Who Invented the Archer's Shooting Glove?

[Tox Collector]

More research but no additional results.  Limited references, if any, generally track back to Ascham, who was cited above.  

The best representation that I have come across so far of an archer releasing an arrow/shooting during the middle ages is the one shown in the book "The Great Warbow" by Strickland and Hardy on pp. 12.  A great deal of archery detail is shown.  

Artists generally were probably not too concerned during that period in capturing the level of archery detail that would be nice to see.  Obviously, they were inclined to take liberties as an artist.

Much like a previous thread some time ago concerning whether archers during that period actually used nocking points on their strings is virtually impossible to determine.  

Keep in mind that there were limited writings on archery to begin with during that period [Sir John Smythe, Knight was one of a very few individuals who had witnessed archery used militarily and then wrote about it] and then whatever images of archers that were drawn or painted during the middle ages were less than helpful because of artistic oversight when it came to details as well as the artist's general lack of knowledge concerning archery.

Jester, what do you think of the illustration in Strickland and Hardy's book?

Tox Collector

[Novaln1975]

This is liberally translated by me from French to English. The text is taken from Viollet Le Duc Encyclopédie Médiévale, page 198 of tome II.

here is a link for more reference to the author  
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugène_Viollet-le-Duc

«On one of the lintels of the principal door of the Vézelay church, is sculpted an archer  holding a single curved bow measuring 1m50 long. .... The sculptures date at around 1100 AD. During the 12th century, the archer is dressed with a short tunic with a wide belt. .... His right hand was covered with a leather glove and his left forearm with a curved iron plaque, designed to preserve the wrist from the string.»

There is sadly no illustration referring directly to the paragraph.

Simon

[Tox Collector]

Simon, Thanks very much for your imput -- it's very much appreciated.  Tox Collector

[Liquid Amber]

Frentz was from Boston [a bowyer] and Shepardson [noted fletcher] from Melrose and the archery community during that period was rather small.  I've not looked real hard, but nothing I have directly states "they were friends."  I would suspect they were at minimum, acquaintances.  

McMeen is interesting, particularly in that he grew up in Crawfordsville, Indiana and watched the Thompson brothers shoot as a youngster, an activity that was cause for his entry into archery.  I think McMeen won Elmer's "Wooden Spoon" for last at one of the National shoots.  

[Wade Phillips]

Tox Collector - I agree, there was a lack of detail by many artists during this period. As always your references cited are valuable insights.

Simon - Great post. Thank you so much for finding the reference and taking the time to do the translation to English.

Cliff - Do you have anything about Shepardson's T/D bows after his 1921 patent?

Samuel McMeen, is a historically significant person to archery in his own right.

McMeen's 1919-1926 periodical, "Archery" is just one example of his contributions. Would have to guess that Tox Collector has all eight issues. For the past 30 years, have unsuccessfully looked for the Aug 1919 issue to complete my set.

I have to ask... Is there anything interesting in that first issue that we should know?

[Tox Collector]

I was fortunate to obtain a bound copy of all eight issues from Clement C. Parker who noted on the free end paper: "The rarest of archery publications, U.S.A. or elsewhere - perhaps one of only 3 known sets."  On the second free end paper he noted: "Purchased from Mary C. Elmer, Widow of Dr. Robert P. Elmer, May 19, 1952. - Clement C. Parker."

The first issue is just eight pages long.  McMeen acknowledged that the publication would be 'occasional'.  He went on to say: "...we will need just two things.  Stuff to print and addresses of archers.  The expense will take care of itself."  As I recall, McMeen also helped to underwrite the expense of publishing "American Archery" by Robt. Elmer., 1917.

The first issue [August, 1919] contains a number of comments pertaining to the upcoming NAA tournament scheduled for August 26th through 29th, 1919 in Boston.  Homer Taylor, who shot in the first NAA tournament of 1879 and won it in 1882 and 1911, was planning on competing.

A short paragraph told about Dr. Pope's, Young's and Compton's bear hunting trip to Humboldt County, California.  Six of eight arrows went through and bear and were lost.

It was noted that "Dr. Saxton T. Pope is the only Anglo Saxon, so far as known, who ever made a Turkish type, composite bow.  Dr. Elmer will try for the flight shoot championship with it in Boston."

"Professor E. J. Rendtorff, of whom it has been said that he is the greatest archer since Horace Ford, will not shoot in Boston in August.  He writes. "The call of the wild is so strong I will spend the summer in a canoe and a tent.  Will cover over a thousand miles in that canoe."  I would like to spend all summer canoeing and camping.

"American Archery" [the book] is advertised.

The Forest Products Laboratory is quoted as saying: "Of all the species that we have tested  we find Port Orford cedar to be the stiffist coniferous wood in proportion to its weight...  Douglass fir of the coast type, we find to be nearly as stiff in proportion to its weight as Port Orford cedar."

There is some discussion as to the point of aim shooting method, and it was pointed out that the method was known back in Roger Ascham's time.

McMeen noted: "The editor has access to most of the bibliography of archery, practically all of it being out of print.  He will be willing, within reasonable limits of time and drudgery, to answer questions which reference to that literature can settle."  I guess a number of us are kind of engaged in doing this today.  

I would have liked to have seen his collection.  Included on page 6 of the 1st issue is a photo of a Poem on the Royal Company of Scottish Archers dated 1698 [it was probably from McMeen's personal collection].

A quote notes: "One of these days, if the mailing list gets long enough, we will unfold the tale of Compton and the little buck in the blow-hole.  The picture of that boy seeing that arrow find the spot where it would do the most good is one to make the back of your neck tingle."  I haven't heard this story.

Some discussion centered on using yew bows in hot weather [yew has a tendency to let down in hot weather].  It was noted that Colonel Williams, a champion archer, would not use yew because of this.  He would only use lemonwood or lancewood bows.  George Phillips Bryant, Champion archery in 1904, 1905, 1909 and 1912 stated that "The best hot weather bow I ever had was washaba backed with elm, made thirty or more years ago.  It was a wonder and I would like to see its mate."

Also cited: "If a bow string be painted with liquid glue containing a slight amount of potassium bichromate and then exposed to sunlight, the glue will be gecome insoluable in water and shed rain like a duck's back."

McMeen provided many quotes for the first issue probably to fill up space and get the publication off the ground.

Enjoy!

Tox Collector

[Tox Collector]

Wade, Let me know if you would like a copy of the first issue.  Tox Collector

[Wade Phillips]

Tox Collector -

I can't thank you enough for your summary of the August 1919 "Archery". I read it twice, then printed your words and put them in the book that I had bound about 30 years ago with the other seven original issues. I had the binder leave 8 blank pages at the front of the book, anticipating having him tip in the first issue when I acquired it. That hasn't happened yet, so will re-read your words until it does (the eternal optimist).

Yes, today a number of us are kind of engaged in the (very enjoyable) drudgery, of answering questions which reference literature.

I for one, appreciate yours, and everyone's efforts in this regard.

Thanks again,

Wade

[jester]

Back to the topic (after a while …): this picture is from Shelley Wachsmann, On Drawing the Bow, in: Eretz-Israel 29 (2009), pp. 238*-257*.

 

"Fig. 25: Archer with composite bow, arm guard and finger tab used in the Mediterranean draw (From Von Luschan 1898, Plate X)"

That relief dates back to the 2nd millenium BC …

[Wade Phillips]

jester - Great post !!!

Interesting image of the finger stalls and arm guard. The bow, quiver and arrows are also ver interesting.

The arm guard attachment method is nicely depicted. When shooing, I wonder if the ball fit over or under the notch?

[Liquid Amber]

The first edition of "How to Train in Archery [1979]" has shooting gloves advertised accompanied by a sketch.

[Liquid Amber]

1879

My age is showing.  

[Wade Phillips]

Cliff -

Great find of the shooting glove in the first edition of "How to Train in Archery", 1879. I frequently mistype it too, probably habit more than age (hey we will use any excuse to keep from admitting we are getting old).

Looks like eight different models are listed in 1879, five for Lady's including "laced" and "fine laced" and three for Gent's. Wonder if any laced or fine laced shooting gloves are being offered today?

It is interesting that the shooting glove was absent from the second edition of "How to Train in Archery" but reappeared in the third edition in 1905, but only offered in two models of each the Ladies' and Gents'.

Note the 1879 Lady's and Gent's was changed in 1905 to Ladies' and Gents'.

 

[Wade Phillips]

Cliff - Just looked in the back of "The Modern Archer" 1878, page 27, to find the Peck & Snyder shooting glove.

Seems we have found shooing gloves from many eras.