Cody - You have discovered some great information.
In early 1948, Nels Grumley left Bear Archery and moved to Rockford, Michigan where he started his own business "Grumley Custom Bow Shop". These bows are referred to by many collectors as “Rockford Grumleys”, “Rockford Bows” or “After Bear Grumleys”. I have photographs of the Rockford Shop & Sign, and have visited Rockford several times over the years. My last visit was Sept 2008.
While at Rockford, Nels worked for Gibson Refrigerator to make a go of it. Nels used laminations of Black Refrigerator Plastic in making some of the “Rockford Grumleys”. In some of the Rockford risers, he used vertically stacked laminations of black plastic and wood. He also used laminations of Refrigerator Plastic on the belly of some bows. The eye catching white ink Grumley signature on the black belly is perhaps the most distinctive of the many markings that Nels used during his career. Of the 100 plus Grumley Bows I own, only 11 are “Rockford Grumleys” and only 4 of them have laminations of Refrigerator Plastic.
I would be interested in seeing the forms you have for the glass bows, to see if they were used for his Woven Glass Bows, or the Straight, Unidirectional Glass Bows, as Nels make both while at Rockford.
I have four “Rockford Grumleys” that have woven glass backs, like that used on Bear’s Grizzly in 1949 & 1950 as well as the Kodiak in 1950.
One of my favorite “Rockford Grumleys” is one with Straight, Unidirectional Glass on the Back. It is not marked with weight, but it is one of the stiffest bows that I have ever owned.
I also have many personal items that were owned by Nels Grumley as well some of his correspondence. This memorabilia includes envelopes with photographs and brochures that Fred Bear addressed to Nels Grumley at Gibson Refrigerator in Rockford… From the notes and the gestures, it is apparent that Fred and Nels remained friends until the last.
Cody – After speaking with you yesterday, we should talk again today. It is very possible that some of my woven glass bows or the straight glass bows will fit your forms.
Anything related to your information, the forms, the bow, etc, could be used in a book about Nels Grumley and his bows. I now have more than enough material for such a book, photographs, personal letters, personal hunting maps, personal bow and arrows, personal bow making tools and a full complement of his production bows from 1930 into the 1950s.
Topic: Nel Grumley Glass Bows (Read 1105 times)
