Martin Archery on Fire

[Blackstick]

Just saw where Martin Archery in Walla Walla, Washington went up in a five alarm fire last night.
It's under control but still burning. Pictures look bad.       :(      
  https://www.facebook.com/wwpflocal404?fref=photo

[McDave]

Reminds me of the news a while back that Martin was going out of business. Any updates on that, or whether they found a buyer?

[Blackhawk]

Martin was about to go under and sell everything through auction, but a company called Diversis bought it a couple years ago. CEO Rich Weatherford kept a few previous employees and brought on another 25 workers.

I've seen reports that they kept most of the models, but they are not built as well as the older versions.  

I guess time will tell if the new Martin is a success or a bust, but this fire cannot help.

[dbd870]

Saw that as well. Did not hear how extensive it was

[TSchirm]

I will swing by this evening before my meeting in Walla Walla.   I live 35 miles away.  Heard it was bad. I will let all know what I find out.

[Blackstick]

Great! Someone hands on. I have two Martin bows and no one could ask anything better out of a factory. A Dreamcatcher which is absolutely gorgeous and a Rebel that has been turned into a fishbow.

[Terry Green]

Sad I've killed a lot of deer with Martins and I'm a huge Martin fan from my early teens I hope they recover and move forward and grow their business scion

[dbd870]

Found a local report on line; it looks bad.
 

[TSchirm]

I went by last night before my meeting in Walla Walla.  I just pulled up in the drive and didn't walk in to trespass.  The above picture shows the building where the bows  are constructed was completely gutted.  It looks like, fortunately, the administrative building and warehouse were undamaged.  No one was around to talk to, so I don't know the cause, or what plans there might be for the future.

[huskyarcher]

Wow! I hope everyone was ok. Looks like a terrible fire.

Running the risk of seeming a bit in-sensitive, it might not be such a bad thing for them to "restart" of sorts. I work part time at a bow shop local here in NC. We have had pretty much nothing but horror stories out of them. Maybe a reboot might get the company back to the quality it once exhibited.

[wingnut]

I read on another site a post by a former employee of Martin that they were machining magnesium and had a fire.  Pretty much all she wrote then.  Lost all the CNC machines and the ability to build bows.

Up to insurance now and the desire of the new owners to go forward.


Mike

[joe skipp]

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/29516061/millions-lost-in-walla-walla-martin-archery-fire

[Mudd]

I just read that Martin Archery will continue...Thank God!