doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com OT - Decoy primer needed

Jim and jmc, great ideas. I didn't think of either of those two. I'll have to check around to see if there are any decoy shows.
I'm sure there must be.
Chris

Hey Chris,

You might want to contact a pretty serious and advanced decoy collector who lives some place around Buffalo. His name is Walter Hallbauer.
I got his name from Bill Towner. Bill is also an advanced decoy collector who I have known for a lot of years. Bought a new Starcraft aluminum cartop boat from him about 45 years ago when he had a bike shop and boats. I still see him occasionally at the Rochester gun show. He doesn't collect decoys any more since his greatest asset, his eyes, got bad.
Bill recomended Walt as a source of info for a pair of Canadian decoys I have (Blue Bill Pair by Robert Samual Jones).
I never did contact Walt, but still have the decoys plus a Mason tackeye Redhead hen.
There is a decoy and wildlife art show in Clayton, NY (1000 Islands area) 3rd weekend in July. Probably too far down the road.
Good luck in your search and hope some of this helps.
I may have my 3 decoys for sale at the Rochester show March 31 and April 1.
Bill Jolliff

Hi Chris,

I'm here in WNY as well, in East Aurora. Obviously like you I like SXS's, but I am also a decoy collector myself and have an open antique shop in better 19th century country antiques and folk art, including decoys. I also have a website: http://www.adianmorrisantiques.com where you can get a feel for some of the decoy inventory I have.

I know Walt Hallbauer very well, but he will be traveling pretty much for the next couple of months (he's retired now) and sells primarily at shows. Closest show to you mileage and time wise is the Ohio Decoy Collectors show in Westlake, Ohio, think it's the third weekend of March, you can find it on the net. If you can get there you will have a good time and should find something you like at a price you want to pay.

If you think values of guns are tough, you can get a good old bird for $50 or a great one for $850,000 (a new auction record set last month). Unless you are getting into really collecting decoys you might better stick to shotguns before you delve too deeply into decoys.

If a couple of decorator birds are all you are interested in you don't have to spend a great deal of money on them. Decide if you want a collector quality bird or simply an old and honest decorative one, decide what species you might like, and buy one or two that appeal to you visually. You are always welcome to stop into my shop and peruse some of the decoy references I have there.

Any idea what you would prefer to spend on a bird, species, area made etc. Depending on your answers I may be able to steer you in a direction or two, maybe even what to look for on ebay if your range is not too high. I wouldn't recommend spending a lot of money on an ebay bird i.e. $400+ as most general ebay sellers don't really know decoys well and can't tell area, maker, or most importantly original paint, which makes a real diffrence as you go up in price.

Hope this helps some.

Dave

Dave your URL would not work here. Can you send it privately?

Thanks,

Hal

Hal,
Try this link:
http://www.adrianmorrisantiques.com/

Maybe not what you are looking for but I like to give Dale Dalrymple a plug when possible.
http://www.dalesdecoyden.com/index.htm

Sorry Hal,

I mis-typed it last night.

Dave

Correct is: http://www.adrianmorrisantiques.com/

Thanks to all for the information you have provided. I sure have a lot of homework to do and people to contact. I hope to learn enough not to be foolish.
Chris

JMC -
Jimmy Pierce did indeed work for Madison Mitchell for a time, primarily doing finish priming and painting when Mitchell got backlogged with bulk orders for gun clubs or individuals. One of my treasured possessions is a Jimmy Pierce pigeon decoy which I picked up at a local swap and sell meet for next to nothing, said to have been done in his spare time as he waited for the next batch of decoys to finish out in Mitchell's shop. KBM