South Bend Bait & Tackle Co.

[Lucas K]

Hello all I am looking for information on the South Bend Bait and Tackle Co. archery products. I have read Elmer's "Target Archery" and from there have learned that they made split bamboo bows and arrows. The arrows were laminated strips of bamboo and Port Orford cedar glued together. I would like to see one if anyone has pictures... I would be intersted in adding one to my collection also if anyone has one available

Thanks

Lucas

[Wade Phillips]

Lucas,

I have a 2-page brochure from South Bend Bait and Tackle Co. advertising the bow and arrow you mention in Elmer's book. Both the bow and arrow are really neat.

Our beloved Art Young is in the brochure. The reader is looking down the business end of Art's arrow.

If you PM me your mailing address, I will be happy make you a copy and mail it to you. Just last week I sent a copy to Hink and another collector.

I do have one of the South Bend split bamboo arrows with the South Bend water transfer decal. Will try to post a photograph of it later...

Have never found one of the bows, but have always looked for one.

A very unique design. Actually the design was so unique, that a patent was granted for it.

[mwmwmb]

Wade could you maybe post a pic of the advertisement I havent heard of these would like to see one, Thanks
Mickey

[Wade Phillips]

Lucas,

Got the PM and will get the copy in the mail to you tomorrow.

This is the South Bend Split Bamboo arrow with the water transfer decal. The patent was applied for in 1930 and granted in 1934.

With the words PAT. PENDING handwritten to the right of the decal, the arrow likely dates some where from 1930 to 1934 when the patent was granted.

To the left of the decal, in the same hand writing, are the words, THE ORENO, which as you will see in the brochure, is the name South Bend gave to these items.

The arrow also has a Middleton nock on it, which overlaps the dates mentioned.

Unfortunately, the lines in the bamboo do not show up very well. The arrow spines to just over 40#.

The sphere shaped metallic tip is aerodynamically designed and is non metallic.

This is just one of hundreds of interesting or unique vintage arrows that are now almost totally obscure from collectors.

 

[Wade Phillips]

Mickey,

Here is the arrow in the advertisement that you wanted to see.

The top arrow is the one I have, which is a flight arrow.

The larger arrow at the bottom is a target arrow, with a wedge nock and standard target tip of the era.

The ad states that both are made of split bamboo and balsa wood, not Port Orford cedar as Elmer mentioned.

You can also see a cross section of the limb design. Unique !

     

[Lucas K]

The book mentions that the company stopped producing arrows during the war (WWII) but planned to resume when the war was over. Did they make archery tackle after the war?

[Wade Phillips]

Lucus,

Before I can answer your question, I will have to ask if you know all the companies and brand names that the 1930s company South Bend Bait Co. owned after WWII?

Frankly I do not know the band names or corporate tree for the fishing tackle companies located in South Bend.

I do know that Stream-Eze was located in South Bend after the war and made archery tackle as I have some of their ads and equipment.

[Lucas K]

I know that South Bend was something of an industrial center through the 50's so I would venture to guess that there were several. I know that South Bend Bait Co. fishing products are collectable.

[Lucas K]

Wade- did a little research on South Bend Bait & Tackle they formed sometime between 1894-1912 and they were sold to the Gladding Co in 1954 the site that I found this on had no information on their archery line though

Lucas

[mwmwmb]

Thanks Wade.

[kurtbel5]

I have a 1948 South Bend Fishing Tackle catalog
Funny its got a few references to the Fish Oreno (lure)
I don't what or who Oreno was though
I have a lot of old fishing gear.

[Lucas K]

hello Kurt, are there any references to archery equiptment in the 1948 catalog?

[JT- Up North]

Was this company located in South Bend Indiana??
I'm not far from there and have always heard about the company , but never knew where there were from.

[JT- Up North]

Was this company located in South Bend Indiana??
I'm not far from there and have always heard about the company , but never knew where there were from.

[Wade Phillips]

Yes, this company was located in South Bend Indiana. The bottom of the brochure does not state a specific street address but does state...

South Bend Bait Co.
South Bend Indiana, U.S.A.
Manufacturers of Oreno Archery Tackle
Also of a complete line of Fishing Tackle