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Friday, March 29, 2013

the Short History of Shakespeare / Root Archery 1959-1976





The Short History of Root and Shakespeare Archery, 1959- 1976

by Larry Vienneau
  (with help from George D Stout, Rick Rappe, Lawrence Root, and Bob Hargreaves)



The history of Shakespeare Archery has been neglected. Shakespeare stopped archery production in 1976 and the company lost its records over the years. Recently Ernie Roots' son, Lawrence Root, has stepped forward and added valuable information.
William Shakespeare, Jr. invented a patent for his fishing reel and began producing fishing equipment in the late 1800s. In the 20th century, Shakespeare became a major producer of sporting equipment. In 1959 Shakespeare Corporation acquired Parabow the Ohio-based Parallel Products Company, a maker of archery equipment that was organized into Shakespeare's Archery subsidiary. Parabow was one of the main producers of solid fiberglass bows in the 1950s. Shakespeare was an early pioneer of the application of fiberglass to fishing rods. The merger of these two companies was a match made in heaven. During the sixties and seventies, Shakespeare produced fiberglass and wood laminate bows but it did not forsake its Parabow line of solid fiberglass archery equipment.










RH and LH Model 100-600 1959 and 1960














 The style of these bow was simple and they were often the first bow of a youngster. In 1959, along with the Parabow line, Shakespeare introduced the 100 through 400 series of recurves. In early 1960, Shakespeare began a collaboration with a gifted bow maker Ernie Root. 

Ernie Root
 Shakespeare partnered with Mr. Root and together they created outstanding and affordable bows. Ernie Root began his bow-making career working at American Archery in Chicago in the late 1940s. He quit American and started Root Archery in the early 1950s as a family business in suburban Chicago. After outgrowing a couple of small spaces, it moves out of the city, eventually settling in Big Rapids, MI. Ernie Root was a great tournament archer and set a record for an individual score of 836 in 1947 which was not broken until 1959.

One of the few online photos of Ernie Root (second from right)
Most people assumed that Shakespeare acquired Root Archery in the late 1960s. Ernie Root’s Son Lawrence Root has been adding to the knowledge and now it seems that it was a mutually beneficial merger rather than an acquisition.  Root Archery had been a supplier to Shakespeare for several years. Ernie Root made his bows, from the early 50's to the late 60's or early 70's in Big Rapids, MI. Around the late 60's he sold a number of his designs to Shakespeare, who slimmed them down and renamed them. For example, The Root Warrior became the Necedah in 1964 as a 55” bow, The Brush Master became the Kaibab, and the Field Master became the Ocala. The first bows of this type bore the name "Root, by Shakespeare". Shortly afterward Ernie Root went to work for Shakespeare, and the Root name was dropped completely but his design influence would continue. After the merger with Shakespeare, Mr. Root became a consultant and manager of production. Ernie also continued producing his own line of bows under the "ROOT" name even though the business was sold to Shakespeare in 1969. Shakespeare moved to Columbia, SC approximately three years later, a move Mr. Root opposed. 
after leaving Shakespeare Ernie dedicated his time to the Golden Eagle with Phil Grable
 
Golden Eagle was an extension of Root's Archery Research Division



Owen Jeffery in 1974 Shakespeare Catalog
Shakespeare continued without Ernie Root which adversely affected quality and production. Ernie devoted his time to developing the metal riser take-down (Golden Eagle) with Phil Grable (Owen Jeffery later took over the design of the bow with Jeffery Archery).

old Root / Shakespeare bow scale
used in Jeffery Archery Factory
 Owen Jeffery, an inventive and talented bowyer was hired as President of Shakespeare Archery to revitalize the brand. Before He came to Shakespeare he was Master Bowyer and a Vice-President at Bear Archery. He brought Shakespeare's Archery operation to Columbia South Carolina. Later he began Jeffery Archery around 1975. Owen bought all of the equipment when Shakespeare shut down. Jeffery archery is the last vestige of Shakespeare / Root archery. Here are some photos Bob Hargreaves sent of the Root/ Shakespeare equipment still being used by Jeffery Archery Bob worked for both Root and Shakespeare.
Owen Jeffery with his son Tom's
old Root bow press
Shakespeare, Bear, and Pearson were the three most widely sold brands in the country. They built and sold a lot of bows throughout the sixties and specialized in solid performers for reasonable prices. Shakespeare never totally grasped the changing landscape of 1970's bow production, Shakespeare clung to the recurve bow while other manufacturers embraced the compound. Shakespeare closed the line of archery equipment in 1976. Shakespeare's Archery division was only part of the Shakespeare Corporation and they decided to get out of the archery field when it became apparent that the market was headed to the development of the compound bow. They never produced compounds but did create prototypes. If you run across a Shakespeare compound bow it is one of a kind, a true collector. 


Many of Shakespeares' bow designs were sold to Proline such as the Shakespeare Osprey, Condor, and Golden Eagle. Often both logos appeared on the bows. Eventually an "S" appeared before "Proline". Proline stopped making recurves and adopted the compound trend. Proline went out of business in the early 1990s.
 
Bob Hargreaves knew Ernie Root and worked at both the Root and Shakespeare Archery factories. He went to Columbia SC When Shakespeare moved there. He left the company in 1973. He sent photos of the building which once housed the Root factory. He says the front of the building has changed over the years but the rest is very similar to the old days.
  

Big Rapids MI.  It was very plain looking back then and there were parking spaces all
across the front. The spaces on each side of the front door were reserved for
Ernie and Dave.
 

East side of the building.


Rearview. The Quonset hut on the left is where all the wood was stored.



The rear of the building. This was the finishing area.

Marcy Root's string factory was on this alley in downtown Big Rapids.

This was the Shakespeare plant in Columbia, SC. It was home to the Root Archery
Division from October 1971 until Owen Jeffery bought the archery operation from
Shakespeare.

try to imagine Bear Archery without Fred Bear!!

So why did Shakespeare's Archery 
fail and Bear Archery prosper? One obvious reason was Fred Bear. With his distinctive hat, Fred Bear was a celebrity, an archery innovator, and an icon. He had the perfect name too. Image if his name had NOT been "Bear"? Imagine a Fred Lamb, a Fred Dangerfield, or a Fred Smith Bow? It just doesn't sound the same. Bear archery succeeded because of Fred Bear. He was the guiding force behind the company. Bear Archery is one of the oldest archery companies so Shakespeare had to play catch-up to Bear. This was a friendly competition, however. Fred Bear and Ernie Root were good friends. They often shared materials and equipment and helped each other out. By the Mid to late 1960s, Shakespeare was producing bows that equaled Bear in quality and speed. The compound bow was the "beginning of the end" for Shakespeare. Around the time of its appearance Mr. Root was leaving Shakespeare and their Archery Division was in turmoil. However, Bear Archery began investing in new technology and reinvented itself and Bear never dropped the recurve bow from its line. So, nearly forty years later, Shakespeare Archery is a memory while Bear still produces quality bows.  There are many more Bear bows than Shakespeare / Root Bows available to a vintage collector today. Real vintage collectors acknowledge Ernie Root as a brilliant bowyer equal in skill to Fred Bear. Even the most ardent Bear fan grudgingly respects the Shakespeare / Root bows. I own Hoyt, Bear, York, Groves, Pearson, and Shakespeare Bows. Personally, I love the look and feel of the Shakespeare Bow. I know from experience that they are equal in beauty to the Bear bow and in a speed test, they are more than equal to a Bear as well.

article from September 1970 BOW AND ARROW
 thanks to George D Stout, Rick Rappe, Lawrence Root, and Bob Hargreaves

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.
All rights reserved.
 

62 comments:

  1. Actually, the Root Warrior became the Necedah, in 1964, as a 55" bow....the first year of the Necedah. The Brush Master became the Kaibab, the Field Master became the Ocala. Prior to that in 1959, along with the Parabow line, Shakespeare introduced the 100 through 300 series of recurves. They had leather wrapped grips, and if right handed, had the name of RH-100, 200, 300, etc. If left handed, they of course were LH-100 and so on.

    I have owned several of the RH models and they are great shooting bows. In 1961, the leather grip was dropped, and the bows took on a more sleek design...but assuredly had an Ernie Root influence. When Root Archery was sold to Shakespeare in 1967, the "Ernie Influence" had been going on for many years.

    After the sale of the company to Shakespeare, Ernie devoted his time to developing the metal riser takedown (Golden Eagle) with Phil Grable.

    I've owned myriad Shakespeare bows over the decades, and I don't think there is one that I haven't shot at one time or another. I used the X-10 Professional which had formerly been the Root Pendulus Supreme in tournaments in the late 1960's, and it was a great shooting bow. At that time, they had the X-10 listed above, along with the X-15 (Shedua/Maple riser) same design as the X-10. The other X model in the target line was the X-16...a more slender riser, and 64" AMO length.

    My favorites are the Necedah for a pure hunting bow, and the QT-takedown. The first QT's were made by Phil Grable (1973/74)..the Owen Jeffery took over the design of the bow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. March 1.

      I am having e-mail conversations with Larry Root, son of Ernie. He is providing new and different information than we have previously thought. Specifically, he states emphatically that Ernie didn't sell to Shakespeare until 1969 and that prior to that time besides building bows for Shakespeare he also built bows for Bear, Hoyt AND Colt. (He has provided no specifics on that last statement, but promises to dig up what he can. And I suspect if this is true, he may be referring to low end solid fiberglass bows.)

      Some of his comments are so different than what we've thought, I remain slightly skeptical. IE. Root by Shakespeare should have read Shakespeare by Root.

      He says Ernie was not pleased that Shakespeare chose to move production to S. Carolina, and while he had some sort of management agreement with Shakespeare he was disgruntled at the design changes made to the bows after that move.

      Rick Rappe'

      Delete
    2. Rick thanks. I would like to add a post about Ernie Root. I contacted the Archery hall of Fame and they will help. Do you think Larry Root would be able to add his knowledge?

      Delete
    3. Rick, Larry is correct, it should be "Shakespeare by Root." As far as the sale date I don't know the exact date but I do know Shakespeare began making minor changes at the plant around late November/early December 1968.

      Delete
    4. Now that I think about it some more it could have been late 1969, whatever Larry says is probably correct. He's about as straight up as anyone I've ever known.

      Delete
  2. Wow thanks so much. I will add this to the history.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so glad to have found this site with all the incredible information. I've recently acquired my grandpa's bows from the 50's and 60's. One is a 1954 Kodiak II, compass model, Bear bow. Another is a Shakespeare Wonderbow. It's got a 400 under the name but the the whole label is almost worn off. It says it's a 30#, 64" P140 on the riser. If anyone can help me fill in the blanks on the entire identity I would be so grateful. A local shop owner inspected it and found it in great shape. He strung it and then showed me how to handle it safely myself. I'm excited to get started. Thanx, Jeannine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jeannine and congratulations on the great bows..very jealous!!!

      Your Shakespeare is from 1959-60 it is a RH/LH (right or left hand)400
      and it is a 64" Bow. I have a LH 300 82". the weight of your bow is perfect for target shooting. Mine is #50 and I was surprised how well this old bow shot, I tested the arrow speed and it was faster then most of my newer bows. I posted about these early models:
      http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/01/early-wonderbows.html
      Let me know if you have any questions, send me a photo of the bow, maybe I can add it to the Early Wonderbow Post.

      Delete
  4. I'll get a picture on here pretty soon. The arrows I have are just as old so I'm going to get some new ones since I'm sure they'll disintegrate on contact with anything. My grandpa also did the fletching himself, so I'd hate to ruin them. I'm fascinated with the history and will keep you posted on my progress. Thanx again for all the help and information. Jeannine

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  5. When I was a kid I dug a 60" x24 Shakespeare Yukon out of my neighbors trash can. It is light brown in color and in very good condition. I was wondering if you had any information on the history and possible value of this bow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/01/shakespeare-wonderbow-yukon-x24.html?m=1
      I wrote about theYukon, I used a couple bows which a friend owns, I have been trying to find a lefty. They are rugged bows and good shooters. Values vary according to condition, better the condition the high price, top price is $175-$200
      for mint, $50 for a well used bow

      Delete
  6. The Root Archery move from Big Rapids, MI to Columbia, SC in October of 1971 was a total disaster. The factory in Big Rapids was efficiently run and loaded with skilled craftsmen. Shakespeare tried to duplicate that in SC with unskilled minimum wage workers, and without Ernie Root. There was no way that was going to work. The Shakespeare brass seemed to think they were smarter than Ernie. They weren't.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have a Shakespeare bow that is labeled 60# D3091 64". Can anyone provide me with the name of the bow and the approximate year it was manufactured? Lastly, what was its primary use (I.E Target shooting)? Any assistance would be much appreciated. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have a Shakespeare bow that is labeled 60# D3091 64". Can anyone provide me with the name of the bow and the approximate year it was manufactured? Lastly, what was its primary use (I.E Target shooting)? Any assistance would be much appreciated. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Unfortunately the serial numbers are not much good for identifying Shakespeare bows. When Shakespeare dropped the archery division they destroyed or lost that information. The weight of #60 is uncommon and would not a good target weight (usually #25-#40)
      Here is a list 64 inch Shakespeare bows.
      1959-60 Wonderbow model 400 (hunting bow)
      1970 Wonderbow model X10 Professional (target bow)
      1966-71 Wonderbow Model X16 Supreme (target bow)
      1964 Wonderbow X18-64 (hunting bow)
      1969-71 Wonderbow X22 Custer (hunting bow)
      1966 Wonderbow X25 Trident (target bow)
      I think your bow is likely a Model 400, X18-64, or a X22 Custer.
      what color is the fiberglass? what does the riser wood look like?
      The best thing to do would be to send me photo of the bow
      shakespeare.archer@aol.com

      Delete
  9. I have purchased a Shakespeare bow that belonged to Ann Marston.Miss Michigan & achery champion.It is a model X15-63--Ser # C-2077-A--It is signed by Ann.Would Shakespeare have a documents on this....It is #24 @25" draw....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a great find!! congratulations.
      I have written to Shakespeare a couple times about any documentation of the old archery division. I did recieve a phone call from a very nice woman who knew some of the people in the division. She said when Shakespeare closed the division, the REALLY closed it. Most of the documentation was boxed and eventually was lost or destroyed over the decades. Your best option is to some of the traditional archery forums and post your question. George Stout, and Rick Rappe are the wise sages of Shakespeare / Root. try these links
      www.archerytalk.com
      www.tradtalk.com
      www.tradgang.com
      www.tradrag.com
      http://leatherwall.bowsite.com
      www.stickbow.com

      Delete
  10. I have a bow labeled Root Rangemaster. It doesn't say Shakespeare on it anywhere. It is a 35# 64 inch re-curve. Does anyone know the approximate date of manufacture?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi
    Had to estimate the date by your description. Could you send a photo to shakespeare.archer@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was very happy to find this site. I'm 71, and recently decided to get back into archery. I had a Bear Cub 48# bow as a teen for hunting way back in the late '50s. My parents gave it away a long time ago. A few weeks ago I found a Shakespeare 30# Wonderbow Trident X25 in a antique store and bought it for $112. It is in good condition with little sign of wear, I took it to a archery range/shop near my home for new string, arrows, stringer, and other stuff. They seemed amused that I wanted a handsome traditional recurve bow that did not look like some machine from outer space, and that I wanted to shoot it without sights. I've set up a little 20 yard range in the back yard to shoot a few days a week. Great fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!!! Your story about the archery pro shop is funny. I always get the question "If you don't use sights, how can you aim? I respond "How do you throw a baseball?, (it doesn't have sights)" I know you will enjoy the Trident, it is a very beautiful bow. I shoot lefty and I am still looking for a lefty trident. I wrote a post on the trident- http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/05/shakespeare-trident-x25.html Have fun with your bow!!

      Delete
    2. Thanks for your reply. Yes, I found your "Trident page" yesterday and made a copy. I had spent time on eBay (for ads) and Google trying to find ANY info on Shakespeare (not much luck). I think the magic word on Google was "history" that led me to this site yesterday. It made my day (especially since my shooting session was'nt all that good). Joe H, Media, PA

      Delete
  13. great page...I remember the Golden Eagle being a radical design. archery had a lot going on in the 60's...metal risers,releases,and the wheel,all at once. just when the wood risers were at their peak,so many beautiful bows. DB,north Tx

    ReplyDelete
  14. could I have some info on my Shakespeare trident x-25 wonderbow 64" 45# ser#j71113L? I'm guessing circa 1964 with
    value $99.00-$150.00. unfortunate victim of a fire with some bubbling on finish. I like my bow...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi
      I have a post on the Trident, a bow I am still looking for in left hand.
      http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/05/shakespeare-trident-x25.html
      Hard to guess on the value if it was in a fire. I might be concerned about the laminations due to the heat and the bow would need refinishing

      Delete
  15. Like many of the other comments, I stumbled into your blog while trying to research a bow that my father found for me at an estate sale probably 25 years ago. It's a B-1 Hunter model, the labels are actually in very good condition on it. It gives the location of Shakespeare Archery as Kalamazoo, MI. Is there anyway to make a guess about the years of production on this model or what it might be worth?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello K A Stewart
      The B1 was mad from 1960-70. It didn't change much except for the color of leather wraps in 1964 and in 1968 the introduced a camouflage version. The are good rugged bows. I have a post you might like to read:
      http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/02/shakespeare-parabow-solid-fiberglass.html
      As far as value goes, these bows don't go for to much money because they were mass produced and there isn't to much demand for them. Good Condition and higher draw weight add to value. There was a 55 lb. B1 that went for over $80 and a 45 lb that went for over $55 but their condition may not have been as good as your bow. There is a person trying to sell a B2 for $400 on eBay but is having trouble getting a starting bid of $99. The are nice shooting bows but suffer from the association with kids bows, so they don;t go for much money usually.

      Delete
    2. Thanks so much!
      This one looks like it's probably still very functional, but cosmetically, it's got some dings and worn places. The leather wraps may even be original, and they look like someone loved this bow very much at one time.

      Looks like this one is a 40 lb draw. Says the string length would be 51". I'm having trouble finding that exact length in strings, looks like most strings want to be even numbers, so I'm not sure what to do about that. I've never actually used this bow, but my daughter is getting into archery, so I thought I might dust it off and shoot some more myself, just to see if I still enjoy.

      Delete
  16. I just found a Super Necedah, +55+ pounds, serial number E01523S in awesome condition. Zebrawood with an I-beam that appears to be mahogany or some other tight grained wood (Shedua?). There is another number inscribed just under the rest area that looks like someone's social security number 527 48 0263. After installing a Bear Weatherrest, some wool puff silencers and a raising the BH to 8.25", it shoots quiet and launches arrows impressively even with an old endless loop string that has been twisted too many times (needs a shorter string).

    Any guess as to what year it was made?.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sweet find!! Unfortunately the serial numbers are useless for determining age because Shakespeare lost or destroyed those records.
      this might help:
      http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/09/super-necedah-review.html
      send a photo to shakespeare.archer@aol.com
      Thanks!!!

      Delete
  17. i have a root rover X-152 and cannot find any information about it. I looked at the list of bows manufactured but it is not listed. does anyone have any information for this bow?

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have a Shakespeare Golden Eagle/Root take down recurve (62’/45+#) CG1364 that I acquired for Ted Brooks Sr. in Kalamazoo back in the early 80’s. While I’ve hunted with it, I never took a deer with this particular bow.
    I’m interested in selling the bow but am not up on the current market for this type of equipment. Any info would be appreciated. Photos are available. I will “follow” this website for any replies. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have a Shakespeare Cascade 50# ,50" recurve in very good condition with 6 Shakespeare rifled shafts original feathers ,with bodkin type broadheads in the original box minus cellophane. I have other Pearson,BEAR,Browning wasp,recurves . My everyday shooters are a Bear T/D Hunter, Wing Gull and a Bob Lee Stickbow. Love to shoot traditional bows . Anyone interested in the Shakespeare Cascade with arrows email at bluegrassman54@yahoo.com Darrell Horne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also have a cascade trying to get info as it was my dads an he hased past to it down off the wall need help not sure what i have

      Delete
  20. I have just purchased a vintage recurve bow with the following information. On the top outside riser it says: "Root by Shakespeare". On the lower inside riser it says: "Root Predator X114 AMO Standard" and also has the inscribed information: 54" BO323 55+ 28". The bow is in excellent shape (no nicks and still great finish) and appears to have the original bow string and rubber silencers. The original owner is a retired Captain from the US Coast Guard who tells me he used the bow to hunt while stationed in Alaska to supply fresh meat (moose/bear) to the encampment. He also sold me his custom aluminum (I think) hunting arrows with removable blades. I suspect this bow given its condition may be valuable to a collector. Any interest, I can be reached at kdwurl@gmail.com. I'm a bow collector (like to shoot what I own) but after shooting a few arrows I realize that the 28" size is too small for me (I'm 6'4" and shoot 30-31" bows). I might be interested in getting this into someones collection that might find it better suited.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have a Shakespeare Range Master LH 66" 30+28". I purchased it in the early 70's and used it for college archery team for a year (2 at the most). It was only used a couple times since and is in excellent condition. Does anyone know what's it's worth?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. here is the post on the range master, http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/05/ernie-roots-range-master.html
      If you do a search through past auctions on eBay, the price range varies from $50 - $165 depending on condition and poundage.I can't give you an exact value since I have not seen the bow.

      Delete
  22. I have a Kaibab X-27 45# 58" serial no. J6562A. Any idea of when it was made?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cindy
      It is hard to tell without a photo
      I guess $150- $200

      Delete
    2. Dec 1966 for the Kaibab. Second digit is year, first letter is month

      Delete
  23. I have been looking for this kind of information for years. I have a Golden Eagle, purchased 1969 or 1970. I've often wondered what happened to the company or what this bow might now be worth.

    Tom
    Newark, DE

    ReplyDelete
  24. When did Les Gervais win the US Indoor Open and shoot his perfect round? (picture above) As I recall, about two weeks after he shot his perfect round, someone else did the same thing, also with a Golden Eagle. I bought my Goldgen Eagle very shortly after that.

    Tom
    Newark, DE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tom
      The Root team shot 3 perfect scores during the 1967 Vegas shoot, incredible because it had never been done before in a competition. http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-golden-eagle-recurve.html
      As far as value it depends on condition. I suggest that you go to EBay and look up Golden Eagle recurve completed auctions. They vary from $76 - $340. I think it is really helpful that you are the only owner too. you know the bow's history.

      Delete
  25. I recently acquired a Root Rangemaster bow, no label that indicates it's by Shakespeare, and is in pretty good despite being stored in a garage. I was wondering if there is any way I could contact you to get any information about this bow (an email I could send pictures to?). I'm mostly curious about approximate year made and worth (I feel a bit guilty about just taking the bow for free from my boss). I noticed you posted an email address for pictures about two years ago, and was wondering if that was still valid, or if you had moved to a new account. Anything you could offer would be great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nikki
      you can send photos to- shakespeare.archer@aol.com

      I also wrote a post about the Range Master- http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/05/ernie-roots-range-master.html

      As far as value, that depends upon condition and draw weight. I suggest going to eBay and doing a search for Root Range master bows. I also suggest looking at completed auctions to see what past bow have sold for. I just looked and found a range of $110- $330.
      your Bow (without Shakespeare) is an original Ernie Root bow. Ernie designed and build most of the bows by Shakespeare. I can give you an approximate year of manufacture but it is hard to date Root bows exactly because Ernie Root never added dates to his catalogs. His son Larry Root has been helping with the blog. he can date the bow better than I can.
      if you use Facebook, we also have a page where you can post and converse with Root enthusiasts. I am sure some will have information for you too.

      https://www.facebook.com/groups/Vintagebowcollectors/

      Delete
  26. I just came upon a Root Warrior 58" 47# @28" serial number G8265. Can you tell me when it was made and what length string I need to get for it?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Just had a conversation with my mom about my father who had died about 15 years ago. When I was in first grade (about 1961-62) I had believed dad was a "National Archery Champion" and have photos of him that were in local newspapers. I had thought he worked for "Root Bow & Arrow" but I also knew he worked for Colt Firearms (have a business card & his personalized money clip from Colt) in the northeast as a Salesman near that timeframe. Mom told me tonight that she remembered him selling archery equipment for Colt. So I looked up both entities on the web tonight - so it seems they were both in archery business within the same timeframe.

    Does anyone know what year Root started and also what year Colt started in the archery business?

    I'm going to need to pull out the newspaper ads that I have and see if there happened to be any sponsors of his travels.
    Todd (son of Kenneth R Hostetter)
    Toddcomt@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hello,
    I just bought a Shakespeare mancos that I'm refinishing and it's missing it's sticker logo that goes on the riser. Anyone know where I can get one?

    ReplyDelete
  29. ROOT RANGE MASTER X166 A.M.O. STANDARD 64" L9006 40+ 28 " WAS MY FATHER'S BOW VERY NICE CONDITION,ANY INFO THANKS,ANY ORIGINAL ERIE ROOT RECURVE ,THIS IS EXCITING, GROWING UP IN TH LATE LATE 60 ,70 S I'VE KNOWN THIS BOW ALL MY LIFE,FIRST TIME I'VE STRUNG IT,OR FELT THE WEIGHT, IT'S JUST SMOOTH AND GRACEFUL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Randy
      This should help
      http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/05/ernie-roots-range-master.html?m=1

      Delete
  30. I purchased a solid fiberglass bow on EBAY in February 2017. By all appearances and specific design it appears to be just like a Shakespeare B-1 Hunter Parabow. The bow is approx. 52" when unstrung, charcoal gray color, leather handle with black tape securing each end of the handle. Condition is excellent and it is a nice shooter for a vintage solid fiberglass bow.

    However, the bow has no Shakespeare markings or labels ---- it bears a label showing the trademark "TRU PLAY - The Dreier Company" and bears the number "45" (printed in silver colored ink)in the middle of the lower limb ( My draw weight scale measurement of the bow determined 45-47 lbs.)


    Question: Did Shakespare make its Model B-1 Hunter Parabow for sale by the Dreier Company? The "TRU PLAY - The Dreier Company" trademark was registered in 1949, to the Dreier Company in New Jersey -- according to the trademark records, this company sold a variety of sporting goods products --- the trademark records do not mention archery products.

    Just thought this bow may be somewhat unique, especially if it is actually a B-1 made by Shakespeare and then sold by the Dreier Company under its own trademark.

    Any help you may offer would be greatly appreciated.

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    Replies
    1. I really do not know. Shakespeare Parabow probably made bow for other companies, like Bear and Ben Pearson did.
      Sorry I don't have more info for you

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    2. Hello. I recently aquired a nice Shakespeare Cascade X-29 in good condition aside from the medallion missing. The markings; however, state 70# then the serial number and on the third row 50". I have not been able to find any information of a Cascade with a marking as high as 70#. Is this common? I have not strung the bow as of yet and do not know where to begin on string length and brand, or if I should have one made. Any info at all would great! Thanks,Greg. Gmohler@grnco.net

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  31. Shakespeare Archery stopped production of their archery equipment in the 1970s, and many documentation has been lost. From the earlier days of fish tackle, the Shakespeare company had grown to include bows into its production up until the 1960s, because of the innovativeness of Ernie Root. He was one of the main producers to the Shakespeare company.
    Fortunately, a son of one of the founders Ernie Root, Lawrence Root had decided to relive the past with more valuable information to the lost documentation. The historical artefacts that Lawrence has been able to collect are some of the production devices that have been proposed to the Shakespeare Company from the Root family over the years. It can also be seen the kind of trends and progress there was made over the years the company was in place.

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  32. Thank god I found this site. I got some old bows from my grandparents. This site helped me out to get them working.

    Regards.

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  33. I bought a recurve covered in camo paint from a ex marine who used it to hunt rabbits on the Navajo Res. After 3 weeks of hand sanding gently I found it to be a x 22 wondering 50#. I purchased new decals from a gentleman.

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  34. I purchased a recurve covered in paint on a road stand. The gentleman said he used it to hunt rabbits on the Navajo Res when he was young. After 3 weeks I uncovered a x-22 wonderbow 50#.
    What year were they made?

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  35. Is this site still active? I have several Root By Shakespeare bows. I am wondering where to get (OEM) parts fir them, SO TO SPEAK. If anyone is still there please contact me, Sincerely, Chris.

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  36. I have an X-28 can anyone please tell me what you know about this model

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  37. Help please my email is deanbowman1974@gmail.com i have a cascade got lots off stuff on it not sure what it mean very interested as he loved this thing so much hes passed an would love to no what if anything he had not sure if he did help a son out please anyone

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  38. My uncle past several years ago at 92. I have found a Parabow recurve ser number 4888 50# 27’ draw. I am looking for more history or value. It appears to be in very good condition

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