Eicholtz plastic faced and backed

[Liquid Amber]

In 1947[February "Archery"] Eicholtz offered a composite bow of maple, backed and faced with plastic.  It was guaranteed against breakage.  He began offering custom fiberglas backed bows to the general public back in December, 1945.  

I'd like to see photos of the plastic model if anyone has one sitting around in a collection.  I don't know the plastic used and the only brand name I've found associated with Eicholtz is Lamicoid, I'm assuming that may be what he used.  This model didn't stay on the market long from the little information I've located on it.

[Hobow]

Hi Cliff,

I wish I had more to contribute but on page no. 67 of Archery Handbook by Edmond H. Burke, published in 1954 by Fawcett Publications Inc., it describes Eicholtz bows only as "Wood cores with plastic facings and backings" with no mention of a trade name or Fiberglas.  Did he move away from glass during this time period or is it just an oversight by the author?

Interesting that Frank offered Fiberglas in '45 and plastic in '47, I had assumed that it was the other way around since the Fiberglas seems like a more complex product to make.

Do you know if Frank was involved in the development of either product or mainly instrumental in the adaptation of the materials to archery?

I really enjoy your informative posts, thank you.

Brad

[Liquid Amber]

I've only collected one ad on the plastic backed and faced composite of Eicholtz.  Eicholtz was referring to "plastic" rather than "fiberglas."  

My take is that he was simply experimenting and it didn't pan out.  There likely were very, very few made, but it would be cool if one still exists.  Eicholtz didn't give up working with fiberglas.

"Fiberglass, (also called fibreglass and glass fibre), is material made from extremely fine fibers of glass. It is used as a reinforcing agent for many polymer products; the resulting composite material, properly known as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) or glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), is called "fiberglass" in popular usage."

Fiberglass is basically a plastic.  Plastic didn't work well as a backing but glass reinforced plastic or "GRP" did.  Plastic did work for facings but fiber-enforced polymer or "FRP" worked better.

Eicholtz's "Conolon" backing was a GRP and W. L. Miller's "Toxhorn" facing was a FRP.  By 1952 or so, the quality of "GRP" had evolved so that it worked best for both facing and backing.  

The differences between what Miller and Eicholtz were promoting was in the "fiber" and usage.  Miller was the "facing" guy and "Eicholtz" was the backing guy.     Miller later did add a line of fiberglas to his products.

[hardbern]

Anyone got any pictures of "Eicholtz" bows?
I picked up a flat/long bow a while back with very plastic-like back & belly (black)- with no fibres visbly embedded within in

[Rick Enos]

I have one also that looks like plastic.Static tips.

[Liquid Amber]

Are these Eicholtz bows?

[Rick Enos]

I purchased this bow because I've never seen a backing like this.It has been built with reflex in the limbs.With the static tips.

 

[Rick Enos]

There are no markings on the bow except the poundage....