Vern Taylor, East Peoria, IL (1891-1974)

Vern Taylor calls are rarely encountered. Walnut and hard rubber, banded. Stopper turned from a bowling ball, circa 1959. Reference: Duck Calls of Illinois, Robert D. Christensen, p. 167.

Donald G. Priebe, Minneapolis, MN, (1910-1970)

Walnut barrel with decal and rosewood stopper, metal reed, circa 1950's. Reference: Minnesota Duck Calls, Doug Lodermeier, p. 295.

Everette Baldridge, Hardy, Arkansas.

Contemporary callmakers impression of a Claude Stone checkered call. Plastic reed, Arkansas style, stamped "E B" , circa 1995. Reference: Arkansas Duck Hunter's Almanac, Steve Bowman and Steve Wright, p. 232

Charles H. Perdew, Henry, IL (1874-1963) 
Fred A. Allen, Monmouth, IL (1838-1912).

Perdew crow call is a standard crow call 5 3/8" long overall in near mint condition. The Allen duck call is in average used condition. 2 calls -- 1 lot. Reference: Duck Calls of Illinois, Robert D. Christensen, pp. 136 and 44.

Ken Martin, Lemont IL (1922-2001)

Ken's earliest production duck call with the appropriate box. Call is in excellent used condition, box is mint, circa 1958. Reference: Duck Calls of Illinois, Robert D. Christensen, p. 114.

Ben Rodgers Lee, Coffeyville, AL (1945-1991)

Lee's Champion Gooble Box in near mint condition, signed, circa 1980's. Reference: Turkey Callmakers, Past and Present, Earl Mickel, p. 138.

John "Son" Cochran, Samburg, TN (1918-1994)

Typical Cochran call with walnut barrel, cocobolo stopper, metal reed, decal in new, unused condition. Reference: Duck Calls, An Enduring American Folk Art, Howard L. Harlan and W. Crew Anderson, p. 249. Also, CCAA Newsletter, Spring 1995, William R. Bailey.

Clyde Hancock, Stuttgart, AR (1901-1962)

This is a great Hancock in new, unused condition, circa 1950's. The stem has a very small tight crack below the tone board which does not affect the call nor can it be seen without close examination of the disassembled call. Reference: Duck Calls, An Enduring American Folk Art, Howard L. Harlan and W. Crew Anderson, p.174. Also, Duck Calls and Other Game Calls, Brian J. McGrath, pp. 67 & 70

Alvin Taylor, Clarendon, AR (1927 - 199?)

Alvin is no longer making calls under the Clarendon Bridge as he has gone to the great Duck Blind in the Sky. His calls are still in great demand on the collector market as well as for meat hunting. This is a super, mint banded call with a silver label and a fine piece of wood for the barrel. Reference: Duck Calls, An Enduring American Folk Art, Howard L. Harlan and W. Crew Anderson, p. 236.

A. M. "Andy" Bowles, Little Rock, AR (1893-1977)

This is an atypical Bowles call which was almost certainly embellished in the aftermarket. Still, it is a most unusual barrel shape for Bowles and the spiral is nicely done. Reference: Duck Calls, An Enduring American Folk Art, Howard L. Harlan and W. Crew Anderson, pp. 99-102. Also, CCAA Newsletter, Winter 1996, Stan Martin.

Darrel B. Foss, Venice, CA

This is a great Foss call with a very legible stamp, metal reed, Reelfoot style, circa 1950's. Reference: Duck Calls and other Game Calls, Brian J. McGrath, p. 82.

Farris Myers, Millington, TN

This is a dynamite ebony contemporary call with flawless raised panel checkering, 4 up and 4 down and 4 checkered panels on the Big Lake style stopper.

Remmy Yule, Jena, LA

Contemporary cedar, banded call with 4 checkered panels down and 4 small panels up interspersed with a leaf design.

Glodo Family Attributed, IL

Walnut call with 3 flat checkered raised panels on the barrel and a flat checkered stopper. Chipped at the mouth piece. Reference: Duck Calls of Illinois, Robert D. Christensen, pp. 81-83

John S. Yasger, Horicon, WI (1891-1963)

So called "wedge block lock" call, circa 1939. The reed is an accurate replacement. Less than 20 of these calls are known to survive. Reference: CCAA Newsletter, Winter 2002 and Fall 2004, Jim Thompson

Charles W. Grubbs, IL (1848-ca1930)

This is a rare "Grubbs Perfection" call with golden band and wedge block with 2 pins. All original and in excellent condition. Only a small number of these gold banded, 2 pin calls have been located. Reference: Duck Calls of Illinois, Robert D. Christensen, pp. 86-89.

Tom Turpin, Memphis, TN

Early Turpin Big Water model with Rounded stopper stamped 9 and undercut barrel. Metal reed may be a replacement, 6 3/4" overall. Reference: Duck Calls, An Enduring American Folk Art, Howard L Harlan and W. Crew Anderson, pp.109-111.

John E. Jolly, AR & TN (1904-1989)

Super carved, checkered and painted J. E. Jolly call with the characteristic carved mallard and woodduck and highly unusual carved pintail. In excellent condition, it is signed on the shoulder J. E. Jolly. Inscribed to "Geo. Mitchell." Slender call indicative of an earlier call. The reed is a replacement, but from original John Jolly stock and the wedge may be a replacement. Reference: Duck Calls, An Enduring American Folk Art, Howard L. Harlan and W. Crew Anderson, pp. 104-108

Jim Dester, Sycamore, IL

This outstanding contemporary call by Jim Dester shows why he won Best of Show honors in 2004 at both the NWTF and CCAA callmakers' contests. This English walnut screw together call exhibits his characteristic precision basket weave pattern and a carved duck descending through oak branches, one of which straddles the lanyard ring. A beautiful example of this craftsman's art built especially for this auction.

Pat Walsh, Nashville, TN

A contemporary call from Pat Walsh, winner of several 1st Place Awards at the 2005 NWTF convention, as well as a 1st, 2nd and 3rd Best of Show in three different divisions. The call is made from Gaboon Ebony with 8 raised and checkered panels on the stopper and 8 raised and checkered panels on the barrel.