Chesapeake, Superduck, and Hartman Decoys

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

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Staff member
Before this interesting topic brought up by Steve Sanford is lost in a monthly workbench thread I want to post some info I gathered from old catalogs that might shed some light on these interesting decoys.

Off the bat I must confess I am making the assumption there is a connection between Chesapeake, Superduck, and Hartman decoys. I do this on looks and construction alone, especially Superduck and Hartman. They just seem like the same decoy. The extent of the connection I cannot comment on but believe Worth Mathewson could set us all straight. I hope he finds this topic and adds his valuable input.

On to the catalogs.

From the 1987 American Sportsman catalog (Chesapeake).

View attachment ChesapeakeDecoys2.jpeg



From the 1988 American Sportsman catalog (Chesapeake).

View attachment ChesapeakeDecoys1.jpeg



From 1992 Wingset Catalog (Superduck)

View attachment Wingset92Superduck.jpeg




From 1995 Wingset Catalog (Superduck)

View attachment Wingset95Superduck.jpeg



From 2000 Wingset Catalog (Hartman)

View attachment Wingset2000HartmanDecoys1.jpeg
 
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WOW!!!


Great minds????


Eric~


I have been planning to post on this very topic tomorrow morning. I have been gathering some info about these decoys - but had none of the catalogs. I have been told that Dunn's sold them, too.



I'll follow up in the morning. Thanks so much for putting this all together.


You've got me wondering about the material. I just discarded the keels I sawed off. A mixture of ground cork and urethane foam would certainly explain the nice rough texture.


All the best,


SJS

 
Good morning, All~


Here are some photos of these decoys - Chesapeake Decoy Company / Super Duck - that I have rehabbed in recent years, many for members here at duckboats.net. I am still learning the history - and Eric's catalog pages have given a tremendous boost.


The Standards have flat bottoms with extruded keels. The ones I have on my bench measure 8" wide x 16-1/4" long. Unfortunately, I never thought to weigh one before I replaced the keels.


View attachment Chesapeake Black 02.JPG



Here is a bunch of Standards.


View attachment Chesapeake Hen Black Ducks - all 9.JPG



The Standards have a bit more detail molded into the bodies.


View attachment Chesapeake Hen Black Duck - speculum and tertials.JPG



There are 3 head postures - Tuck, Sleeper and Upright (Swimmer?). This is my favorite.


View attachment Chesapeake Hen Black Duck - swimmer closeup.JPG



The Magnums have hollowed bottoms with extruded keels. They are 8-3/4" wide x 17-7/8" long and weigh 3 lbs 4 oz.



View attachment Magnum Super Duck bottoms.JPG



I have found no ID markings on any of the birds I have done (50 or so?). It appears that ownership has changed over the years - along with some construction details. The ones I have handled seem to be all foam, including the heads, tails and keels.



From a number of sources, it seems that the following species were made:


Mallard
Black Duck
Pintail

Teal (Greenwing?)
Broadbill
Brant
Canada Goose


I have seen only 3 of these species (and maybe spotted some Broadie-Beaks in a customer's basement....)


Here are some rehabbed Mallards - Magnum size.


View attachment Chesapeake Mallard Threesome B.JPG



Here are some Magnum Blacks.



View attachment Chesapeake Super Magnum Black Ducks - 2 pairs FULL.JPG


The heads had been cut-down and re-fastened by a previous owner. I filled around the necks before coating everything with epoxy + sawdust on the heads and epoxy + Homer Coat on the bodies.


View attachment WB 06 - 7 Chesapeakes coated and primed heads.JPG



These are the stock Magnum heads. They are fastened dry with a screw eye and swivel.



View attachment Foster Chesapeake Mallard - pair showing bottom.JPG



Here are some Pintails I rehabbed several years ago.


View attachment sm Chesapeake Pintail - Herd.JPG


As far as I can tell, these Magnums share no parts with the Mallard/Blacks. A nice looking bird to my eye.


View attachment sm Chesapeake Pintail Drake 02.JPG



PLEASE SEND PHOTOS OF OTHER SUPER DUCK SPECIES IF YOU HAVE THEM !


All the best,


SJS



 
I have somewhere between 4-6 of the Superduck redheads, as well as 6 geese. The only issues I have had with the geese is the head/necks are made from the same urethane material the bodies are poured from. Consequently the lag screw doesn't really have any good purchase when fixed in the neck base. Over time I have had to insert a hardwood plug into the base of the neck, fixed with gorilla glue after I sealed it with epoxy. I pre-drilled these on-center to attach to the protruding lag screw threads, again fixed in place with epoxy. There is a washer below the lag screw eye which enables the heads to be turned in various postures to aid in realism when on the water. I bought the geese as seconds from Wingset and repaired them prior repainting them all. They are in a decoys shed right now under a bunch of crane decoys and silhouettes, topped-off with a dozen Big Foot floaters. The redheads are a slightly different material that is closed cell. I have them rigged individually and usally use them as range markers.

I think Hartman's were also sold via LL Bean or Orvis briefly.
 
Actually, I pulled them out and checked the keels; these are made by Blackwater Decoys.
 
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Tom~


Does look quite the same to my eye. The Super Ducks I've handled are a very dense resin - not sure of the material (not being an organic chemist....).


All the best,


SJS





 
Matt~


Excellent - thanks very much! They are nice-looking Broadie-beaks!


Did you buy them from the original retailer? Do they have hollowed out bottoms?


I am getting close on my current dozen.


Here are the Mallards in early paint.


View attachment 2 Foster Mallards - in early paint.jpg



The 3 Drakes are now done.


View attachment 3 Foster Mallards - 3 Drakes done.JPG



Here is a completed pair. The two other Hens still need attention.


View attachment 4 Foster Mallards - first pair done.JPG



The 6 Black Ducks have been cleaned (acetone wipe) and had their heads re-fastened - and bedded in caulk. I sprinkle fine sawdust onto the wet caulk to provide a rough surface. I have already painted the bills so there'll be 3 Drakes and 3 Hens - and a mix of head positions.



View attachment 5 Foster Black Ducks - heads refastened and bedded.JPG



All the best,


SJS


 
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