I found this picture at an antique show a few years ago. On the back of it is penciled : " Elisha McNutt, Wm Bows Jr., Walter Ketch and Fred DeRoche at Bows Moccasin Company." Attached to the back was an undated obituary for William A. Bows indicating that he established the Bows Moccasin Company in 1909 and retired in 1958. He died at age 85 in Brewster MA. and His father was also named William A Bows as was his son. This is important because the PICTURE says Wm Bows JUNIOR and the obituary says that the deceased was SURVIVED by his son William Bows Jr. However, the obit. also says that the deceased was joined in the family business by William Bows Jr. in 1946. and it's pretty clear that this picture is much older than that. My inference is that the founder of Bows Moccasin Co. was himself called William Jr. in his younger days and that the photo was taken when he was still a young man and the company was newly established. Hence the estimated date of about 1910. The obit also states that "The Penny Loafer was started by Mr. Bows in 1936 and sold under the name of 'Pronto' " and that he is buried in St.Michael's cemetary, Avon. I think that Bows Moccasin closed in the late 1950's or early 1960's because the factory, on East Spring St, was subsequently bought by George Hatch who re-located his garage there from Goeres Sq. in the early 1960's.
George Lally