Eddie Bauer

Eddie Bauer (October 19, 1899 – April 18, 1986) was an American outdoorsman, inventor, author, and businessman. He founded the Eddie Bauer company to sell tennis-related items in Seattle, Washington, in 1920. Bauer's father worked variously as the manager of a plum orchard, the caretaker of a country club, and as a carpenter on Seattle's first world's fair, the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition.

Career At age 13, the young Bauer left school and went to work at Seattle's Piper & Taft, one of the largest sporting goods and outfitting stores on the West Coast. For the next six years he apprenticed among the experienced hunters and fishermen on staff. At the age of 20, he left Piper & Taft and went into business for himself.

World War II production Six months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the Aleutian Islands, establishing garrisons on two of the islands, Attu and Kiska. This set in motion the year-long Aleutian Islands Campaign to remove the invaders from the Alaska Territory.

In October 1941, Bauer was granted his second and third design patents for quilted down apparel—a down parka (U.S. Patent D130,167) and pants (U.S. Patent D130,166) that created a cold-weather suit he intended for Alaskan bush pilots and others who spent significant time in severe weather. In the early days of the Aleutian Campaign, some of the American pilots were buying this cold weather suit, and early in 1943 the U.S. Army Air Forces contacted Bauer, asking him to design a "cold weather buoyancy flight suit" for them. In 1953, a team of seven Americans and one British climber was attempting the first ascent of K2, the world's second highest peak. Three of the Americans were from Seattle, and they came to Bauer to ask if he could create a down-insulated parka for them.

While unsuccessful in reaching the summit, the Third American Karakoram Expedition is widely admired for their heroic efforts to work together in surviving under catastrophic conditions. Their reputation, and enthusiastic endorsement of Bauer's parka, sealed Bauer's reputation as an expedition outfitter, and led to his down-insulated gear being used on many historic expeditions, including first ascents of Gasherbrum I (1958), Masherbrum (1960), as well as the first American ascent of Mount Everest (1963)

Wanapum Kennels As an outdoorsman, Bauer had worked with many breeds of field dogs until 1930, when he purchased a young Labrador retriever in British Columbia. He was so impressed by the dog's strength, stamina, and intelligence that he never owned another breed of field dog again. In 1960, he formed Wanapum Kennels to breed and raise champion field trial Labradors. His first dog of note was Dart of Netley Creek, who whelped several champions.

Retirement activities In 1968, Bauer and his son, Eddie Christian, sold their interests in the Eddie Bauer company to their partners, William F. Niemi, Sr. and Jr. For many years after, Bauer continued an active pursuit of his passion for hunting and fishing, as well as for his Wanapum dogs. In 1972, he designed and patented a fishing lure, the B&B Flasher (U.S. Patent 3,673,727). In 1974, Bauer was named Retriever Breeder of the Year. In 1982 and 1983, he co-authored with Archie Satterfield three titles for the Eddie Bauer Outdoor Library: The Eddie Bauer Guide To Family Camping, The Eddie Bauer Guide to Cross-Country Skiing, and The Eddie Bauer Guide to Backpacking.

Personal life On a hunting trip in eastern Washington in the fall of 1927, Bauer met Christine "Stine" Heltborg, a young beauty shop owner from Seattle. Their first date was a fishing trip the following spring. They were married in February. Bauer referred to his wife as "my wilderness companion", and said that she had more stamina in the backcountry than he did.

Patents Shuttlecock (2,025,325; 1935) Method of Weighting Shuttlecock (2,093,301; 1937) Skyliner Down Jacket (D119,122; 1940) Bauer Down Parka (D130,167; 1941) Bauer Down Pants (D130,166; 1941) Down Anorak (D132,803; 1942) Down Mukluks (D133,356; 1942) Down Sleeping Bag (2,338,226; 1944) Swiss Model Down Ski Jacket (D138,336; 1944) Yukon Down Jacket (D139,242; 1944) Down Hooded Jacket (D139,535; 1944) Down Vest (D139,536; 1944) Down Jacket (D139,537; 1944) Four Season Down Coat (D194,967; 1963) B&B Flasher Fishing Lure (3,673,727; 1972)

Publications Satterfield, Archie; Bauer, Eddie (1982). The Eddie Bauer Guide To Family Camping. The Eddie Bauer Company, Inc. . Satterfield, Archie; Bauer, Eddie (1983). The Eddie Bauer Guide To Cross-Country Skiing. Eddie Bauer, Inc. . Satterfield, Archie; Bauer, Eddie (1983). The Eddie Bauer Guide To Backpacking. Eddie Bauer, Inc. .