Need info/help. Damon Howatt Eldorado Palomar VINTAGE .

[TJGREEN1967]

Hello, I recently acquired a Vintage LH Damon Howatt-Eldorado Palomar beautiful recurve bow. Id info is in the sight window...EDP-39005-L, "34" (stamped in wood) and 69". From what I have found the "stamped Wt." in sight window is pre 63? NO "AMO" before 69".. is pre 68 ? It is a beautiful Laminated bow. The tips are VERY narrow with wood on both sides.The belly is a 50's looking blue/green.Looks to be wood on the back. Some info I found said the 1st # in serial was the Boyer #. Other info said if it had stamped wt. (mine is 34) there should be another stamp for the Boyer. If not, it was possibly made by Damon H..Other info gathered stated narrow tip were a trade mark of Damons own bows. If any one could help me decipher the #'s on this awesome old bow I would GREATLY appreciate it! My best guess is it was made about 1959.I also was interested to a link to Mr. Hatfield???

[Blackhawk]

Mr. Hatfield posts more on *********** these days and could probably help, especially with pics.  

With your good description I think 1959 too, and made by bowyer #3 and the 5th bow made that year.  If you get hold of Larry, he could tell you who # 3  would be.  

BTW, I would like to know the years that the bowyer stamps were used.

[TJGREEN1967]

Thanks for your input Lon. I did PM Larry. But I have Not heard back yet (2 days ago). I also thought the 005 would make it one of the first few that year. This bow is SO fun to shoot! And Beautiful!.
 It is a KEEPER. So finding some more info would be awesome. THANKS for your input.
Do we, on this site have a place to post pics for references, Etc.?

[Blackhawk]

You can post pics right into your narrative, BUT have to go through photobucket or some other hosting site.  There are threads on powwow with step by step instructions.

If you send some pics to me at my email, I will try to put them up here. I'd love to see it.

[email protected]

[TJGREEN1967]

I will this weekend Lon.
Thanks, Terry

[TJGREEN1967]

Pictures sent to E-mail Lon.
Thanks Terry

[Blackhawk]

Here are a few pics of Terry's Howatt.  

What a nice score!

       

       

     

     

     

     

   

   

[Blackhawk]

...and the last one...

 

[TJGREEN1967]

MUCH THANKS!!! To Lon for the gracious uploads!
Terry

[Hobow]

Really nice bow.  

The woods, laminations and glass type should be considered along with the serial numbers.

If you take a look at the link below which shows some original ads, and keep in mind that magazines often had a 3 month lead time from proof to news stand...

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=006186#000000

Your bow looks like a 1961 model produced towards the end of 1960.  You'll notice that it matches the 1961 Palomar in the ad which is in a March of '61 magazine which means that the ad bow would've been built long before the magazine came out.

Just my .02.  

Beautiful, great shooting bow and one to be proud of.

Brad

[TJGREEN1967]

Thanks for the input and info Brad! All info appreciated.
Thanks, Terry

[TJGREEN1967]

Brad, looking back at your old post...Did you have a 1959-1960?

[TJGREEN1967]

Brad, I , thanks to you noticed a few new things..in my photos #4 & 7, you will see by where my pinky would go a very distinct notch or cut out on the back of the bow (I saw that also on your DH catalog 1959 pictures. Not on 60 or 61.) But the riser shape of mine looks more like the 60, above the shelf.ALSO the 59 ad talks about the Straight wrist or NEW contour. Mine is definitely straight wrist!Also the 59 ad states the the straight wrist is a "Special Order".
Thanks for the LINK! I would enjoy your .02 cents on this info.

[Hobow]

Hi Terry,

Yes, I still do have a '59 Palomar.  It is in this link below-

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=004985

Please keep in mind that I'm only an enthusiast and about as far from an expert as you can get.  My opinion is only based off of what I "believe" to be true...  

The information that I have was from when I was researching my bow and the ads that I found in a quick search of my archery magazines from those years.

If you look closely at the 1961 ad picture, you can see the dip in the grip area on the back of the bow.  Please remember that the grips were hand finished and varied in between bows.  

The riser profile similarities do exist but if you follow the brightest white line (which is the lamination and glass) down the belly of the bow in the ads, the 1960 doesn't appear to have the plastic overlay on the belly that you can see in the 1961 ad.  They are not the best quality pictures though so it's hard to tell just from the ads.

I encourage you to keep seeking out opinions and information about the bow and take it all into account when determining a model year rather than just going by the serial number.

Brad

[Hobow]

One other thing to throw into the mix-

If we look closely at the shape and the riser overlays, and take into consideration the poor photo quality, that the factory most likely wouldn't wait until January 1st, 1960 to start building 1960 model bows and take into account your serial number of 005 plus the commonly accepted serial number breakdown...

A very strong argument can be made that the bow was the 5th, "1960 model" built in 1959 by bowyer #3.

The more I look at the black and white ad pictures the more certain I become that they are not of a high enough quality to be absolutely definitive in the year.  When the serial number is taken into consideration the chance of it being a late '59 built, 1960 Palomar is pretty good with all things considered.

Brad

[TJGREEN1967]

Again Brad, Your .02 c is greatly appreciated. You make great points. I enjoy your input.
Thank you.
Terry

[TJGREEN1967]

For Blackhawk and Hobow: (Thanks for your assistance and input!) I have received a personal response from Mr. Hatfield regarding my bow. I AM VERY Honored to get his response! I will include his response here...
larryhatfield - Your bow was made in 1959. Darwin Baldridge was the bowyer. the weight stamp in the sight window lasted until toward the end of 1961. Also, the first number in the serial number string being the bowyer also ended by the end of 1961. We always made really small tips to increase speed and lesson vibration until we had to quit using hide glues like urac and switched to epoxys. Epoxy's do not ever set up completely hard and the limbs are easily twisted. I still use extremely small tips on my personal bows that I use for flight and hunting.
I also asked in a second message, When did the Boyers stop using their STAMP# in the sight window and switch to putting it in the Serial #? ( Because I know one of you two actually requested that info) I am presently waiting for his response.
Thanks, Terry

[TJGREEN1967]

Larry's response to the last question....
larryhatfield - that went back and forth from the late fifties to early 61. finaly stopped because of ruptured fibers in the wood.