Originally posted by Pack animal:
I find it interesting( as far as I am aware) none of the commercial archery manufacturer's or supplier ever talked Mr Case into lending his name to one of their product lines to increase commercial sales....
Pack Animal - Times were much less commercialized in the 1920s to the 1950s as opposed today. Because of the substantial family fortune, Roy Case retired while in his 20s and spent a great deal of the rest of his life enjoying and promoting the sport of archery (not specific products like the shameful infomercial self promotions that we see all too often today). Simply put, Roy did not have promote anyone's products to make money.
Roy was one of finest old bowmen who I ever met and he was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. He was also very generous and gave many of us collectors who visited him, many of his personal items. The entire day in the spring of 1983 that I spent with Roy at his lovely old brick home, is one my my fondest memories.
Roy had his own little archery business and advertised in archery periodicals from May 1928 until the mid 1950s. While he is best known for selling his broadheads, he also advertised his feathering fixture.
Unlike the great Art Young who killed lions, bears, moose, sheep, etc, Roy was not the greatest bowhunter of the era, however, Roy is credited with coining the term "bowhunter" by first combining the bow and hunter, (I have yet to research this credit). Unlike Howard Hill, Roy did not star in "The Adventures of Robin Hood", and was never regarded as the world's greatest trick shot or greatest archer. And unlike Fred Bear, Roy Case never started with almost nothing and build the largest archery business in the world.
Roy Case was one of many bowman of national note, who in his day was known by everyone in the archery business, but like dozens of other great old timers, today he largely unknown outside the Wisconsin area and the long time historians/collectors.
The fact that Roy was inducted in the Archery Hall of Fame, says volumes about his contributions and importance to our sport.
If you read every issue of every year of every 1920s to the 1950s archery periodical, you will learn about all the great old timers, including Roy Case. Complete sets of these periodicals are worth the price of admission.
Rick - Great Letters!
Topic: Roy Case: Bowhunting Pioneer (Read 2562 times)
