The Odd Shakespeare Wonderbow X19 and the Early Shakespeare "X"wonderbows

The Odd Shakespeare Wonderbow X19

by Larry Vienneau

Shakespeare Archery 1961 magazine insert

The Shakespeare Wonderbow has a unique history. Shakespeare Corporation has been producing fishing equipment since the 19^th century. After World War II, fiberglass became widely available.  Shakespeare saw the potential of fiberglass for fishing rods and became an industry leader in fiberglass applications.  In the early 1950s, fiberglass found its way into the archery market. In 1959 Shakespeare acquired Parabow, producers of solid fiberglass bows. They also formed a partnership with archery manufacturer and legend Ernie Root. Their first laminated composite wood and fiberglass bows were the 1959-60 Model 100-600 bows. From 1961-64 Shakespeare began using the "X" designation for their bows. Later in 1964, Shakespeare began producing hunting and target bows with the X designation with a Model name such as the famous Necedah X26.

From 1961 – 1965 Shakespeare was experimenting with materials and designs. Ernie Root’s influence was very obvious in these early bows. After 1960 the “X” designation was used. Interestingly Ernie Root also used the “X” designation in his own Root bows. Many of the later Shakespeare bows had earlier incarnations during this period. These later bows had very few similarities to the earlier versions.  For example:

•         The 1961-62 X15 had three versions, 63” 66” and 69”. It was designed as a target bow. In 1966 the X15 became the X-15 Titan.

•         In 1964 X-16 was introduced, in 1966 it became the X16 Supreme.

•         In 1961 there was the X17 which in 1966 became the X-17 Ocala.

•        The X18 in 1961-62 was a long AMO of 64”. In 1971 the X18 was completely redesigned as the X18 Sierra 52 AMO.

•        The X20 1961-62 was unusual because it was ambidextrous and the last Shakespeare bow with a leather-wrapped handle, it was very similar to the 1959-60 Model 500 and 600. In 1968 the X-20 became the X20 Manitou which looked nothing like its previous version.

•        The X22 was introduced in 1964 as a dual hunting/target bow, in 1966 it was reintroduced as the X22 Custer.

•        In 1964 the X24 was designed as a semi-recurve. In 1966 the X24 Yukon was presented as an all-round hunting /target bow

All of these early “X” bows went on to another version, all except for the poor X19 Wonderbow. Why couldn’t the 1968 X-21 Tioga have been the X19 Tioga or the 1971 X23 Pecos have been the X19 Pecos?

The 1961-62 X-19 Wonderbow was different than most of these earlier designs, it had a riser forward design rather than a riser backward like a traditional longbow. It was also an odd length at 63" in the early 1960 and 60" late 1960s and 70s. The only difference between the two years was that 1961 had a white glass back and gray belly and 1962 was a front and back gray glass. Like many of these early X bows, the riser was durable maple wood. What makes this bow an orphan? Perhaps there were plans for another X19 incarnation that never developed. Perhaps Ernie Root merged the qualities of the X19 into later bows. We will never know.

 

Lewis Kent's unique and scarce Gray 1962 Wonderbow X19

Lewis Kent's Unique 1968 (?) Wonderbow X19

This example of the X19 belongs to my friend Lewis Kent. The X19, like most of these early bows, was produced as the right-hand bow, lefties were special orders. So Lewis, a righty, gets all the fun!  We spotted this gray glass bow on eBay and we were both intrigued. Lewis bid and won it. A few weeks later the green glass and walnut riser X19 were up for auction. It is quite different than the 1961-62 models. The profile is different and it does not have the model number with the logo, the model number is handwritten on the riser. It is a very odd one too because the serial number dates it as 1968 but this bow does not appear in 1967-69 catalogs. 

calfskin arrow rest

The bow was in very good shape but it needed some refinishing. Lewis did an amazing job and even added a calfskin rest identical to the original rest. 

It is distinctly different than other early X bows because of its brief history. It is also unique because of the gray fiberglass. The only other Shakespeare bow to use gray glass was X17.  It is a very beautiful color gray and has a slight green cast to it. Lewis prefers dark wood risers but he is the first to admit that this is an exceptionally beautiful bow. The color combination of gray glass with the golden maple riser makes for a truly stunning and rare bow!!

UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 13,2014 
Of course, there is always something unexpected when dealing with vintage bows, especially in Shakespeare. When I first wrote this article on 8/24/2013 Lewis Kent and I were confident we had figured out the chronology of this enigmatic bow. The design fits perfectly into the early bows which Ernie Root made for Shakespeare, they were typical of the early 1960s bows. However earlier this year Lewis won an X19. When it arrived he compared both bows and was surprised to find that the bow had a "Shakespeare Archery Equipment" logo typical of 1970! Its serial number shows that it was made in December 1970.

 

Lewis Kent's odd X19 1970 with style logo and medallion and leather Root style arrow rest

 This odd X19 also had the raised medal medallion found on bows from the early 1970s. It also has a gray leather arrow rest used by Ernie Root during the early 1960s.

 We debated why there is such inconsistency in this model. I suggested that this bow may have been resurrected in the 1970s to be used by the US military. The Army used the Shakespeare M24 as a recreational bow for the US troops in Vietnam. Perhaps Shakespeare was also sending the X19? But Lewis disagrees because of the shiny metal medallion, which he feels is inconsistent with military use which makes sense. I have been sitting on this update for quite a while, trying to research this newer incarnation of the X19. I have found nothing. It leaves us scratching our heads!!!

SECOND UPDATE: 8/13/2022

I originally published this post in 2014, but it has taken me nine years to finally find a left-handed X19-63 Wonderbow. The bow looked dirty when I bid on it, and when it arrived it was dirtier than expected. But the limbs were straight, and the gray fiberglass had very few scratches. I did a quick cleaning with Windex and discovered that the bow was in remarkably good condition and would not require refinishing. I use the white eraser pads and Renaissance Wax and the cleaning and polishing was done in less than an hour. The 1961 & 62 catalogs describe the bow with a calfskin rest and strike plate, so I added the same to the bow. I put an old string on it and had to fling a few arrows. I like the gray fiberglass and it is a nice shooter, at about 46 pounds. I have ordered a 63" AMO Dacron 50 string and plan on putting it to work soon. 

White eraser pad and Renaissance Wax

My left-handed Wonderbow X19-63, 46 pounds

Shakespeare Wonderbow X19 1961, 1962, 1968, 1970

• 63-inch AMO1961-62, 60 inches 1968 and 1970
• Draw weights: 20- 50 lbs.
• Riser- Maple and walnut
• calf skin arrow rest
• Maple tip overlay
• Glass: Ivory White back, Steel Gray belly -1961, Steel Gray back and belly 1962. 1963 - Green glass walnut riser
• 6-inch sight window
• Brace height- 6 ¾
• Right hand, the left hand was special ordered.
• Wonderbow logo
• 1970 Shakespeare Archery Equipment Logo and raised metal medallion

A very RARE x19 set, circa 1962.

if anyone has information on the X19 please share.

copyright (C) Larry Vienneau