(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/bowzonly/IMG_5865.jpg) (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/bowzonly/media/IMG_5865.jpg.html) Can anybody give me any details on these bows ie Year type of wood , any value this pic has a York sticker on it an stamped into it is FJ50 20 (50 is length 20#)
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/bowzonly/IMG_5867.jpg) (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/bowzonly/media/IMG_5867.jpg.html) This bow is numbered FRB 68 50. This photo shows wraps in the middle of each limb. Are these to repair a crack or are they decorative. This bow has a slight shelf cut into it
URL=http://s48.photobucket.com/user/bowzonly/media/IMG_5869.jpg.html] (http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/bowzonly/IMG_5869.jpg)[/URL] Smaller bow has this hole in it. ?
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/bowzonly/IMG_5868.jpg) (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/bowzonly/media/IMG_5868.jpg.html) Larger bow has this damage on each tip. Can this be repaired and would it be worth it
Many of these old bows from the 40's and 50's were lemonwood and value is rather minimal...and that means under $50 in most cases. Your bow is rather dark colored, so not sure if lemonwood. (I have a few york lemonwoods that I've picked up for 5-10 bucks each).
What Blackhawk said. Some lemonwood bows were backed with Fortisan. That hole was for a stringkeeper.
Years ago I bought an old York(Woodcrafters) lemonwood longbow at a flea market for $5. I contacted Woodcrafters and the gentleman I spoke to sent me a copy of an old York Archery catalog. It was from the 1940s. If I can find that catalog I'll see if your bows are in it.
To me the only value of these old bows is historic. I shot mine a few times when I first got it but now I'd rather just enjoy it as a historic relic and part of my archery collection.
Can't help with the age, but the hole in the tip was for a string loop to hang the bow in a cabinet.