Restoring a Wildfowler Broadbill

Steve Sanford

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
Good morning, All~


A recent post asked whether a particular firearm ever "spoke" to you. Of course, most of us would answer with an emphatic YES! So, too, is it with decoys I would wager.


I detected the alluring tones of this Broadie-beak's siren song early Saturday morning at Tuckerton. Although not a true collector (my tastes outrun my checkbook....), I nevertheless find a bird or two every so often that I would enjoy having around - not to hunt, just to look at and share my shop with. This decoy is the most recent addition.


View attachment sm WF Broadbill 01.JPG



It has everything I enjoy/require. First, it was a Wildfowler. Next, it was both affordable (mid 2-figures) and an obvious re-paint. The re-paint is important to me because it means I can have a free hand in restoring/rehabbing/re-imagining without worrying about altering the value (both intrinsic and market) of original paint.



The head posture is what sealed the deal for me. Although not as deeply tucked, it reminds me of this famous bird from Joel Barber's seminal Wild-fowl Decoys - which I first read when I was 12. It is not a standard posture - I would love to learn the story behind it.



View attachment sm WF Broadbill 01A John C. Phillips Blue-Bill Sleeper - J. Barber p 96.jpg



Another "must" for me is the brand - the Wildfowler logo stamped or burned into the bottom. I will try to "recover" this during my restoration. Although I lean toward those from Old Saybrook (CT) or Quogue (LI), this Point Pleasant (NJ) bird emanates much of Ted Mulliken's genius.


View attachment sm WF Broadbill 06 - Brand.JPG



This is a larger model - I believe the Superior - with a body carved from Balsa.


View attachment sm WF Broadbill 02 - FULL rolled.JPG



This shows the hard "chines" and keel so typical of Wildfowlers.



View attachment sm WF Broadbill 03 - bottom.JPG



The Broadbill is my favorite duck and my favorite decoy. The "broad bill" is challenging to carve - and this one is fabulous to my eye.


View attachment sm WF Broadbill 04 Head and Bill.JPG



This seam has opened up between 2 slabs of Balsa.


View attachment sm WF Broadbill 05.JPG



The head has dried out at some point - and needs some attention. But, both eyes are good and the bill is intact.



View attachment sm WF Broadbill 07 Head profile.JPG



The head was also loose. It was easy to remove with some gentle prying with my flat bar and then some slow and careful twisting up and out.



View attachment sm WF Broadbill 08 - body with head removed.JPG



The dowel was still well-glued to the head - but had let go of the body.


View attachment sm WF Broadbill 09 - head removed.JPG



Stay tuned!


SJS





 
A very nice, classic decoy. I have a Quogue broadbill on a shelf in need of some ?help? and I?m looking forward to how yours comes out.
 
Looking at the bottom edge, it appears as this broadbill has seen some duty in ice. Neat bird. I await your rehab.[;)]
 
Neat find. Any thoughts yet on what you,ll inject into cracks in body and head to seal and reinforce, If you decide to go that route ?
 
Good morning, Roy~


Yes - I "injected" a very non-traditional product: Bondo. In fact, I've already sanded off the excess. I use Bondo only for the most minor fills. If I were planning to gun over this bird, I would use thickened epoxy. In any event, the fixes will get sealed with Spar Varnish then the whole bird will get an oil primer.


All the best,


SJS

 
Steve -

Congratulations on your new find and restoration project.


I've been a fan of Wildfowler decoys for many years. They were the first wooden decoys I hunted over back in the day.

If possible get a copy of Gray's Sporting Journal Winter 1981. It has a very good article, Pocket Knives and Spindle Lathes by DeCourcy Taylor, about Ted Mulliken and Wildfowler Decoys.

There is a photo of a tucked head Broadbill, that won first prize in it's division at the 1951 North American Decoy Makers Contest. A mighty fine Decoy by Mr. Mulliken.


I have two Old Saybrook Wildfowler drake Broadbills in my care.

One a repainted Atlantic Coast model, with the JRB brand. The other a hollow Superior model, in mostly OP. I have left each as is. Shelf riders that I bet can tell some good tales.


I look forward to seeing the progress on you restoration.


Best regards
Vince
 
Well that's surely the K.I.S.S. approach. Looking at pics I assumed cracks were more serious than evidently they are. Can,t wait to see it in its new clothes.
 
Steve,
That is a real nice chunk of balsa, a real beauty for sure. I recommend you pick up a copy of Wildfowler Decoys, by Richard Cowan and Richard LaFountain, if you don't already own it. Great book detailing the history of the company and its several owners. Its loaded with tons of great color photos of the different birds.
Page 8, there is a picture of Ted and Carman Mulliken holding a similar looking Bluebill.


View attachment Wildfowler book.jpg


View attachment Mulliken 1.jpg


View attachment Mulliken 2.jpg
 


The hollow Broadbill Wildfowler Superior model.

It has the OS stamp, and also the letter S, stamped under the tail, twice.

When I saw this decoy on a dealers table at the Westlake, Ohio show in the 1980's. It was as if I was struck by a bolt of lightening.

I often take it off the shelf in the Man Room, and admire it. It never gets old.




View attachment antique Old Saybrook Wildfowler Blue Bill full 2.jpgView attachment antique Old Saybrook Wildfowler Blue Bill full.jpgView attachment antique Old Saybrook Wildfowler Blue Bill closeup.jpgView attachment antique Old Saybrook Wildfowler Blue Bill head.jpg
 
Steve


Great thread. Iv'e always really liked Wildfowler decoys They have nice simple lines that represent each species well. And they are generally still affordable. Years ago my wife bought me a drake goldeneye- well worn but in original paint that sits on the shelf in the shop. I've since acquired a balsa black duck and a hollow mallard to keep it company.
 
Good morning, Zane~


Yes - great book!


I met Dick Cowan just once, shortly before he passed away. I see Dick LaFountain regularly and got to know him when we filmed When the Broadbill was King on Great South Bay. There are numerous Wildfowler experts in the LI Decoy Collectors Ass'n - but Mr. LaFountain the The Source - and a real gentleman.


All the best,


SJS





 
Good morning, Vince~


Great bird!


I do not yet own an original paint Wildfowler Broadbill. Someday.....


Many years ago - 1980s - I gave a "lift" in my 2-man Sneakbox to a father and son. The father had not gunned in years and was satisfying his young son's demand to "take me duck shooting"; they had no gunning vessel. I was back at the "ramp" (just a hard spot on the bank) after a nice midday shoot. So, I transported them out to the point they wanted - which was walkable for the return trip. I dropped them off with their bag of Wildfowler Broadbill stool - all in original paint. I do not know if they were Balsa or hollow Pine - but they were not cork. I have often regretted not asking to purchase a pair - and I never met them again.


All the best,


SJS




 
Good morning, All~


I have completed my restoration of this Wildfowler Broadbill. After sanding, first job was to fill the cracks. None were structural so I used Bondo (auto body filler) instead of my usual thickened epoxy. (Those 3 Wildfowler Mallards in the background for my own "saltwater rig".)



View attachment sm WFB 01 fillers.JPG



I was "generous" with the filler on the many cracks and fissures on the head - which had dried out more than any decoy should.


View attachment sm WFB 02 fillers on head.JPG



Everything is faired off and ready for a coat of Spar Varnish.


View attachment sm WFB 03 fillers faired.JPG



Flat oils provide the base coat. (Those are Homer Brant bodies in the background - in process....)



View attachment sm WFB 04 primed.JPG



My eye suspected and a measuring tape confirmed that the White "freeboard" on the starboard side was a bit higher than on the port side....


View attachment sm WFB 05 stbd side.JPG




I corrected this catastrophe with a bit of Black and a warmer Grey (Behr suede Grey). (That's an Al McCormick Drake Mallard in the background.)



View attachment sm WFB 06 - side corrected - warm grey on back.JPG





The bill got Behr's Dark Storm Cloud - as well as nostrils and a nail.


View attachment sm WFB 07 bill nares and nail.JPG



I gambled and lost stripping the paint off the bottom. Some of the "punky" Balsa came away with the old paint. I touched up a bit of the original brand with my burner. It now has 2 coats of Spar Varnish to toughen the wood and seal for the future (life on the shelf most likely).



View attachment sm WFB 12 brand restored.JPG



Top coats are latex.


View attachment sm WFB 08 black and stippling.JPG



I begin stippling the back with Flat Black first. Denser aft and sparser forward.


View attachment sm WFB 09 black stippling.JPG



...continued....


SJS

























 
Steve -

Ya did a mighty fine job, and did it justice.

It was made as a Blue Collar Gunning Decoy. A all season workhorse.

Get a Wildflower keel weight (if possible), and get that Decoy back in action (at least a few times) where it belongs. It will make ya both happy.


Best regards
Vince
 
Vince~


Glad you like my progress. Just a bit more - then I still need to photograph "sea trials".


As it turns out, I'll be getting another old Wildfowler re-paint - via eBay - any day now. It will come with the keel weight. I am hoping that it has the D C Sanford Co. imprint on it. D C Sanford was a New London foundry that made the anchors and keel weights for Wildfowler, at least when they were in Old Saybrook. (And, yes, the foundry was run by very distant relatives.) I have both a ring anchor and a mushroom made by them hanging in my shop - but no keel weights.


One final touch was the White over-stippling on the back. Being from a Broadbill wintering area, I always like to dress my birds in their nuptial finery - understanding that the plain grey primer - or even all black - has done the job of a gunning decoy countless times.


View attachment sm WFB 10 white stippling.JPG



The White is denser up forward and sparser aft.


View attachment sm WFB 10B white stippling.JPG



Although I prefer the straight-up forehead on my drake Broadie-beaks, this bird surely looks both comfortable and self-confident.


View attachment sm WFB 16 portrait head and bill.JPG



Here is the classic Wildfowler bottom. I've always liked the simple solution of a hole bored through the keel for the anchor line. I've kept the brand exposed - just protected with the Spar Varnish.


Also, although the bottoms of many Broadbill stool were painted black-white-black - to still "work" even if capsized - I opted for my usual solid medium tone.



View attachment sm WFB 15 bootom with brand.JPG



Here is the profile.


View attachment sm WFB 13 portrait - profile.JPG



A rolled view.



View attachment sm WFB 14 portrait rolled CORRECTED.JPG



Maybe today's rains will provide some more spots for sea trials.


All the best,


SJS




View attachment sm WFB 14 portrait rolled.JPG
 
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