Oscar Quam Reelfoot call

[FDR]

I picked up an "Oscar Quam" reelfoot style call off eBay for study and to add one to my small collection.  The call came without a reed an as a result was quite reasonably priced.  I dropped in one of my reeds and after a little tuning this call will really run. Mr. Quam really knew how to make a fine call. The call barrel is only 3.5 inches long.

Ben wrote a fine tutorial some time back on how to make this type call barrel. You can find it in the Duck Call tutorials on this forum.
http://thogamecallsforums.com/index.php/topic,13242.0.html

Here is the picture of the call:



Fred

[Mac Dietrich]

Sweet call can't wait to learn how to make them!

[John at Finish'em Custom Calls]

I had also been looking at that call on eBay but didn't bid on it. Glad you got it.

[dogcatcher]

Nice catch, I have one like it, great sound.

Marvin

[FDR]

Nice catch, I have one like it, great sound.

Marvin

How thick is the original reed Marvin? I installed an 0.005 bronze reed and the wedge does not quite come to the top of the insert. Either the reed was tapered or much thicker or the wood has shrunk. Maybe some or all of those.
You are correct, it has a great sound and the exhaust is unlike more modern Reelfoot calls.  Worth an extended study!


Fred

[dogcatcher]

I have no cue as to how thick the reed is, I am in the mountains in New Mexico for awhile escaping the 105 plus temps at home.  When I get home I will try to get measurement of the reed.

Marvin

[dogcatcher]

I found it in a box of calls I have here in Ruidoso, it s thicker than .005, and it s silver colored.  Actually looks like it might be nickel and about .010, but I don't have a set of calipers to measure it. 

Marvin

[FDR]

Thanks for looking Marvin. Sounds like it might be nickle silver.  Some early call makers used nickle silver for reeds.

Fred

[dogcatcher]

I have been thinking about this, for some reason I think I have another Quam call at home and for some reason I think it has a brass reed.  Not sure on that, but I feel sure that it has a reed that is about the same thickness, and from comparing this one to .010 reed, I think it is about .008 or maybe even .009.

Marvin

[FDR]

The one picture of the internals I came up with was from a round barrel Quam and it appeared to have a bronze reed. No idea how thick it was.  I have examined a number of antique calls with bronze reeds from 0.005 to 0,010 thick . The 0.010 reeds are usually a bugger to blow. I sometimes use 0.008 and it makes a good reed that is fairly easy to blow and holds tune great. 

Thanks for looking!


Fred

[Prairie Game Calls]

I have 2 Quam calls I'll try to get a thickness for you tonight.

Larry