Long Island Decoy Collectors - Another Fine Day

Steve Sanford

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
All~


I drove back upstate early Sunday morning after a truly memorable 3 days with friends - and afield - on Long Island.



The main reason for the long weekend was the LIDCA Show on Saturday. Craig Kessler and I had a bunch of last-minute tasks - so I drove down - packed to the gills - on Thursday. First job we tackled was to re-install the (shortened) stern seat in his CASSIOPEIA. A bonus was a chance to help out banding some Broadbill on Great South Bay. Craig's brainchild - the Long Island Wildfowl Heritage Group - is funding a couple of studies, one of which is focusing on our apparently-rebounding population of Broadbill. Here in Year 1, the LIWHG has funded a grad student from SUNY ESF (in Syracuse) to band Broadbill. The trapping had begun with a slow start a week or so previously. But, I got to help with their first big catch - 83 birds. The crew more than doubled that with 166 "inductees" 3 days later. We banded 'til well after sundown - and were joined (briefly) by a Short-eared Owl fluttering over the Bayberry behind us.


Note the rafts in the background. Many thousands more joined them as the afternoon wore on.







View attachment sm Banding 01.JPG



We began the Show set-up on Friday afternoon. For many years now, the venue has been the IBEW Hall in Hauppauge - right near the LI Expressway (I-495) for out-of-towners. We rolled the Scooter to its spot just as we would over the beach.


View attachment sm Show 01 - Entrance.JPG





Craig Kessler, Anthony Babich and I had the lead roles for the ~ 90 l.f. of exhibits - plus the Scooter. We worked for almost 5 hours Friday afternoon. I then joined several old friends for a wonderful meal out. I think we closed the place down with our storytelling.


The theme of the main exhibit was ATLANTIC BRANT - Our Graceful Arctic Goose


View attachment sm Show 25 - Main Exhibit banner.JPG



The main display was a combination of Brant stool (~ 48 antiques and ~ 18 contemporaries) and artwork (mostly prints and paintings).


View attachment sm Show 08 - Main Exhibit - left.JPG



Some contemporaries by Paul Dobrosky, Jim Hunt and Keith Mueller:


View attachment sm Show 03 - Dobrosky, Hunt, Mueller.JPG



We included one antique "rig" - 6 birds by David Cochrane (Paul Dobrosky's bird is in the right foreground. He carved it over the past week just for this Show):


View attachment sm Show 07 - Cochran rig.JPG



Anthony set up the video monitor for a wonderful DU film from the early 60s: Brant Shooting Along the Atlantic Coast. We cycled it all day along with a slide show about DEC's pioneering efforts at rocket-netting wintering Brant -n the late 70s and early 80s.



View attachment sm Show 16 - Video monitor.JPG



In addition to the main exhibit, we had a small display about Biology, Hunting and Banding.


View attachment sm Show 10 - Biology, Banding, Hunting exhibit B.JPG



Craig is putting some finishing touches on the LIWHG research progress reports.



View attachment sm Show 23 - CWK setting up B.JPG



The LIWHG also features at least one exhibit about one of the Benefactor families. This year, I was privileged to put together a display about my Dad. This is the "panel" portion. I made the panel so it would fold up and fit into my Forester - and so it could be used by other Benefactor families in the future.


View attachment sm Show 11 - TMS Tribute - panels A.JPG



(continued in next post)


SJS

















 
Part 2 ....


We really like having a big corner for our exhibit. It makes it easy to include a gunning boat in the setting. So, the Great South Bay Ice Scooter TED SANFORD was on hand this year. That our Young Tech Genius Anthony Babich on the right.



View attachment sm Show 14 - Scooter C CWK and AB.JPG



I rigged both the bow anchor - with its float - and snap on the painter - and the stern anchor (mushroom), too.


View attachment sm Show 12 - Scooter A.JPG





More of the main exhibit....


View attachment sm Show 15 - Main Exhibit center and right.JPG



We (mostly) kept the valuable Antiques up on the risers and only the Contemporaries within Harm's Way.


View attachment sm Show 26 - Main Exhibit oblique.JPG



Here's a couple of secretive duckboats.net members.....I had to scold them both for manhandling (their own) contemporaries!


View attachment sm Show 27 - Main Exhibit - Banner and Scooter.JPG



The young man (with Craig Kessler) on the right will probably be presenting the Benefactor display next year.



View attachment sm Show 29 - Full Exhibit CLOSEUP Macioch, CWK, Todd Smith.JPG



Another duckboats.net member....looking sheepish.....


View attachment sm Show 30 - JCW and Scooter.JPG





Here is some of the gear from my Dad's display.


View attachment sm Show 18 - TMS Tribte - gear table.JPG



Here is gear for the Scooter.



View attachment sm Show 17 - Scooter gear.JPG



Here is the LIWHG "Honor Roll"


View attachment sm Show 20 - LIWHG Honor Roll.JPG



(cont'd in next post)


SJS





















 
Part 3


I was very glad to have my Mom visit the Show. She will be 90 in July - and was happily married to my Dad for 62 years. She got to visit with lots of old friends and thoroughly enjoyed meeting a bunch of new ones.



View attachment sm Show 31 - SJS, HDS and CWK.JPG



Here she is with a (custom-built) Featherweight Model 12. Maybe the length of pull isn't quite right......


BTW: That's not an "age spot" on her hand. She proudly showed me the inked decoy she got after paying her Admission fee.



View attachment sm HDS with M12 Featherweight CROPPED.jpg



The Scooter attracted all sorts. That's 4 Sanfords in the viewfinder (and thanks to Dave Diefenderfer for triggering the camera on this one):


View attachment sm HDS and Three Boys CROPPED.jpg



I had almost no time to see the rest of the Show. Luckily, Anthony Babich sent me a nice batch of photos that I'll post later. But, this IS a duckboats site....so....


This is the same vessel as shown in last week's post about the Mylar boat plans - the ~ 1880 Sneakbox drawn by Howard Chappelle of the Smithsonian. Dave Clark just built this from those plans:



View attachment sm Show 33 - Chappelle Sneakbox by DClark B.JPG



It's wonderful to see it "in person" after staring at the plans for many years.


View attachment sm Show 34 - Sneakbox - cockpit and spray shield.JPG



The stool rack....



View attachment sm Show 34 - Sneakbox - stool rack.JPG



Her sections....


View attachment sm Show 42 - Sneakbox bow on.JPG



Those plans again - from Chappelle's American Small Sailing Craft - Figure 79.


View attachment Mud Room Sneakbox sm.JPG





(cont'd on next post)













 
Part 4 ~


Two things really improved the ambience at the Show. First, Anthony rigged up a pair of speakers to send forth the intoxicating sounds of contented Brant all the day long.


Second - up toward the "front" of the main room and equally intoxicating - was the unmistakable aroma of fresh White Cedar lumber - emanating from this pile of boards.....


View attachment sm Show 39 - Estuary II - side cropped.JPG



This is the proto-type/master/plug for what will be an all-'glass Estuary II.




View attachment sm Show 37 - Estuary II - bow on B.JPG



As I told Dave Clark - this is almost exactly the boat I've built in my head a thousand times. A garvey-style hull with gently cambered bottom sections.


The forward access is handy. Dave designed it for the gas tank.



View attachment sm Show 37 - Estuary II - bow on B.JPG



The cockpit is adequate for two - shooting broadside.


View attachment sm Show 41 - Estuary II - cockpit.JPG



And the motor well is nice and strong, being integral to both the transom and the stern deck.


View attachment sm Show 40 - Estuary II motor well.JPG





I think the 'glass version will be along soon.....


Now I'll take a break - and post some of Anthony's photos later - unless he beats me to it.


All the best,


SJS


View attachment sm Show 37 - Estuary II - bow on B.JPG
 
Well done guys.The Brant sounds made me feel like I was in a my duck boat.Always great seeing you Steve. I'm glad your mom was able to make the show.

Best
Bob
 
thanks for the information and photos of the show. I got snowed out for the 2nd year in a row . Was planning on taking 6 am ferry from New London but roads in R I not that great and forecast in L I not great either; hopefully will be there next year.
 
Good morning, Sandy~


Although most of the snow left quickly later in the day, it really fouled up anyone who had to travel. It was especially a problem for those setting up. I was anxious to be 6 minutes late - arriving at 6:36 AM. I soon realized that many could not get there for another hour. We were still "setting up" when the masses arrived.



All the best,


SJS

 
Steve & Craig,
Many thanks for a fine job you did on the show set up & the BRANT Decoys & all the info You Displayed About Brant Hunting , traping,etc.
Your family look great & your Mom handled that MODEL 12 very well like your dad did,Great Job On All Your Sincere Efforts .
 
Thank you for both putting forth the effort to organize the event, and detailing it well for those of us who could not attend.

Hopefully, you are home and in the shop with the wood stove popping, watching the snow accumulate!!! When I had a fur shed heated with a wood stove, winter storms were one of my favorite events, something about the serenity and comfort of a wood fire with a roaring storm working outside in the background.
 
Steve, great job again guys. Really well done. Keep up with the pics, great to see. Lot of grey in the one pic...
Will be their next year. Was doing a fishing show same day...
 
Rich~


Sorry we missed you this year!


Here are some photos from Anthony Babich - who has been our Videomaster since the "When Broadbill was King on Great South Bay" back in 2015.


George Combs III - the III denotes the generations of baymen.


View attachment sm 01 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM.jpg



The "pick -up stick" we use in the Scooter once opened clerestory windows in a school....


View attachment sm 02 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-10.jpg



The LIWHG reports on the research progress each year at this Show.


View attachment sm 03 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-14.jpg



Lots of vintage "stuff" to see and maybe bring home.....



View attachment sm 04 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-16.jpg



A nice Bean's Brant in the foreground.



View attachment sm 05 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-18.jpg



Another discerning shopper....



View attachment sm 07 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-19.jpg



More Combs paraphernalia....



View attachment sm 08 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-2.jpg



Even scavengers need love.



View attachment sm 09 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-21.jpg



A nice rig with a long pedigree.


View attachment sm 10 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-22.jpg



(cont'd in next post)


SJS











 
Post 5 ?


From the "wayback machine".


View attachment sm 12 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-23.jpg

One of those skies we all remember - and still hope for.


View attachment sm 13 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-24.jpg





Our main exhibit once again. Can you spot the Brant From the Bench of George Williams?



View attachment sm 14 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-26.jpg

Not just gunning stuff....


View attachment sm 15 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-28.jpg



And not just legal game.



View attachment sm 16 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-29.jpg



I,m sure many of us began with paper shells - when the "brass" was made from brass.



View attachment sm 17 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-3.jpg



Can you find the one that's "not like the other" in this picture?



View attachment sm 18 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-30.jpg



More....



View attachment sm 19 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-31.jpg



Another discerning customer.



View attachment sm 20 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-33.jpg



(cont'd in next post)


SJS

 
Post 6 ~


Yup - the Goose and gunner in the 2 photos are the same - about 6 decades apart....



View attachment sm 21 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-6.jpg


I wish those $20 baskets held more - like that Wildfowler Brant behind it.



View attachment sm 21 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-34.jpg



Back around to the main exhibit - with Craig Kessler and Joe Daly on duty.



View attachment sm 22 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-4.jpg



My Dad bought the lower gun - Model 11 Remington Sportsman in 16 gauge - at his local drug store after WW II.



View attachment sm 22 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-7.jpg



My Dad covered the Scooter with 'glass in 1954. Morris Niehemeyer started Neehi Protective Coatings in nearby Lindenhurst - and provided all of the supplies.


View attachment sm 23 IslandOutdoorsMediaTM-9.jpg



Any more photos from other attendees?



All the best,


SJS

 
Steve - Another great show and that was a very nice display of your dad?s gear. You guys put a lot of effort into this event and it really shows. My favorite part is seeing some old friends and having a chance to make new ones.
 
That is a heckuva neat show Steve. It looks like you did a great job with it. I have surely found it fascinating reading what you have posted

Dani
 
Great day at the show Steve. I appreciate all the effort that you guys put forth to make it all happen.
 
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