OK, you are all running full tilt in the wrong direction. Take another look at how the limbs are attached to the riser on the mystery bow. Now, look at the other bows. Different enough to not be the same manufacturer. Let's establish, as best as I can come up with, what it is not. It is NOT a Par-X. It is NOT a Para Bow. It is NOT a Grimes. It is NOT an Ivanhoe. The Par-X is from 1948 and only then. Too many broken limbs. The others are from the 1940's, possibly the 30's. It could be a prototype that never got manufactured. It could be homemade by an accomplished do-it-yourselfer. From the word "Second" in the description we can make the bold assumption there was a first one. Was there a third? Or, did the inventor decide the design was not practical?

No luck. Nothing like it. Still a mystery. Wonder where it was made. It was obtained in the Chicago area, but was that its point of origin, or was it sold in a Chicago area shop that stocked archery tackle from many different sources, including perhaps overseas?

Whatever it is, it definitely is not a Parabow, or any other make I have seen. I have some catalogs dating back to the 1920's. I'll take a look and see if anything pops up.

Here's another ad from Archery magazine, March 1949. I searched for patents issued to Miller and found only one for a bow. If he did apply and was issued patents for the backing and facing materials I couldn't find them. Did he claim he had a patent just to keep the competition from duplicating his materials?

This was in the December 1949 issue or Archery. Toxhorn, Toxglass And Toxwood were all inventions of W.L. Miller. Toxhorn is a phenolic plastic used for bow backing. Toxglass is woven fiberglass used for backing. Toxwood is plastic impregnated wood for backing and facing.

Found some info on Miller fiberglass in the April 1949 issue of archery magazine. This ad was placed to advise anyone attempting to duplicate any of his products that they would be violating his patent.

Here are the details on the bow construction. There are 2 layers of yew core, hickory back lamination with Miller's woven fiberglass backing and Osage facing. Russ built the bow at the Folbert facility and paid Bill a fee for use of his patent, plus material costs.

Unfortunately I don't have any personal info on Russ. Don't know if he picked the name of his wife, mother or if it was just a name he liked. Here's the varnish I used. Yep, the same can. Still got some left. No polishing involved. Last coat left as is. I was pretty good with wipe on finishes back then. Maybe not so much now.

A few shots of the Betsy bow.

This is Bill Folberth, circa 1946.