Small world
 

Was shooting skeet today at the local club in Grayling, MI, and was introduced to a man whose father-in-law had been the head marketing guy for Remington in the late 60's or early 70's. Name was Bill Foster. I'm pretty sure he would have known and worked the Art Wheaton, back in the day. Bill's dad was William Harnden Foster, author of "New England Grouse Shooting".

BTW, I have enjoyed Art's newest book. I read a chapter or two each night - Kinda like a dram or two of good whisky

Yes indeed, he is the one. The Remington Arms "old guard" of retired execs and employees are quite an inspiring bunch. I suspect Bill is also a member of the "Old Pats Society" as well.






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I don't have Art's book in front of me, but I think that the man I met today said that Bill Foster may be pictured in Art's book. Bill's S-I-L said that the Parkers went to another sister, but they ended up with a bunch of Foster's artwork

WHF was a wonderful artist and his work is highly collectible.... wish I had some.


Here I think WHF is shooting his Parker straight hand grip, single trigger DHE 28 gauge.






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I like it and a lefty to boot. Destry even now has his hat. I can't tell but are those gun barrels short, maybe 24 inches and is he holding a cigarette in his right hand. Pretty suave looking fella.

There is no cigarette in the picture and the barrels of his Parker run right off the edge of the picture.
I have handled that DHE 28 and as I recall the barrels are a normal length, 26” or possibly 28” but certainly not shorter than 26”.

Jon Foster still has the “Little Gun” of “New England Grouse Shooting” fame and the DHE in the picture above went to him as well. Two (I believe) other Parkers went to Jon’s brother, Bill Foster.






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Could not tell since detail of photo is sketchy in parts. It looks blurry between index and middle finger and way fingers were spaced. It also looks blurry smokey just past hand obscuring barrel and on edge of photo. Hey back then it was cool and acceptable to enjoy your cigarettes whenever and whatever the circumstance hit ya. Different day and age. It almost looked like a promo pic for Marlboro or Pall Mall ad you would see in a magazine.

Still a great looking quasi action photo by someone showing great shooting form. A 28 gauge single trigger for a lefty shooter for fast action in grouse woods is a great gun and perfect setup. Sometimes a half second to a second matters in grouse woods on the followup shot.

Also look at the classy shooting jacket with the shooters patch on right shoulder and that cumbersome patch pocket on left side. It was pretty unheard of to find anything shooting wise that catered to lefties. One of best hunting jackets that was ever made in that day and age was the LL Bean field coat. Even though it had a pocket on left side, it had a zipper to seal it up so toe of gun-stock would not catch on the pocket.

Ya'll rightys never have to think of this stuff.

I have Bill Foster's NSSA membership card in my collection, #138 I think. Since his dad founded the NSSA, I don't know why he didn't have a lower number. As I recall from my research, neither WHF or Bill shot much registered NSSA skeet. However, I imagine they were pretty good at it.

Guess he couldn't find a left-handed shooting jacket :).

That's a great story John. Hope you had time to talk and share stories. Love those old Remington guns.

Jay