My first Restle Decoys

Steve Sanford

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
Good morning, All~


I have just begun rehab on a batch of Restle Decoys - a first for me. Although I have learned about them here and elsewhere on the interwebs, this is the first time I have seen them in-hand. As I understand it, Restle invented the first coated foam decoys - gluing on ground corn-cobs as "Trestle Coat". I do not know when this was begun. As always, I am anxious to learn from others.


The batch includes 7 decoys - 5 Blacks and 2 Hen Mallards.....


View attachment Restle 01.JPG



...and 3 extra heads - Hen Pintails from the bill paint:


View attachment Restle 02 - 3 extra heads.JPG



The herd includes birds from 3 or 4 "vintages"; most have intact Trestle Coat on the bodies, most heads are un-coated hollow plastic; one bird seemed to have been flocked, body and head. Here is one from Maumee, Ohio.



View attachment Restle 03 - imprint A - Maumee.JPG



Another from the same locale - perhaps a more recent brand/imprint - or are these near-mint bodies earlier?



View attachment Restle 08 - Imprint C - Maumee.JPG



One from Beaver Dam. I am wondering if there was a connection with Herter's - which I believe operated from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin in their later years. (I visted their store there in 1976.)



View attachment Restle 05 - imprint B - Beaver Dam.JPG





All share the same keel design - 3/4-inch on edge, with a unique shape:


View attachment Restle 04 - keel shape.JPG



One tail needed a bit of patching and re-coating. A few heads had been glued on - so I coated them on the decoy. The foam is white and appears to be styrofoam - not urethane.



View attachment Restle 06 - 2 bodies.JPG



Wherever I could, I removed the heads for coating. I brushed on straight epoxy (US Composites 635) and sprinkled on fine sawdust from my bandsaw. I am taking advantage of the warm Spring sun to hasten the cure - doing the work the woodstove does all Winter.


One body appeared to be un-coated; another was very thin - so I coated those 2 bodies.



View attachment Restle 07 - Drying in sun.JPG



I take pains on the heads to not coat the bills or eyes.


View attachment Restle 09 - Drying head detail.JPG



Question: I am wondering if Restle Pintails used the same bodies - which have a fairly broad tail - or bodies with a unique Pintail shape (as Herter's used to do).



Any photos or scanned catalog pages would be welcome!


Stay tuned,


SJS


 
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Steve, what a great project. I acquired two dozen Broadbill many years ago that sit graciously in my attic. They have never been rigged or hunted over. If I could keel them to self right they might someday be added to my rig.

Looking forward to your progress.

RVZ
 
I have always liked Restle Decoys; I used to own 5 dozen of them until someone decided they liked them more than me and swiped them from my truck while I was having breakfast after a morning hunt. Restle Decoys were eventually purchased by Herters, and so any bodies with the Beaver Dam, Wisc marking is of a more recent vintage.
 
Have several i,ve redone over the years. All puddle ducks . Re restle coated all of them and originally reused factory heads. Switched them all since to Homer heads which really make them a nice looking decoy. Don,t know if that keel was designed like that to make them swim in current but it does. May have been simply to match the eyebolt size or possablly to allow for cord wrapping around body without sliding back when stowed. They ride choppy water great.
 
Restle Decoy users, and collectors have their own website that contains lots of info.

Many of the older Ohio waterfowlers, and decoy carver/makers are a wealth of info on Restle Decoys.

If and when the Ohio show resumes make a point to get to the show.

Some Restle decoys have been in my rig for many years, with original Restle Decoy Anchors. I was a bit surprised as to how collectable the old anchors are. Still have six that are new and unused, NFS.

VP
 
Great job Steve. Impressive. The Restle Decoys never looked that cool.
Years ago I bought some from Carl Herscheryl and still have them.

Back in the late 80's-early 90's, my buddy, Gene, and I set out to find a decoy company to buy.
The first we looked at was Restle and spent a good part of a day with Carl, who bought the Company from Tom Restle.
Nice bird but low production yet good birds.
I spent some time at the library looking up his patents along with Fowl Fooler patents.
That stuff is all still available on microfisch (sp) at the libraries for research purposes if needed.
Keep rockin' my friend.
Lou
 
Good morning, Lou~


It's good to hear from you.


The E. Allen birds that I got from you - about a quarter-century ago now - remain one of my favorite puddle duck rigs. Here are some of them in the rain. I have since coated (epoxy + fine sawdust) and re-painted the Blacks and Woodlies.


They all got flush keels because I use them only on nearby beaver ponds and the like.



View attachment Sanford Allens - 3 species.jpg



These Greenwings got the same treatment - but for a customer. They are sweet birds. Do you recall who carved the master?


View attachment E Allen Greenwing Pair - sea trials.JPG



All the best!


SJS

 
Steve,
The Teal patterns were carved by Keith Mueller.
The Woody pattern was carved by Maria Gay (student of Keith's)
Mallards were all by Keith except for the Freddy Muhs Mag. Mallards and the Mallard Wing Preener and the Standard Mallard by Bug Shell.
Lou
 
Good morning, All~


These 7 Restles are all done - ready for pickup later this Summer. They have been confirmed by the owner as standard-size birds.



The bottoms were painted with my usual Pettit 3303 (Dull Dead Grass). Note that I sawed the aft end of the keels round - to lessen the chafing and dings to rig mates. They had been square.



View attachment Restle 14 - bottoms painted.JPG



I let them cure near the stove for a couple of days before they are allowed outside.


View attachment Restle 14b - 7 DONE inside.JPG



Here are the Black Ducks basking in the morning sun.


View attachment Restle 15 - 5 Black Ducks outside.JPG



Note the speculum without the trailing white edge - in deference to George Williams. I painted the edges of the side feathers to suggest "rollout" - which is just barely molded into the bodies.



View attachment Restle 16 - Black Duck pair outside.JPG



I typically paint the speculum on my Hens - but not the Drakes - who show it less frequently in nature.



View attachment Restle 17 - Hen speculum closeup.JPG



I had been struggling with the facial flecking a year or so ago - but I've once again found a brush and paint combination that lets the paint flow as I like it. The bills are top-coated with Satin Spar Varnish.



View attachment Restle 18 - Hen head closeup.JPG



All the Restles all done. Now back to a couple of duckboats, some Bean's gunners - and still a heap of firewood.....


View attachment Restle 19 - all 7 done - outside.JPG



All the best,


SJS



 
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