Fred Bear's 1930s Archery Catalogs...

[Wade Phillips]

Fred Bear used the image of these four archers on some of the covers of his Bear Products Company Catalogs printed during the 1930s and at least one from the 1940s.

I don't know who they are but perhaps some else can identify one or more of these archers...

 

[d. ward]

is one Larry Whiffen ?? bd

[Wade Phillips]

Doc - I don't know who any of them are, but Larry Whiffen Sr. is certainly a very good place to start our investigation...

Larry Whiffen Sr. and Fred Bear was close friends and strong business associates until the untimely death of Larry Sr. in 1960. They each sold products manufactured by the other and over the years each featured the other parties products in their company's catalogs. There are several photographs of Fred and Larry together.

In the famous 1938 Colorized Photograph taken at the Continental Divide at MacDonald Pass, where Fred and Larry Sr. are both at full draw and  Fred is shooting left into one drainage and Larry Sr. is shooting right into the opposite drainage, Larry Sr. is anchoring under his chin. Fred is shooting a static tip Grumley, and Larry Sr. is shooing a longbow.

The MacDonald Pass Photograph was taken in August 1938, which likely would have been within a year or two of when the photograph of the 4 Bowmen was taken. Larry Sr. was a slender man in 1938, he has a round face and receding hairline. Being born the year before Fred Bear, Larry Sr. was 37 in 1938. I've known both of Larry Sr.'s sons for over 30 years. The youngest, Grant, at age 37 was a spitting image his father's 1938 photograph.  

Judging from the MacDonald Pass photograph, I would have to say that, at full draw, the bowman at the right looks very similar to Larry Sr. at full draw in the 1938 MacDonald Pass photograph.

Doc - Thanks for your great input. Now need to follow up with this possibility and do a little investigative work...

[d. ward]

yes he does look a bit like Larry Sr.at full draw was what made me think.
I may also have another pic of the bow legged dude second from the right wearing the golfers hat ??? bd

[Wade Phillips]

Doc - The bow legged dude is one cool bowman.

He appears in some of the group photographs from the first two archery deer seasons in Michigan 1937 and 1938.  Unfortunately most of the bowmen in these group photographs are not identified.

It is usually pretty easy to pick out the bowlegged bowman in these photographs.  

In addition to that golf hat, he always seems to be wearing that vest. He looks like the kind of guy who would be a real character.

[Rick Enos]

Wade,I need a few Bear catalogs...a couple of 60s & 6 or 7 in the 50s.If you have any extras.Let me know

[jim bowie]

Wade, Do you have any of those little bear sharpeners, that came in different colors? If so,
I'd like to buy 2 from you. let me know.  Jim

[email protected]    (Hastings,NE.)

Thanks

[Wade Phillips]

Jim, I'm sure there are several loose brown plastic Bear Cutmasters around here somewhere. I had a bunch of them them and don't remember getting rid of them. I've looked the past few days, but haven't found them yet. If you want to stop over to look for them, you are welcome to two of the loose brown ones if you can find them. I'd really hate to take the ones out of the original packages just to have someone use them.

[Hud]

#2 (from left) could be Chester Stevenson with his characteristic cap. #1 and #3 might be Doc Kenagy wore glass and anchored below the jaw. Both men were from the NW.