"Traditional"- old Indian word. Means" NO COMPOUNDS"!.

Thanks for the response guys and gals.  I have a better understanding of what archery has gone through over the last 50+ years.  
My original thought was when the compound became more popular than the "traditional" equipment is when the term came along.

I've got over 58 yrs. of shooting, and I can tell you the answer is cut and dried! PRE-COMPOUND! That includes wood, alum, and GLASS arrows shot pre-compound. I saw the first proto type "compound' in Oakland Ca, and it was not by Allen.The string was secured above and below the handle, went through a pull at the limb tips. (straight limbs) Don't remember the gents name, it was in the early 60's at a shoot on Mt. Diablo. Biff

Allen didn't actually invent compounds; as previously stated, he saw a good thing, perfected it, and put a patent on it.  I guess "traditional" is a term that means, "the way it was done back in the day,"  like tradional values, which are now in short supply.  I like the term as applied to recurves and longbows, because those values are often a part of shooting them.  Paul.

I vote that Ron started it-hell, he's lived it.

Yeah, I agree - this "trad thing" is all Ron's fault!  :D

I too am OK with Ron being the one that started it    
Tom sold me a takedown bear recurve - took all my money- but it was all that was left. I had to push my truck back to Ann Arbor because I had no money left for gas ....  

yep, back in the sixties we just called it archery, then in early '70s Georgia legalized compounds for bowhunting and we just started saying we shot recurves (at that time noone that i knew had any idea that recurves and longbows were two different things) instead of compounds.

Hey i dont know Ron but if its his fault i dont blame him for it I THANK HIM FOR IT

when compounds were invented

When I see pictures of Ron and his buckskins and beard,  his very cool bows, quivers and tomahawks then then see him ride in on his Harley...I think "now THAT's TRADITIONAL!!" (and cool).  Whether he came up with the term or not, he dern sure perfected it.