Decoy Identification help

T Entwistle

Member
Hi All,
Just picked up some canvasback decoys and am hoping someone here can help identify the maker/manufacturer. I believe they are balsa wood. I was told by the seller that they came from the Great Lakes region and were from the sixties. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
 

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1st impression. Michigan. Very similar to the work of Jim Kelson.... Very sturdy Balsa (hard coating) decoys with good craving, and keels. Mighty fine Big Water tollers made to work hard.

my 2 cents
 
I would agree with the seller. The keel definately says Great Lakes decoy. The large wide body would be consistant with Saginaw Bay, Lake St Claire or the Lake Erie basin. The relief carving on the body should be helpful in indentfying your decoys. The head and bill are very interesting and well detailed. What a find. Cherish that pair of fine working decoys.

RVZ
 
1st impression. Michigan. Very similar to the work of Jim Kelson.... Very sturdy Balsa (hard coating) decoys with good craving, and keels. Mighty fine Big Water tollers made to work hard.

my 2 cents
Vince,
Thanks for the reply. I agree very similar to Kelson. They look like they will float and ride great. I would love to hunt over them, we just don’t see any canvasbacks in CT.
 
I would agree with the seller. The keel definately says Great Lakes decoy. The large wide body would be consistant with Saginaw Bay, Lake St Claire or the Lake Erie basin. The relief carving on the body should be helpful in indentfying your decoys. The head and bill are very interesting and well detailed. What a find. Cherish that pair of fine working decoys.

RVZ
Rod ,
Thanks for the input. I have been searching for some with similar bodies but no luck yet. The heads are very well detailed and i have a few with different poses . I feel very lucky to have found such a nice rig.
 
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