Unusual Michigan Made Take Down

[Mike Shaw]

Picked up this unusual take down bow the other day. Never seen anything like it before. Seems to be well built and nice detail work. The only information that I found is that it was made by the Chessman Archery Co. Ellsworth Michigan between 1959 and 1961? Anybody have any history on the company or the bow? .....Thanks Mike

 

 

 

 

[d. ward]

wow thats a super cool bow right there Mike bd

[Mike Shaw]

Thanks Doc..but come on man dig out some old info from your vault    LOL..Mike

[TimberlineX]

Mike,

Fascinating recurve! Today’s designers of metal-riser hunting TDs could take some lessons from this bow and the way in blends stiff metal with classy hardwood.

Just a guess, but a manufacturer date of 1959 to 1961 seems early for this level of take-down and materials sophistication. But who knows.

Bill Krenz
Colorado

[Wade Phillips]

Mike - Cool Bow.

I started a thread about Sylvester Chessman's bows last year, Jan 2009.

It was titled Double Lever Action – Self Stringing – Take Down Recurve

    http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=001750#000000    

I showed the 5 Chessman bows that I have including the Self Stringing, Double Lever Action, the only one of its kind that I have seen. Floyd Eccleston was the previous owner of this particular Chessman.

Floyd loved to demonstrate its unique function. He had a lengthy routine about stringing bows, and walked through several different methods of stringing with his unsuspecting listener. Demonstrating the Self-Stringing option was the grand finale that always blew away his audience.

Perhaps the most historically significant story behind this particular Chessman, is that when Floyd was inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame, he took this bow with him and demonstrated it there. Floyd was a unique character with wonderful sense of humor that most often completely blindsided his unsuspecting victims. We all miss Floyd, the Dean of Collectors. He was a great man. Not many like him ever.

   

Yes, some "Crazy Collectors" will collect anything, including Chessman bows...Have 5 Chessman bows, each is a little different, but only the one Double Lever Action Self-Stinger.

I keep playing with the second one from the bottom as the metal is partially open. I’m thinking it is some how a Chinese Puzzle Box Design and when I push or slide the proper spot, the metal will suddenly spring open and the limbs will fold back or slide out… I will let you know if I ever figure it out.


   

[Mike Shaw]

Thanks guys it was a cool snag at a fishing flea market fo $20. Wade thanks I will go and check out your thread from 2009.. I'm going to make a string for it tomorrow and see how she shoots...Again thanks much...Mike

[Wade Phillips]

Mike - I've only shot one of the five. It shoots just about like you would expect it to. The bend in the limbs is abrupt just outside the fade outs. They are not light. They do make a nice conversation piece.

[jcar315]

Cool looking bow Mike. Super nice snag at the flea market. $20.00 would have me buying just about any bow there too!

Wade, thanks for sharing the knowledge. I learn every time you post.

[Jon Stewart]

Mike, been to Ellsworth, Michigan.  You blink and you missed the town.  Great find!

Any  metal on old bow would scare me to death to string and shoot it though.

[Lamont Granger]

Wade, I was there when Floyd did the self stringing bow demo when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Pretty neat.  Nice bow Mike.  Lamont

[TimberlineX]

Wade,

Would it be posible for you take and post a series of photos showing how the Chessman Double Lever Action Self-Stringing bow worked, specifically how the self-stringing feature worked? That feature is difficult to imagine.

Bill

[Wade Phillips]

Bill -

Note the lever action is open on the limb to the right and the limb is higher then the limb to the left, as the limb pivots inside the metal portion.

       

Now visualize both lever actions being open and both limbs being in the upright position.

Now it is easy to put the string on the bow because the tip to tip length is reduced as a result of the limbs pivoting upward.

Then close one lever action, as the lever moves toward the limb, the limb is pulled downward, and the distance between the tips increases and the string gets tight.

Then close the other lever action and the bow is strung.

Actually more of a conversation piece than a real functional feature.

Hope I have explained it so everyone can understand....

[69RECURVE]

Simlpy amazing. I don't know if I would shoot it either, although that is what is was made to do? That is a difficult call. Good luck whatever you decide.

If you do shoot it let us know how it went.

[hardbern]

Taking a chance replying to this old post, but at least it all stays in context....

....i'd been researching for a story about metal-risered Take-Down/Take-Apart bows
(originally just British, but gathered info. on European & American, etc.)
& came across the Chessman "Component" bow (back in 2016) in short piece
in the June 1961 edition of Popular Mechanics.
I'll let the article speak for itself, but it looks like the pics of the OP,
which now due to PhotoShop policy are no longer clearly visible
any chance reposting in open/freely visible form pls?