FROM THE BOOK: Archery,From Golds to Big Game
Micro-Flite arrow shafts had their origins in Costa Mesa CA., in 1957, when the late Mort Barrus produced a glass arrow shaft as one of the products of his REXCO company. The shafts were molded by a process using the same basic resin system used today. Barrus pioneered the use of aromatic amine hardened epoxies that are essential to fabricating close tolerance, hi-density tubular fiberglass.
In late 1957, Robert Reid, present manager of the Browning-Silaflex Rod and Micr- Flite Division of Browning Arms Company, was hired by Mr. Barrus to assist in the further development of the Micro-Flite shaft. Reid had long been doing research in the tubular fiberglass as technical director of Pacific Laminates in Costa Mesa. Under the name of Laminex, Mr. Barrus was then producing arrow shafts and a bow backing of fiberglass.
During 1958, the two men developed the rudimentary Micro-Flite process. After Mr. Barrus' tragic death in an automobile accident, Mr. Reid introduced improved methods of wrapping the glass cloth and the more efficient use of temperature controls for the molding process.
During a series of acquisitions in 1960. Ecko Products acquired the Pacific Laminates Company and the Silaflex Rod Manufacturing Company. Later in the same year, Ecko also purchased Laminex. Reid became manager of the Laminex Division to integrate the Micro-Flite shaft in to the parent company. Two years later, in 1962, Browning Arms Company acquired the Silaflex Company to put in it in the fishing rod and arrow shaft business. In the same year, Browning acquired the bow production facilities of Gordon Plastics. END
FROM LETTERS WRITTEN BY FRANK EICHOLTZ TO HUGH RICH I met Dr. Glen Havens who was working on the development of glass fishing rods. With his help I worked out a glass backing that revolutionized archery. Of course, that meant better glues and I finally got onto Urac 185 and later epoxy. We also made some glass arrows that wouldn't get crooked but lacked toughness until we tried epoxy resin and high pressures.
Then I went to Mort Barrus in Costa Mesa for help and we were doing all right until he got killed in an auto accident. With my usual trust, I had failed to take precaution, and my glass business and the Microflite arrow I had developed went with his estate to a glass firm who sold some of it to Bear Archery.
None of this answers the OP's question but I hope the info is appreciated, nonetheless.