Holless Wilbur Allen
Encyclopedia
Holless Wilbur Allen, Jr. (July 12, 1909 – June 28, 1979) was the inventor of the compound bow
.
Inventor. H. W. Allen, Jr. revolutionized the archery
industry worldwide with the invention and patent of the compound bow in the 1960's.
In the early 1960s, the USA
experienced an increased interest in bow hunting. Holless Wilbur Allen was mechanically minded and sawed the ends off a conventional recurve bow
and then added pulleys to each end. Allen experimented with a number of designs to eventually apply for a patent on June 23, 1966, and was granted to him in December 1969. With the help of bowmaker Tom Jennings
, he became the first manufacturer of compound bows. Of the five bow manufacturing companies to retain the right to manufacture compound bows utilizing Allen's design and patent, PSE (Precision Shooting Equipment) is the only survivor. PSE is the parent company
of Browning Archery and the former Archery Research (AR).
Compound bow
A compound bow is a modern bow that uses a levering system, usually of cables and pulleys, to bend the limbs.The limbs of a compound bow are much stiffer than those of a recurve bow or longbow. This limb stiffness makes the compound bow more energy-efficient than other bows, in conjunction with the...
.
Inventor. H. W. Allen, Jr. revolutionized the archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
industry worldwide with the invention and patent of the compound bow in the 1960's.
In the early 1960s, the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
experienced an increased interest in bow hunting. Holless Wilbur Allen was mechanically minded and sawed the ends off a conventional recurve bow
Recurve bow
In archery, the shape of the bow is usually taken to be the view from the side. It is the product of the complex relationship of material stresses, designed by a bowyer...
and then added pulleys to each end. Allen experimented with a number of designs to eventually apply for a patent on June 23, 1966, and was granted to him in December 1969. With the help of bowmaker Tom Jennings
Tom Jennings
Tom Jennings is a Los Angeles-based artist and technician. He is the creator of FidoNet, the first message and file networking system for BBSes...
, he became the first manufacturer of compound bows. Of the five bow manufacturing companies to retain the right to manufacture compound bows utilizing Allen's design and patent, PSE (Precision Shooting Equipment) is the only survivor. PSE is the parent company
Parent company
A parent company is a company that owns enough voting stock in another firm to control management and operations by influencing or electing its board of directors; the second company being deemed as a subsidiary of the parent company...
of Browning Archery and the former Archery Research (AR).