The Story of Bauer
The name Bauer has two very different meanings to me….
My first pair of ice hockey skates were made by Bauer. These skates were clunky and not very stylish, but they were the more affordable option in the early seventies. At the time, the two major suppliers of hockey skates were Bauer and the Canadian Cycle & Motor Company (CCM). The competition between the two firms was fierce.
CCM started producing hockey skate blades in 1905 using scrap steel from their production lines. In 1933, the Bauer Shoe Company disrupted the ice blade market when they came out with an ice skate boot that permanently attached the ice blade to the boot. CCM responded in 1937 by introducing the legendary CCM “Tacks” line of hockey skates. For the next four decades, CCM dominated the ice skate market. In the late 1960s & early 70s, Bauer paid several NHL superstars, including Bobby Hull and Brad Park, to sign endorsements. Then, in 1976, Bauer introduced the TUUK blade holder, a plastic holder which made skates lighter and allowed for easier blade changes. This new ‘technology’ allowed Bauer to regain its ascendancy over CCM. By the time I attended college, it was a Bauer rep who would come on campus and outfit the team with pairs of custom-fit skates.
Last July, our household adopted a fury friend from One-Paw-At-A-Time, a non-profit rescue. These days, animal shelters are overflowing with cats and dogs. We named our new companion Bauer. He is part hound, part pit, part terrier, and part wonder dog. Some say Bauer looks like “Petey” from The Little Rascals because of his distinctive large brindle patch around his left eye.
He came to us in a highly anxious and nervous state. Even noises from our coffee machine made him shake. His first few neighborhood walks were challenges because he feared busy traffic and would detour around any oncoming walkers. People told us that he would calm down. They were right. Bauer is now more confident. He loves to roam the woods. My day is made when Bauer welcomes me home with his wagging tail and backyard zoomies.
This Thanksgiving, we celebrated Bauer’s 2-year birthday with a bang! We invited Bauer’s siblings and mother since most live in the Atlanta metro area. Bauer’s mom couldn’t attend, nor could his brother who lives in Seattle, but his four sisters did. For the party, the pups had birthday hats, dog friend birthday cakes, Ben & Jerry’s pup cup ice cream, and even a small gift bag with “B” for Bauer biscuits. The party was a huge success with lots of smiles and laughs. Lisa from One-Paw-At-A-Time came and saw first-hand the fruits of her rescuing labor. It was a great day for all.
Bauer has been an important name for me for the better part of my life. The other day someone asked me why we named our dog Bauer. Now you know the answer.
Gary B. Martin