I’m thinking that it would be neat to see a biography of George Herter, the founder of the mega mail order outdoor sports catalog. I wonder if any of his relatives are alive and might be interested in such a project. The story of his company and his work would be fascinating, I would think.
He — or his designers — designed a huge amount of outdoor sports gear. Who was behind it all? Well, he was, for sure, but, for instance, who designed his line of archery bows? They were distinctive and are still sought after. What about his fur-traps? Well, don’t get me started. His catalog offered hundreds of unique twists on classic sporting gear. Herter would clearly try to come up with an improvement or at least something to avoid infringement or to let an item be made more cheaply.
Then there are his books. He wrote a good dozen unique self-published books, none of which had Tables of Contents. They’re all collectible and very diverse.
Who was George Herter?
I’ve enjoyed reselling hundreds of his books and catalogs over the years. I’m sure there would be an interest from thousands of readers for a biography.
I recall from occasional emails from old employees and articles about Herter that he was very private. Still, there might be room for some publicity about his old company and his other projects while yet respecting his privacy and family.
I’ve considered such a project in the past. When I first started mulling it over I recall that Mrs. Herter was still with us. I’m not sure if she is now or not.
Well, if you have an idea, let me know! If someone could write it I could probably help with a small-time publishing effort to get it into print and make it available via various wholesalers.
