It was brought to my attention that I should reintroduce Ande to the forum since the original post is gone. So, here he is.
Some believe Ande was a better trick shot than Howard Hill.
Ande performed in thousands of USO shows for our men and women in uniform, mostly during WWII.
For a time he owned an archery shop in Glendale, CA.
He invented the Bowsling, which was a combination slingshot and bow, and the CBX-21 crossbow pistol.
He also was involved in an electric car project, but it didn't produce a viable vehicle. He did hold 2 patents for battery powered electric power supply systems.
Uncle Ande (Vail) married my mother's younger sister Vera. She was a beauty from Detroit, though she had moved out to Hollywood so it would be easier for the producers to see her potential. I first saw them in 1956 or 57 on TV. A viewer of "You Asked For It" had seen Ande's show and requested a segment on him. My Aunt Vera was his target. In '63 I hitchhiked out Route 66 to visit them before heading to Las Vegas, my first choice. Every time I went to California afterwards they were living in another house, each time gradually further away from downtown Los Angeles. The last time I saw them together was in Newbury Park which is almost like Oxnard. After that they moved to Boise where things were cheaper. Uncle Ande died first, then my aunt had to sell everything she had, become destitute then she qualified for room, board and healthcare in a real nice old folks home where she died not unhappy with the result of her life, except they had no children. Gary A. Schlueter, Acorn Archive.
The sling shot. I juiced up a slingshot once to about 60 pounds at my draw, fashioned an arrow rest, then experimented with arrows and made a bulb shaped nock, (I drilled out a round metal switch from a large electric motor from a defunct grain elevator). I only hit my garage twice before i gave up.
Lol...
Very innovative man.I wonder how well that “Bow sling” worked.Looks very simple to make one.I might give it a try.
Fun stuff Ira. Thanks!
Very interesting look at Ande Vail. I wonder if some of those tools and gadgets we were trying to figure out from Hugh Rich's shop awhile back were made by Ande? He seemed to be quite an innovator.
Thanks Ira
This is in his electric shop in Boise, Idaho, 181.
Here he is on the cover of the King Moore Archery Co. catalog. Photo was taken during his hunt in Mexico.