over the last 10 or so years here in Sacramento. A local company that everyone loves to deal with just shuts down. That doesn't happen by accident. First, the owners have to decide that no matter which way they work the numbers, there's going to be more money going out every year than coming in. Then you have to assume that the employees must have considered an employee buyout, because after all, the alternative is losing their jobs. The employees must have also decided that there was no way they could pull it off and still make a living wage. If the insiders can't figure out any way to make it work, then it's got to be tough for a new owner to make it work. You would think that if a business was as popular as some of the local businesses I'm thinking of, somebody or some group of employees would buy the business and keep it going. The fact that it hasn't happened means that popularity with the public is not the same thing as making money, I guess.
It would probably make sense for someone to buy some of their equipment and continue some of Martin's product line as an expansion of whatever their own product line is.
It sure is sad to see.
I like the Martin bows but I love the Howatts.
I will have dreams of all that wonderful equipment.
(who has a sales flier?)
I'd be in for multiple shares!
If they split the company into parts (leather/goods, traditional and compound) seems like it would bring in the most money and possibly save the company (if they want to continue without 1 or 2 lines).
I know this isn't the place for it (although most trad businesses are small US businesses), but TraditionalGuy, to say we have the least taxes and regulations in 100 years is to put it very nicely - flat out wrong. Although we did ratify the 16th Amendment 100 years ago which enshrined the federal income tax (then around 2%)!
Back to regularly scheduled programming. :D
QuoteOriginally posted by TraditionalGuy:
QuoteOriginally posted by Boomerang:
What do people expect to happen!? With all the taxes and regulations in this country and new health care comming to a country that has forsaken God! And people wonder why the "sky high prices"
It's comments like these that show how little Americans really understand economics. It isn't excessive taxes and regulations that are the cause of outsourcing, but rather the opposite. Lack of tariffs (taxes) and regulations (NAFTA, CAFTA, Etc) are the forces that allow companies to produce goods oversees at a profit. We have less regulations and lower taxes now than at anytime in nearly 100 years. The last time was what led to the great depression.
Ok, enough of the economics and history lessons. I know this isn't the place for that. [/b]
THANK YOU and THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
People really don't understand enough of what is going on and just start spouting the first thing that somebody on talk radio told them to be mad about or who's fault it is today of the way things are going. It is NO ONE person, party, law, regulation, or whatever. This has been going on for decades now. Slowly but surely.
Now. Back to the bad news.
Some money bags should buy the Damon Howatt side along with Sovereign and bring them both back!!! Ahhh, we can dream.
Someone had mentioned to me that there were several meetings with other companys who were interested in making a deal with Martin but all the deals fell through because the current Martin owner wanted each deal to include leaving him in charge and nobody really wanted that so they withdrew their offers. Not sure how true it all is but it's what I was told. It's really sad. I love their traditional bows and their wheel bows. The company was really a big inovator for years in the archery business.
http://wallawallaidx.com/listing.php?sid=378750&mls=111851&site_id=225&page_current=1
you can buy their building. its over for Martin
QuoteOriginally posted by LimBender:
If they split the company into parts (leather/goods, traditional and compound) seems like it would bring in the most money and possibly save the company (if they want to continue without 1 or 2 lines).
I know this isn't the place for it (although most trad businesses are small US businesses), but TraditionalGuy, to say we have the least taxes and regulations in 100 years is to put it very nicely - flat out wrong. Although we did ratify the 16th Amendment 100 years ago which enshrined the federal income tax (then around 2%)!
Back to regularly scheduled programming. :D
I don't usually engage in these type of pissing matches, but since you flat out said I was wrong, then I am going to have to disagree with you. First, I said in ALMOST a 100 years and that was for taxes and regulations, not just taxes. You're right about the 13th amendment, though the highest rate was 7%. By WWI the top rate was 77%. By the end of WWII, the top rate had reach 91%. Coincidentally, it was also the highest time of growth in the history of our country, and indeed world. The whole point is that it is grossly misleading for someone to blame globalization and the fate of our economy on our high tax rate. There are so many more issues involved than that, unless you only watch Fox News.
If you have direct and compelling evidence of why this archery company is being sold or auctioned, I think it would be worthwhile and interesting.
We know that there are both good and bad management in all companies...and that's the primary reason for success or failure. Unfortunately, there seems to be enough evidence that there were plenty of questionable decisions made by some folks at Martin.
In more than 44 years of archery I've owned equipment from lots of different companies. Never owned anything from Martin.
I hope the employees are taken care of and find replacement work.
If I want the truth I watch Fox. If I want to see class warfare promoted I'll skip over to the horror channels; CNN & MSNBC.
"We have less regulations and lower taxes now than at anytime in nearly 100 years."
I don't think so.
It's pretty easy to blame uncle sam for all our problems, but it's also pretty lazy. Martin could be done for a million reasons, but I guarantee you it isn't taxes that did it. Every other archery co in the country pays the same taxes.
I hate paying income taces like the rest of you, but I enjoy good roafs, national forests and parks, robust law enforcement and a lot of other things paid for by taxes. I pay more for health insurance that provides nearly zero coverage than I do in taxes. At least there is something to show for my taxes.
I don't see another company picking up Martin.
their compounds don't sell-kinda clunky.
not that they are bad-bought my son one because he wanted to get started and the price was right.
but they are not in the same class as Mathews or Hoyt.
as far as their stickbows-again better bows available.
I have shot a bunch of bows and just recently discovered what an outstanding bow Martin produces. Sad.
Rob