Nelson Grumley

[Liquid Amber]

Nels Grumley left Bear Archery and announced he was opening a custom bow shop in the July 1948 "Archery" magazine.  In the August edition he announced his shop was open.  I have found no other information since those two ads.

Did he make many bows after Bear Archery?

If so, how can they be differentiated from his Bear Archery bows?  No Bear Logo?

I've read and heard several reasons for his departure and have a sense it might have been on less than friendly terms.  Any thoughts?

The only thing I have read on the subject is that Fred knew the future of Bear Archery was in mass production and Nels felt strongly that bows should not be mass produced so they parted company.

I don't know about any post Bear Grumleys but this might interest you.

NO LINKS TO OTHER FORUMS, PLEASE

[Ray Lyon]

Cliff,
I knew Nels son John fairly well.  He lived about 20 minutes from me and I spent a lot of hours in his shop.  I believe Wade Philips has John's collection of his dad's bows now.  John never spoke a bad word to me about his dad leaving Bear Archery.  I know that he did make bows in southern MI for a while, but I don't remember John ever showing me one that was not made during the Bear era.  Also, John hunted with Bear Take-down's (his hunting bow was a Gainseville model B-handle green stripe take-down), so if there were really hard feelings, I don't see John carrying a Bear bow into the field.  I did get the sense that it was not an easy separation, but again, that was just 'feeling', nothing that John shared directly. Keep in mind, John was a class act and a fairly private person.  

I think of John Grumley often.  We toasted him at Shrewhaven just last month.

[Liquid Amber]

"less than friendly" is a poor choice of words.

"not an easy separation" may be a better choice.