Silver Dawn

[Wiley]

Last night, a fancier friend gave me a gift, of two eyesign glasses, and a series of photoslide cards of pigeons eyes. I dismissed eye sign a few years back after spending a considerable amount of time on it. But the slides I found of great interest, I think there quiet a unique item. Anyway on the slides there's various strain names written, one strain name prominent on these slides are SILVER DAWNS, I've never heard of them anyone know anything about them?

[Guest grizzler]

keith mott did a write up of eric Mathews who had the silver dawns

[Guest bluecheck]

I happened to read this question the same day that I received an old (1957) copy of The Homing World Stud Book. On pages, 205-206 and 207, there are ads from the co-founders of the Silver Dawn strain and they both mention information regarding the birds ancestry.

 

On page 207, the Humphrey Bros. mention that in 1917, when one of them was on leave from the army, he visited a M. Evangelisti, (known as the "Old General") who'd been winning year after year from Perth, Banff, Thurso and the Shetland Is. and also winning on the South Road. Mr. Humphrey purchased some birds there. He was told by M. Evangelisti to only cross them with birds of the "Antwerp and Brussels type, as other strains would not hit with them."

 

The Evangelisti birds were, he continues, bred down from imported Pletinckx (blues or very light blue checks) and Vekeman's (dark checks of the old Wegge type.)

 

The Humphrey Bros. ad is most emphatic that Mr. Hughie Ambler (ad on pg. 205) is a co-founder and equally responsible for the present-day Silver Dawn strain. (again, these notes are from 1957). He also states: "It is a great pity the old timers have to pass on, because I should have been delighted in explaining to the 'Old General' how the eye blending theory of mating has enabled us to take suitable birds from any good strain of racing pigeon and blend them into our own Silver Dawn family."

 

Mr. Ambler's ad says: "What is this Silver Dawn strain? It is a family of Real Racing Pigeons, the outcome of selective breeding on the Infallible Eye-Blending System from the finest specimens and often champions of the following strains: N. Barkers, Wegges, S.P. Griffiths, Pletinckx."

 

He goes on to indicate the birds are winning at all distances from short to long, etc.

 

I know your question was posted over a year ago, but I hope you find your way back here at some time to see this information. My best to you from California.