Vh 28

[John Taddeo]

You got me on V.L.& A. This stands for?

[John Taddeo]

And please make sure some pictures go with the story.

[Jeff Christie]

V. L. & A. was (maybe still is in a morphed form) a very upscale sporting oriented store. I have seen it written somewhere as Van Lidtke & Antoinne (spelling(?)) or something akin thereto. It may have been absorbed by Abercrombie and Fitch, I don't know. I remember visiting the store in Chicago ( 8 Wabash ??) many times. They had some wonderful CM Russel and Frederick Remington paintings and bronzes. Lots of cool stuff.

I don't know how to post pictures. Most of them got burned up in a fire my parents endured. I'll see what I can do. The lady is long gone and buried in Montana.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Jeff Christie

Dean- I'll think on it but probably will give it a try. There are a great deal of sensitivities to the memories.

John- Yes it was pheasant Mecca. Birds were everywhere. It was the era when most corn was harvested by a 'picker' attached to or towed behind a tractor. It was generally left on the ear and dried in cribs. The fields were left full of stubble, stalks, husks, etc and were lousy with birds. Combines were unheard of for corn. It all ended in the late 60's-early 70's with the end of the Soil Bank Program. The birds did not return until the advent of CRP. Sadly, that program is dying (budget) with the high price of corn and beans. Fallow land is history.

I grew up in a farming community - not like the vast midwest but a lot of folks had small market farms and most grew their own family produce. There were cornfields but rarely exceeded twenty acres in my area. The best times I remember from my youth were the mid-fifties to the mid-sixties. We too enjoyed pheasant mecca but it ended by the late sixties to early seventies.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Jeff Christie

Dean- There are a great deal of sensitivities to the memories.

I'm sure there must be Jeff. Send me a PM and we can discuss it privately.

[John Taddeo]

I am thinking it will be a great story Jeff. I'm Looking foward to it

[Kevin McCormack]

Originally Posted by John Taddeo

You got me on V.L.& A. This stands for?

Just Google up Von Lengerke & Antoine for a great full page history of these comanies and their evolution throughout the 20th century. Gun cases with either mark(s) are coveted for our fine American doubles.

[Jeff Christie]

Dean-

I'll try the PM route tomorrow. Iowa farms in the 40's, 50's and into the early 60's were not the larger tracts they are today. LOTS of kids were raised on a 40 or an 80. A big farm was a 1/4 section. Cornfields were small and all had fence rows. These provided great cover. Cows and pigs were turned into the fields after the harvest to glean up the leftovers. There were actual houses w/ people living in them who invariably granted permission. Today, very few homesteads remain. You try to run the farmer or the owner down with a plat book. Good luck with that.

Kevin- I met you when I lived in Falls Church and was stationed at the Pentagon. I have an old Dickson oak and leather case you looked at. I joined the PGCA at a gun show over in Harrisonburg. I also have a LOM VL&A Chicago case. Unfortunately it is pretty well shot. It makes a nice display item.

[C.O.B.]

Originally Posted by John Farrell

Dean - I don't recall what type engraving was on the 1901 Parker VH 28 I passed along to Dave Miles. You might ask Dave for his view of this issue.

If memory serves Dave sold this gun to Steve Barnett at the Southern several years ago.

[Dean Romig]

Right Rich. I just traded emails with Dave and that's what he said.

Unfortunately, he didn't remember anything about the "Parker Bros." on the sides of the frame.