Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Good morning, All~
Just got back from Long Island - including a couple of meetings related to Craig Kessler's Long Island Wildfowl Heritage Group. During the afternoon Craig and I met with Dr. Mike Schummer (from SUNY ESF) and Paul Castelli (retired duck biologist from NJF&G and USFWS and LI native) to discuss research matters. During the evening was a gathering of LIWHG members and presentations by Mike's 2 grad students who have been studying both Black Ducks and Broadbill on LI. As the students were ending their field work on LI, their formal presentations were followed by thanks for their exceptional efforts.
In addition, both students had picked up a few old McCormick Broadbill stool at the March 2 LIDCA Show. They (the decoys, not the students) made their way to me for rehabilitation. I got them done just in time. In addition to simply returning their decoys - now in fighting trim - I wanted to be sure they understood the role of the decoys - and especially of Mr. Decoy - Al McCormick - in our waterfowling heritage. So I jotted down a brief bio of Al - and also described the rehab process. So, I thought I'd share both here.
Al McCormick ~ Long Island's Mr. Decoy
(CLICK to enlarge any image)
View attachment sm 1a Al McCormick - Grass I - 27 February 2013 -0 8x10.jpg
Most important is that Al shared his knowledge - in a very active way - with others. It was common for hunters to spend many hours with Al - participating in the sawing, shaping, sanding, sealing and painting until a rig was complete. Al kept "the book" in his shop - where the hunters he helped build rigs registered their names.
McCormick decoys have several distinguishing features:
~ bodies from "black cork". This material was also known as brown cork or refrigerator cork - the latter because it was used as insulation in industrial-sized refrigerated buildings. Black cork was also used for flotation in life rafts during World War II. Al and his customers/partners bought most of their cork from National Cork Company in Keyport, New Jersey.
~ heads from western red cedar. The heads on McCormick decoys are fat-cheeked because he used 4x4s and other thick stock for material. Some came from lumber yards but other cedar came from downed power poles or parkway guard rails.
~ keels are fastened flat on the bottom. They protect and strengthen the bodies because they are full-length. As important, they allow the decoy to sit upright - and so appear natural - on the bay bottom when the tide runs out. A molded lead strip is often screwed or nailed to the keel for ballast. A hole bored through the keel held the anchor line.
~ Barge Cement was used to fasten the pieces together. On birds with tail inserts - like Black Ducks and Brant - tempered Masonite was the usual choice. Galvanized steel bolts and lag screws run up through counter-sunk holes in the keels held everything together.
~ the cork surface was sealed with a slurry that was a mixture of cork dust and spar varnish. The body cured to a smooth hard shell. The heads and keels were sealed with straight spar varnish.
~ paints were Benjamin Moore flat house paints. Tudor Brown was the body color for Black Ducks.
~ eyes were either absent or painted in almost all cases. Al would occasionally install eyes for "fancy" decoys - as would some hunters/owners.
Al McCormick was a fixture in Long Island waterfowling for several decades. He would set up a temporary shop at the U. S. National Decoy Contest for many years. There, he would make decoys all weekend and donate a rig as a raffle prize. The 1979 U. S. National Contest was dedicated to him.
Al was born ca. 1908 and lived into the 1990s.
The Rehab Process
These birds had seen some hard use before they came to me. They seemed to retain their original paint, but there was some serious wear. Of most concern was that the original "shell" of cork dust + spar varnish was breached in numerous places. This typically leads to water being absorbed by the cork if used in this condition. Fortunately, the decoys were dry when they came to me.
View attachment sm 1 McCormick 4 - BEFORE B.JPG
They had apparently been rigged on trolls - and so sported some hardware that is not "standard equipment" on McCormick Broadbill.
View attachment sm 4 McCormick Broadbill Hen - bottom BEFORE.JPG
The screw eye and shackle were probably added for trolling. The molded lead ballast is typical.
View attachment sm 5 McCormick Broadbill Hen - Eye - Shackle.JPG
View attachment sm 7 McCormick Broadbills - filled and sanded.JPG
After fairing of the cured filler, the birds were sealed with a soaking coat of Spar Varnish.
View attachment sm 8 McBB 01B - varnished.JPG
Then, while the varnish was slightly tacky, the entire bird was primed with flat oil paints.
View attachment sm 9 McBB 02 - oil primed.jpg
The topcoat was flat latex house paint. The backs are "stippled" - using the end of a stiff brush with just a little paint - to suggest the vermiculation on the live birds.
View attachment sm 14 McBB 10 - Four on floor.JPG
Here is a finished pair (Aidan's) on the photo bench.
View attachment sm 13 mcBB 06 - Flores pair PORTRAIT.JPG
Note that I left the eyes unpainted - in honor of Al McCormick's practical standards.
These birds were well-received by their owners - and I'm pretty sure they will serve them well over the years.
All the best,
SJS
View attachment sm 5 McCormick Broadbill Hen - Eye & Shackle.JPG
Just got back from Long Island - including a couple of meetings related to Craig Kessler's Long Island Wildfowl Heritage Group. During the afternoon Craig and I met with Dr. Mike Schummer (from SUNY ESF) and Paul Castelli (retired duck biologist from NJF&G and USFWS and LI native) to discuss research matters. During the evening was a gathering of LIWHG members and presentations by Mike's 2 grad students who have been studying both Black Ducks and Broadbill on LI. As the students were ending their field work on LI, their formal presentations were followed by thanks for their exceptional efforts.
In addition, both students had picked up a few old McCormick Broadbill stool at the March 2 LIDCA Show. They (the decoys, not the students) made their way to me for rehabilitation. I got them done just in time. In addition to simply returning their decoys - now in fighting trim - I wanted to be sure they understood the role of the decoys - and especially of Mr. Decoy - Al McCormick - in our waterfowling heritage. So I jotted down a brief bio of Al - and also described the rehab process. So, I thought I'd share both here.
Al McCormick ~ Long Island's Mr. Decoy
(CLICK to enlarge any image)
Al McCormick was an electrician by trade but left his mark on local waterfowling through his hunting decoys. In his basement shop in his Westbury home, he crafted very effective decoys made to withstand the rigors of gunning. He will forever be most famous for his Black Duck decoys but his Broadbill are also well-known and appreciated. He made lesser numbers of other species; perhaps Brant comes in at number three. View attachment sm 1a Al McCormick - Grass I - 27 February 2013 -0 8x10.jpg
Most important is that Al shared his knowledge - in a very active way - with others. It was common for hunters to spend many hours with Al - participating in the sawing, shaping, sanding, sealing and painting until a rig was complete. Al kept "the book" in his shop - where the hunters he helped build rigs registered their names.
McCormick decoys have several distinguishing features:
~ bodies from "black cork". This material was also known as brown cork or refrigerator cork - the latter because it was used as insulation in industrial-sized refrigerated buildings. Black cork was also used for flotation in life rafts during World War II. Al and his customers/partners bought most of their cork from National Cork Company in Keyport, New Jersey.
~ heads from western red cedar. The heads on McCormick decoys are fat-cheeked because he used 4x4s and other thick stock for material. Some came from lumber yards but other cedar came from downed power poles or parkway guard rails.
~ keels are fastened flat on the bottom. They protect and strengthen the bodies because they are full-length. As important, they allow the decoy to sit upright - and so appear natural - on the bay bottom when the tide runs out. A molded lead strip is often screwed or nailed to the keel for ballast. A hole bored through the keel held the anchor line.
~ Barge Cement was used to fasten the pieces together. On birds with tail inserts - like Black Ducks and Brant - tempered Masonite was the usual choice. Galvanized steel bolts and lag screws run up through counter-sunk holes in the keels held everything together.
~ the cork surface was sealed with a slurry that was a mixture of cork dust and spar varnish. The body cured to a smooth hard shell. The heads and keels were sealed with straight spar varnish.
~ paints were Benjamin Moore flat house paints. Tudor Brown was the body color for Black Ducks.
~ eyes were either absent or painted in almost all cases. Al would occasionally install eyes for "fancy" decoys - as would some hunters/owners.
Al McCormick was a fixture in Long Island waterfowling for several decades. He would set up a temporary shop at the U. S. National Decoy Contest for many years. There, he would make decoys all weekend and donate a rig as a raffle prize. The 1979 U. S. National Contest was dedicated to him.
Al was born ca. 1908 and lived into the 1990s.
The Rehab Process
These birds had seen some hard use before they came to me. They seemed to retain their original paint, but there was some serious wear. Of most concern was that the original "shell" of cork dust + spar varnish was breached in numerous places. This typically leads to water being absorbed by the cork if used in this condition. Fortunately, the decoys were dry when they came to me.
View attachment sm 1 McCormick 4 - BEFORE B.JPG
They had apparently been rigged on trolls - and so sported some hardware that is not "standard equipment" on McCormick Broadbill.
View attachment sm 4 McCormick Broadbill Hen - bottom BEFORE.JPG
The screw eye and shackle were probably added for trolling. The molded lead ballast is typical.
View attachment sm 5 McCormick Broadbill Hen - Eye - Shackle.JPG
After removing the excess hardware, the first job was to fill the unprotected surfaces with a thickened epoxy (marine epoxy resin + phenolic microballoons). View attachment sm 7 McCormick Broadbills - filled and sanded.JPG
After fairing of the cured filler, the birds were sealed with a soaking coat of Spar Varnish.
View attachment sm 8 McBB 01B - varnished.JPG
Then, while the varnish was slightly tacky, the entire bird was primed with flat oil paints.
View attachment sm 9 McBB 02 - oil primed.jpg
The topcoat was flat latex house paint. The backs are "stippled" - using the end of a stiff brush with just a little paint - to suggest the vermiculation on the live birds.
View attachment sm 14 McBB 10 - Four on floor.JPG
Here is a finished pair (Aidan's) on the photo bench.
View attachment sm 13 mcBB 06 - Flores pair PORTRAIT.JPG
Note that I left the eyes unpainted - in honor of Al McCormick's practical standards.
These birds were well-received by their owners - and I'm pretty sure they will serve them well over the years.
All the best,
SJS
View attachment sm 5 McCormick Broadbill Hen - Eye & Shackle.JPG
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