FOR SALE!!!! Duck decoys by Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, 1896-1924. A brief history of the founder, William J Mason, 1847-1905. He was born in Ireland and his family moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1850. As a young man in Detroit, William enjoyed the "sporting" life which included hunting and fishing in the famous St. Clair Flats. William was a member of the "Old Club", on Harsen's Island which is north of Detroit on Lake St. Clair. Around 1878, he was employed by John Long Guns and Sporting Goods. It was there he met co-worker and lifetime friend, Jasper N. Dodge. Mason bought Long Guns and Sporting Goods business in 1881 with a partner named George Avery. It was renamed W.J. Mason & Co. They sold a wide variety of sporting goods and decoys. For seven years the partnership lasted. In 1888, the business folded after a disagreement.
An advertisement from 1883 claims W.J. Mason & Co. as manufactures of wooden duck decoys. Around that time, Dodge made decoys full time, in 1884 when he bought equipment from George Petersen Decoy Co. Mason and Dodge worked together more than once creating wooden duck decoys. The advertisement from 1883, W. J. Mason & Co claims to make decoys in three grades. William certainly had a hand in making and selling of the product. His friend, Jasper Dodge, claimed to make decoys based on any hunters pattern. Dodge had the lathes, patterns, dried wood and skilled workers. Mason had his customers and he developed many styles and paint patterns to satisfy them. The variety of styles seems endless as Mason hired many people to manufacture his duck decoys.
William and his wife had three sons. One son died young, another son named Fredrick Mason had other interests. The third son, Herbert Mason was born in 1883 and twenty years later in 1903, he began working full time as superintendent at Mason's Decoy Factory. For two years, the father and son teamed up to produce some of the best wooden hunting decoys.
Historians claim that William made Premier and Challenge grade models at his Detroit home on Tuscola Ave, referred to as the backyard period, 1889-1903. Most likely, Mason never stopped producing decoys or filling orders. The seasonal nature of the business meant feast or famine until 1903 is when father and son Herbert teamed up and expanded the business. The new location for the factory was at Nicholson Lumber, 456-464 Brooklyn Ave, new carving lathes and a new shop was needed to meet the product demand. Sears and Roebuck were large customers ordering thousands of decoys over the years. A new, less expensive line was developed and advertised in 1905 named Standard grades. Premier and Challenge grades had patents applied for in 1905 by Herbert Mason.
Unfortunately, William J. Mason died in 1905 after catching pneumonia in the marshes while sketching wild ducks! His son Herbert took over the business and expanded the product line. Herbert advertised the product line and introduced three new Standard grade models, glass eye, tack eye and painted eye. He also made special order decoys; crows,shorebirds,Geese and Swans. The decoys were sold by the dozen, eight drakes with four hens. Herbert moved the factory to Milford St. in 1915.
1896-1905 William J Mason produced Premier and Challenge grade decoys.
1903-1924 Herbert Mason produced Premier, Challenge and three Standard grade decoys. The founder William J Mason and son Herbert worked together full time for two years before William died. Contracts with Sears and Roebuck were filled with thousands of decoys. Mason's decoys show up throughout North America. The seasonal nature of the business slowed in the 1920's after the market hunting stopped. In 1924, the business closed.
Mr. Barney Crandell deserves credit for researching Mason's Decoy Factory history and reporting it in the Spring issue 1975 North American Decoys.
Mason's decoys are wonderful examples of American folk art.
Call Patrick Kane for purchase information: 989-631-3168
All decoys guaranteed as described.
Mason's Decoy Factory Largest Manufacturer of Wooden Duck decoys.
Call Patrick Kane for purchase information 989-631-3168,
Drake Pintail wooden duck decoy. Made by Mason Decoy Factory. Premier model.
Circa 1900. This decoy is part of my collection and not for sale.
Interview of apprentice painter from Mason Decoy Factory, North American Decoy,
Spring 1975
Advertising from 1883, Detroit Free Press, taken from Detroit Decoy Dynasty book.
Mallard wooden duck decoy by Mason Decoy Factory. Made in 1880's by
William J. Mason. Premier model in original paint. Not for sale.
Mason Decoys by Byron Cheever, second printing 1978, the book is in very good condition, $50
Replica of a 1915 Mason Duck decoys catalog. Copies for sale $15 each.
Bufflehead wooden duck decoy by Mason Decoy Factory. Glass eye model in restored condition. The surface is nicely crackled. Branded PK, restoration by Patrick Kane. Sold
Redhead wooden duck decoy by Mason Decoy Factory. Premier model. Hollow carved. The surface is restored with crackled paint. Restoration by Patrick Kane and branded PK. $375
Bluebill wooden duck decoy pair by Mason Decoy Factory. Premier model. This is a matched pair, hollow carved. The surface is restored with crackled paint. Restoration by Patrick Kane and branded PK. $700
Same pair as above.
Bottom of Bluebill pair
Redhead wooden duck decoy pair by Mason Decoy Factory. Special order Premier model. This is a matched pair, hollow carved and larger than typical Premier models. The surface is restored with crackled paint. Restoration by Patrick Kane and branded PK. $725
Same pair as above.
Bottom of Redhead pair, branded PK.
Goldeneye wooden duck decoy by Mason Decoy Factory. Painted eye model in restored condition. The surface is nicely crackled. Branded PK, restoration by Patrick Kane. $195
American Merganser wooden duck decoy by Mason Decoy Factory. Tack eye model. The surface is restored with crackled paint. Restoration by Patrick Kane and branded PK. $245
Drake Mallard wooden duck decoy by Mason Decoy Factory. Tack eye model. Restoration by Patrick Kane. Branded PK. Excellent crackled surface.
$225
Drake Mallard by Mason Decoy Factory. Restoration by Patrick Kane
Babe Ruth duck hunting. All American hero. He used Mason's decoys!
More Mason Decoys............the ones that got away!