1947 Ben Pearson factory

[hardbern]

....a documentary/news item about "unusual occupations" - in this case that of (a young) Ben Pearson, making bows & arrows!
Some good bits on bow making/tillering & especially making footed arrows.

https://www.facebook.com/archery.duns/videos/vb.100002304553118/1005063686247107/?type=3
  1947 at Ben Pearson, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

[arrows2000]

Very interesting. THANKS!!!

[Drewster]

Yes, definitely interesting.....thanks!

[Wade Phillips]

Yes, interesting indeed...

This 1947 footage (if that is the correct year), shows making straight end self bows with a draw knife by hand, and only shows straight end self bows in the footage of shooters. Many of us could probably name a manufacturer with more advanced manufacturing techniques and more advanced bows for the year 1947...

However, assuming all the footage was taken at the same time, the Ben Pearson arrow making operation is much more automated than the bow making process at this point... which would be consistent with advertising of the era.  

Anyone know the identity of the fetching tools shown in the footage?

[D.Sheppard]

Were they made by Fleetwood ??

[Wade Phillips]

Sorry they are not Fleetwood fletching jigs.

[MR BILL SHORTY]

tri heli fletch  by hoyt  

[Wade Phillips]

Sorry, they are not Tri Heli Fletch by Hoyt.

[warpedarrow]

What fletching jig?  The best part of the video was the gal in the red two piece outfit.  

I tried to find images of vintage fletching jigs but didn't come up with much. The clamp looks like a JoJan but I couldn't find anything that looked like the rotary base.

[papabear08]

I didn't watch the show but I assumed all the large maker s would have used Bitzenberger jigs.

[MR BILL SHORTY]

could they be ben pearson own design?  

[Wade Phillips]

papabear08 - Sorry they are not Bitzenberger jigs

Bill - Yes, you are correct.

They are actually Ben Pearson jigs complete with the Pearson name on them.

Apparently not many guys are interested in collecting old fletching jigs, nor many guys who are fanatic Ben Pearson collectors hoarding everything made by Pearson from the golden era of archery...

[SKITCH]

That was great!  Thanks for posting.