I feel compelled to talk about a misconception that many may have regarding the relationship of Fred and Nels after Nels left Bear in 1948.
As many of you know, I acquired John Grumley's collection of bows made by his father, Nels Grumley. Actually the collection included Nels' photos, awards, tools, maps, letters, first deer, etc as well as the collectible non Grumley items.
Some may not realize that Nels was one of the Bear Archery Stock holders and kept his Bear Stock, even after he left Bear. He never sold it until all the stock holders had to sell, or exchange it, when Fred made the decision to sell the company.
The misconception that I'd like to clear up is that there is indisputable and conclusive evidence that Fred and Nels remained friends as well as business partners long after Nels left Bear.
Nels Grumley was the greatest bowyer of archery's golden era when men still made bows by hand. Nels' amazing God given talents as a craftsman were not being utilized by working on laminated bows that were being made by gluing up pre-fab parts that were then run through duplicating machines to turn out factory made bows.
Nels left Bear, started his own bow shop, and for a couple of years, did what he wanted to do and what he was great at doing, and made many styles of great bows.
Nels kept his Bear Archery Stock and kept his friends, don't let anyone mislead you.
Leaving Bear may not have been Nels' wisest financial decision, but then selling Bear Archery Company, may not have been Fred's wisest financial decision either.
Who among us has not made a less than wise financial decision? Whatever less than wise decision was made, we probably still managed to keep our real friends.
And yes, during the 1950s after Nels closed his bow shop, he began shooting Bear recurves... Anyone got a photo of Nels shooting a 1959 or 1960 Bear Kodiak???
Topic: BH Prefix 1960 Kodiaks (Read 10480 times)
