THE BENNETT DUCK CALL COLLECTION

WELCOME

I hope you will view and enjoy seeing some fine duck calls crafted by some great call makers. I placed these pictures of my call collection on this page so others can see different styles, looks and shapes of yesterday and today's calls. I have over 540 calls by over 230 call makers on this web page. It always brightens my day when I view different calls. I hope it will brighten yours.

These five calls may be the oldest in my collection. They are of the Tongue Pincher type that was patented by Elam Fisher of Detroit, Michigan on May 10, 1870. This is the earliest patent found for a duck call. These calls, or ones similar, were sold from the 1870's through the 1930's. They are made of rosewood with a horn bell and a copper reed. The horn bell is threaded and can be unscrewed for cleaning and tuning. Elam Fisher may have even made the larger call on the left personally.

Here are five Elam Fisher design style calls. The first two are known as Red Duck Calls. The other three tongue pincher style calls are sometimes referred to as the B.G.I. call for the Bridgeport Implement Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. They all have rosewood mouthpieces and metal bell ends. Calls are not marked or stamped and could date between the 1870's through the 1930's. You can read more about these types of calls in Harlan's book, pages 15 - 19.

Fred A. Allen (1838-1912) of Monmouth, Illinois made the first two calls. They are the long and short barrel style with the nickel-plated insert stamped "F.A. ALLEN, MONMOUTH, ILL". Page 21 in Harlan's book, page 44 in Christensen's book and page 16 in McGrath's book tell more about Mr. Allen.

The third call is a Charles H. Ditto (1865-1935) New Eureka style call from the 1920's. You can read about this Illinois call maker in Christensen's book, page 70, Harlan's book, page 75 and McGrath's book page 22.

Joseph Montgomery Goodbrake (1882-1957) of Vandalia, Illinois made the fourth call. It is a hard wood call with a brass-reed. Goodbrake made several variations of his duck calls, but all were characterized by a large lanyard groove. You can read more about him in Christensen's book page 84 and Harlan's book page 230.

This is the Natural Duck call made by Francis J. Muehlstein (1885-1954) of St. Paul, Minnesota. Also known as the flapping bill call because the bill flaps up and down when blown. This is the call in the picture on page 140 of Harlan's book. You can also read about Mr. Muehlstein in Doug Lodermeier's book, Minnesota Duck Calls page 271. This call was in the collection of the late Harry Warner.

Five beautiful calls made by Fred Weeks of Savannah, Tennessee. The first call has four raised checkered panels with a carved flying duck on one panel. The other three calls have four raised checkered panels on each. Two are ebony and one is cocobolo. The fourth call is made of burl walnut with a deer antler slice laminated into the barrel. They are all Reelfoot style calls. Fred's calls can be seen in Fleming's book, page 168 and Harlan's book, page 185. They don't get much better than Fred's!

Five fine Reelfoot style calls made by H.J. Harris of Savannah, Tennessee. The first is made of pecan wood, the second, and fourth are ebony, the third is rosewood and the last is cherry. All five have finely checkered sides. The four banded calls have raised panels and a checkered stopper. Four of the calls have bands around the top of the barrel and top of the stopper. Mr. Harris makes one of the finest calls in all of Tennessee.

John Fay Holt of Bethel Springs, Tennessee made these five Reelfoot style calls. The first three are nice checkered cocobolo calls. The fourth is a laminated call made of cherry, maple and walnut. It is also signed on the barrel. The last is made from gun grade walnut. Mr. Holt is found on page 79 in the Fleming's book.

Five nice calls made by Joe Jaroski of DuQuoin, Illinois. The first two calls have laminated barrels and decals that read "Joe Jaroski Jr. DuQuoin, ILL." The third call is Joe's first attempt at carving a scene on one of his calls. It is made of walnut with a carved hunter shooting a shotgun. Also shown are two banded and checkered calls. Read more about Joe in Fleming's book, page 102 and Christensen's book, page 97. In the Luckey & Lewis book, Joe is on pages 323-329. Joe also makes great display stands for duck calls. You can contact Joe at, janicejaroski@onecliq.net.

Five varieties of Reelfoot style calls made by E.L. Quinn of Newbern, Tennessee. The first call is pictured in Harlan's book, page 219. It is from the late Harry Warner collection. The next two calls, banded and made of cocobolo, shows Mr. Quinn's fine craftsmanship. They each have a number of checkered panels going up and down. Mr. Quinn can be found on page 142 in Fleming's book.

Five varieties of calls made by Gene Parrish of Erin, Tennessee. The first is a cocobolo call with sapwood running along one side. Gene has engraved and painted mallards on it. The second is a very nice checkered call with Gene's name engraved on the barrel. The third call is the best Parrish call I have. It is a cocobolo call with four raised checkered panels. The stopper is checkered and both barrel and stopper are banded. The fourth call is a holly call with 10 carved and painted ducks around the barrel and stopper. The last call is shaped like a mallard's head. It has a 12ga shell as the stopper. Gene can be found on page 139 in Fleming's book and on 239 in Harlan's book.

Five of call maker Marv Meyer's best work. Marv, from Richfield, Minnesota, shows great carving talent with these calls. The first is a burl wood call with antler band. The second is a laminated call with antler band. The next call is made completely from deer antler and has a brass band around the barrel. The fourth is a raised checkered call with an antler band. The stopper also has a nice carved design on it. The last call is a three duck headed walnut call. Each head has two glass eyes. You can find out more about Marv Meyer in Doug Lodermeier's book, page 549 or by contacting Marv on the web at, mmeyer7@mn.rr.com. Marv's calls are still priced right for the collector.