Anyone else collect decoy anchors?

[Steve Sanford]

All~

I just got a great surprise in the mail today:

Thanks to another duckboats.net member, I now have the prize of my erstwhile decoy anchor collection. I am pretty sure this company must have belonged to a distant relative. In the late 1600s, 5 Sandford (the 2nd D lost in my Dad's generation) brothers sailed from Liverpool to Connecticut. Two moved down to Long Island's South Fork shortly thereafter and the rest stayed in the Nutmeg State. All I have learned is that this firm was in business ~ 1910 - 1950. They supplied keel wights to Wildfowler Decoys in nearby Old Saybrook - and also sold these H-type anchors.

The rest of my "collection" has not been displayed since I moved north in '94. I have never actively sought anchors - I have just gathered together 30 or 40 different anchors over the years - most are hand-made. I have plans to hang them from my shop ceiling, each on a short length of decoy line. With any luck, this new addition will help me get organized.

All the best,

SJS

 

[Geo Kaiser]

Hi Steve, I just googled DC Sanford Co.
and a bunch of older e-bay ads came up

 

[John Fraser]

That's really neat Steve. I'd say that's a good motivator to get the collection together. Is it lead?

 

[Worth Mathewson]

Steve,
I have a few Dave Hagerbaumer anchors. They are neat, with a D.H. and a duck stamped on them. If you want one, send me your mailing address and I will put one in the mail for you. Best, Worth Mathewson

 

[Steve Sanford]

Good morning, Wortrh~

Thanks very much for your kind offer - I would love to have one from Mr. Hagerbaumer.

I have often though of having a mold made with initials and/or logo.

Steve Sanford
PENCIL BROOK FARM
160 Gannon Road
Buskirk, NY 12028

All the best,

SJS

 

[Steve Sanford]

John~

Yes, lead - at least according to my magnet. Cast iron - like Herter's - and salt water do not get along very well together.

All the best,

SJS

 

[Rick L]

very cool- never would have thought of them as collector's items, maybe because i always cast my own


you made me look -

i have a lamp with a Beans coastal black duck on it that has an old line and anchor
i has "IDEAL" and an "8" which i assume is the weight plus a "WRAP LINE HERE" on the end

 

[John Fraser]

Steve,
It's funny that you mention initials. You may have seen this already, I got the idea from a bayman in Freeport. They grab pretty well.

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

Steve - I do not consider myself a decoy anchor collector, but I sure do have a bunch. Most of them custom made, and gifts from old gunning partners, and some "factory" ones. My best story is years ago at the old Ohio, Westlake show. All decoys entered in the Pool, had to have anchors. When a decoy anchor collector was in my room looking at my decoys, he spotted some Round Restle Decoy Anchors on my pool entries. My goodness, his eyes lit up like he found the Holy Grail!

"How much for the Restle Decoy Anchor?" He asked. "Not for sale, I need it for the contest." Was my reply. He kept it in his hand and said "I'll give ya $25 for one anchor. It's the only one I do not have in my collection and can't find one anywhere."

Well, I had to borrow a anchor for the contest, and now only have eleven, Round Restle Decoy Anchors. All of them still on my own hand carved decoys. Eleven is a lucky number...

I enjoyed your story, and hope you acquire as many anchors as you desire.

 

[Kevin Puls]

Steve,


Do you have any of these old grapple Herters anchors? I have a handful but I have not used them. They seem like pretty serious business! Cast Iron I believe.