Trying to find some old odd calls

[teul2]

Anyone ever seen a call like one of these two below? These are patent prints from 2 MS patented calls that I have never seen. I'd love to put my hands on both of them.

[novacaine]

Shurley and Yager, never heard of the family names.............I see the date on one but what about the other.
Did you find any other data such as address or do you just have drawings?
May have to give Mr. Son a call...............he is the only one that old that would have a clue.

[novacaine]

Shurley was from Money,MS.
R. G. SHURLEY Feb 1,1949.

BIRD CALL Filed NOV. 8, 1946 the edges diverge from Patented Feb. 1, 1949 NITED STATE BIRD CALL Robert G. Shurley, Money, Miss.

Application November 8,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in bird calls.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is adjustable to vary the pitch of the call for calling different birds, such as the mallard duck and crows, and, which is also adjustable to produce different pitches to suit the individual user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is self-contained, simple in construction, and convenient to use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a central vertical, longitudinal section through a device embodying my invention, partly in elevation, and parts broken away;

Figure 2 same;

Figure 3 illustrates an end elevation of the de vice;

Figure 4 illustrates a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of one of the tongues, partly broken away.

The device comprises a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical tongues ll having grooves, which when assembled form a tube having a longitudinal bore I I. These tongues have longitudinal edges l2 which are straight from the forward ends of the tongues to points l3, and the points l3 to the rear ends of the tongues, as shown, and these diverging ends are preferably longitudinally curved. The tongues are tapered exteriorly toward their rear ends, as shown. The bore H passes through the rear ends of the tongues. These tongues are stiff and somewhat resilient, and they are preferably formed of plastics material, such as Lucite.

Arranged between the edges l2 of the tongues is a reed l4, preferably formed of metal, such as brass or bronze.

Numeral l5 designates a horn having screwthreaded engagement at IS, with the forward illustrates a side elevation of the 1946, Serial No. 708,663

2 ends of the tongues Ill, and engaging a stop shoulder 11. Numeral l8 designates an outer air blown into the casing.

casing, the forward end of which may be reinforced by a ring l9. The casing T8 is internally screw-threaded at its forward end, as shown at 20, for engagement with screw threads 21 formed upon the tongues I0, at the rear of the shoulder H, as shown. The casing I8 has a mouth-piece 22 and is provided with an internal annular flange 23, the inner edge of which tapers slightly rearwardly. Formed integral with the rear ends of the tongues Ill and disposed radially outwardly of the same, are longitudinal ribs 2d, the outer longitudinal edges of which converge rearwardly, as shown. These edges project into the flange 23, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

In assembling, the reed I4 is placed between the edges of the tongues '10 and the forward ends of the tongues are screwed into the horn [5. The casing I8 is then slipped over the tongues and screwed upon the screw-threaded portion 2| of the tongues. The ribs 24 are now engaging within the flange 23, and the diverging or curved portions of the edges l2 have clamping engagement with the reed, to produce a low pitch for calling mallard ducks. This adjustment of the parts is shown in Figure 1. By screwing up the casing I8, the free vibrating end portion of the reed I l has its length reduced and this produces a higher pitch, to imitate the call of a crow. It is obvious that intermediate pitches are obtainable by turning the casing It; with respect to the tongues.

The casing i8 gives added protection from moisture and prevents the escape of any of the The shape of the tongues is such that squeaks are eliminated, when an uneven flow of air strikes the reed, and regardless of the pressure used to vibrate the reed, the same quality of tone is produced.

I claim:

1. A bird call comprising substantially semicylindrical tongues having longitudinal grooves to form a bore and inner opposed longitudinal edges, the rear portions of the edges diverging rearwardly, a reed held between the opposed edges, a horn secured to the front end of the tongues, a sleeve receiving the tongues and having screw-threaded engagement therewith, said sleeve being provided near its rear end with an internal flange, and ribs secured to the rear ends of the tongues and extending longitudinally thereof and having rearwardly converging edges engaging within the flange, so that rotation of the sleeve in one direction moves the rear p01"- tions of the tongues closer together while rotation in the opposite direction moves said rear portions further apart whereby the pitch of the call may be varied 2. A bird call comprising substantially semicylindrical tongues having longitudinal grooves a forming a' bore, the forward ends of the tongues being providedewithna stop shoulder. andehaving screw thiseads.forwaznily and rearwartily offtthe stop shofilder, said tongues having opposed edges provided with rearwardly diverging portions,.a reed held between the edges, a 'horn having screw-threaded engagement with the forward screw threads, a sleevereceiving the tongues and having screw-threaded engagement with the rear screw threads, the sleeve being provided near its rear end with an internal annular flange,

and longitudinal ribs secured to the rear ends of the tongues and having edges which con- 5 verge rearwardly and enter the flange.

ROBERT G. SHURLEY.

[teul2]

That's it.
Robert G. Shurley of Money, MS filed his patent application November 8, 1946
Joseph S. Yager of Greenville, MS filed his patent application February 10, 1936

So these are no spring chicken calls. My odds on finding one or the other is slim. But, Mississippi is the place to look. There are no Shurley's or Yager's in the phone book for those locations. Haven't searched the web any trying to find relations to them.

[novacaine]

That's it.
Robert G. Shurley of Money, MS filed his patent application November 8, 1946
Joseph S. Yager of Greenville, MS filed his patent application February 10, 1936

So these are no spring chicken calls. My odds on finding one or the other is slim. But, Mississippi is the place to look. There are no Shurley's or Yager's in the phone book for those locations. Haven't searched the web any trying to find relations to them.

Mr Son or Johnny Barrett are the only two that would probably know...........and that may even be before Johnny's day......

I'm gonna make a call to Big Henry............he is good on Leflore Co history. I wish my buddy Son Williams was still alive..........he knew all the hunters post WWII back in the day..