rust never sleeps
71 posts
Jun 09, 2006
11:08 PM
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Well this all started way back in 1969 i was 11 years old my big brother Danny kept a cage the size was about 6'x6' with a wire walk in front.I had no interest with pigeons only in playing baseball and basketball, sport's or with friends from the streets of boyle heights Los Angeles were i was born and rised. Sometimes i whould peak inside his bird cage "bird loft" and look at all the pigeons my favorite were the one's with the feathers on there "feet" with color marking on there heads and wings.Anyway my brother also had these plain looking pigeons that had some color but just plain looking.I also remember going to the back yard and watching my brother and his friends looking up in the sky and what i saw was thrilling, exhilarating,incredible. The those plain looking pigeons were going backwards fast falling from the sky "rolling".Right there in time i was hooked. From 1969 to 1976 i had rollers.Myself and my 2 friends use to ride are bike's to the pet shop back than you could buy rollers for $3.00 dollars and for the good one's $5.00.I use to pick the birds with P.R.C. bands or the one's with S.C.R.C. bands.Years later i found out that prc stands for pensom roller club,scrc stands for SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ROLLER CLUB.Back than I did not know about kit boxes or holding back the feed before i'd fly them also i flew open loft that means everyone fly's, pairs you name it.Not till 1973 did i learn to to hold back on the feed so they can roll better, the last part of 1976 is when i had to get rid of my birds, land lord sold the house that we lived for so many years there.Man i cryed. Not till 1995 at 32 years of age and with wife and kids i purchase my first home, and we all KNOW what came next. do you remember!
Last Edited by rust never sleeps on Jun 11, 2006 9:15 PM
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AIREDALE
14 posts
Jun 10, 2006
3:29 AM
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I remember it well. 16 yrs. young,friends got me hooked. They described the feed store as a sort of pigeon baazar.I pictured all kind of exotic breeds in great quantities,reality - two pens with mostly street pigeons (we called them "Diggs") and some sad looking rollers 3 to be exact.Myself and Mike became partners, purchased a pr. of Fantails and a pr. of rollers.Got rid of the Fantails (throbbing necks get on your nerves.)and stuck with rollers.Built my own loft (what fun)and went on my own.Whittinghams were the choice of that era, especially if they were from Ralph Brown of N.J.. As "Rust" said we overfed and flew from a open loft, no kit boxs then.Pensoms became extremly popular, even Ralph Brown got them. I often wonder if the nice type and great colored and marked "Whittinghams" would have shown more roll using today's feeding and housing techniques.The rollers of today are better performers-tighter more frequent ect.I still think the Birmingham Roller is the best lookig bird in the Pigeon Kingdom. I think we all look back at the good old days happily.Going from loft to loft visiting each other, hitch-hiking across town to buy that special bird for $5.Well so much for memory lane.It has been fun though, has'nt it? Good post "Rust" now you can get some sleep.
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C.J.
204 posts
Jun 10, 2006
7:45 AM
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Family tradition, my uncle gave me my first pair when I was 5 years old. Then he just ended up giving me his entire loft.
C.J.
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nicksiders
624 posts
Jun 10, 2006
11:13 AM
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Saw these pretty birds flying around and over a house several blocks from my home. I may have been 8 or 9. This was during the days that kids could move throught a town of over 80,000 people without being harmed.
I stepped into the backyard and saw glory before my eyes. Several lofts of all different shapes and sizes littering the entire backyard. I was approached by a very old man with only two teeth; bald gray head; shabby clothes who owned the house, but more important he owned the birds. He allowed me to look at the birds; he allowed me to ask any question; he ask me if I was hungrey; fed me a can of porkn'beans; boiled some wieners. I sat in his home and read through some Pigeon Journals and fell asleep on his livingroom floor for an hour or two. Got up; looked and marveled at the beautiful birds some more. Got on my bike and went home and my life would never be the same again. This was day one in a relationship that lasted until his death and one of the best memorys of my life.
I returned to visit him and his birds many times after that, even after I had birds of my own. I continued to visit him until I went to college and during the winter of my freshman year he passed away. I have missed him ever since.
His place was a magical place for me. I have never experienced that kind of comfort ever again even to this day. I only knew him as Frank.....I don't know if that was a last name or a first name. He was a special human being to me and many other kids as well. It was in Decatur, Illinois in 1951.
Sorry about rambling on guys, but now I am into my 60's and I am still living in the glory that this old man named Frank shared with me. He gave me food when he had very little to give; gave me rest and comfort that has lasted a life time.
Nick
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Snicker Rollers
Last Edited by nicksiders on Jun 10, 2006 1:50 PM
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Richard A.
84 posts
Jun 10, 2006
6:59 PM
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I moved to West Covina approximately 30 years ago and my son came to me and said :Dad, I met a real nice man, he raises pigeons. Come with me and meet him:
So I went with him and met Homer Coderre, the rest is History.
Richard Apodaca
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AIREDALE
15 posts
Jun 11, 2006
2:31 AM
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What a great story Nick. I'm sure all of us have had mentors in the past that have steered us down this great path. I only hope we can do the same and keep this fantastic hobby moving forward.
John
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GREED FOR SPEED LOFT
69 posts
Jun 11, 2006
7:16 AM
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Nick ,great story and an awesome memory ,it reminds me of also of an elder friend that i used to see in Garden Grove when i was younger,Bill FERO ,when he passed i was given memorbilia- photos that i still have to this day.(man - i still miss this guy).......Later....Richard LUNA
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Heyyou
1 post
Jun 11, 2006
9:55 AM
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It was in the late 50's and a fellow lived across the road and had pigeons. Trumpeters and others. He had these birds that flew up and fell out of the sky just like fireworks, most amazing thing I had ever seen. I made his aquaintence and my dad made arrangements for me to get a few birds, a pair of trumpeters and a couple others and that started my love affair with pigeons and it has stayed with me. That fellow was Bruce Cooper. As an adult, I aquired some good rollers and we flew in a small club in Longview. Time changed things and I got away from birds but I am happy to say I am getting back into them, I haven't been this excited since I got my first car. Bill White
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nicksiders
626 posts
Jun 11, 2006
2:09 PM
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Bill,
Welcome back and make sure you have fun.......you will like this site. Some real great people in here and some damn fine pigeon breeders and loft managers
Nick
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Snicker Rollers
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Heyyou
2 posts
Jun 11, 2006
8:51 PM
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I have already enjoyed it more than you know.Even after 35 years away a few things are the same but lot's to catch up on. Keep the info coming as my absorbtion ability has not diminished in the time I have been away. Thanks, Bill
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hud
2 posts
Jun 13, 2006
5:17 AM
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Started around 1962. I was 11. An old guy named Frank had a loft with about a hundred rollers. I used to buy birds for 25-50 cents. It wasn't until I got back into rollers with my son around 1988 that I figured out how nice the guy was. He was selling me the best birds from his kit so I would get a good start in the hobby. They were the best birds I ever saw spin. Had to get rid of them in 1969. I had Jaconettes from '88 until the divorce in '99. I'm thinking of getting back into it. The hawks in this area of MA. are looking a little thin so perhaps I'll raise some food for them.
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nicksiders
627 posts
Jun 13, 2006
6:34 AM
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Hud,
That old man named Frank wasn't in Decatur, IL was it?
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Snicker Rollers
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rosebudrollers
17 posts
Jun 13, 2006
3:33 PM
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I have started with rollers 4 times.First as a 10 year old in Odessa Tx.Next was 1974 then 1985 and now one year ago.All I knew was open loft and free feeding.Now thanks to this site, I enjoy the hobby more than ever.I have a varmet proof walk in loft with breeding loft and kit boxes.I am now seeing the fruit of my labor and what I have learned on this site pay off.Thanks guys...Curtis Miller Rosebud Texas
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3757
50 posts
Jun 13, 2006
10:30 PM
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My father starting me off in Pensom rollers back in the late sixties. It is amazing how time passes so qucikly.
Bill - My birds are directly from Bruce Cooper and he has been a great inspiration to me for the past 35 years.
Dr. LD
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Tony Chavarria
Site Publisher
636 posts
Jun 14, 2006
5:17 AM
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As a kid of about 12 years of age, I acquired a couple feral pigeons from an older friend in trade for a turtle I had caught in a local field. Next, I discovered that an old man a few houses down on the next block had rollers of many colors that he would let out about once a week.
After some time, he realized my interest in them and offered to sell me the entire loft and about 30 birds for $50. I found a way to get the money and proceeded to recruit Sal Estrada and some other friends to take the loft apart and rebuild it at my house.
After a while, I began to let these birds out and was very quickly hooked on rollers after seeing a recessive red hen spin deep and with incredible speed and do it over and over again. Suffice to say, the feral pigeons were given an unceremonious release over the cow pasture…
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FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
ATTENTION: You Can Help Support Roller-Pigeon.Com With Your Purchase Of Pigeon Supplies or Donation By Clicking Here:
Buy Roller Pigeon Products On This Site: Reading Materials, Shipping Boxes, Leg Bands, Egg Candler, Nest Bowls, Kit Flags, Catch Nets, Roller Pigeons, Vitamins/Electrolytes and Medications; More Coming!
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Santandercol
107 posts
Jun 14, 2006
6:44 AM
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I lived for awhile as a kid near the Port Mann bridge over the Fraser River.My buddies and I used to go trap feral pigeons down there around the railway tracks and bring home spilled wheat from the railcars.( we were a little naughty back then of course I've repented since but once we busted one open and you should have seen that grain spill out almost got caught by a railyard bull!!)Had a loft built out of whatever I could find.An old guy once gave me a pair of roller culls one of which almost killed himself bouncing off the roof.Had some trumpeters after that for awhile but then we moved to New Zealand for 5 years so couldn't take my birds there of course.A liitle black feral pigeon was landing on and feeding at our wildbird feeder last December,and that made my dream of having rollers come alive again.Already have 45 assorted birds including 30 rollers from Neibels bloodline and an english import.What fun!!!Lovin' it.!!!!
Rock n Roll,
Kel.
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fhtfire
467 posts
Jun 14, 2006
10:06 PM
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Well,
I started in pigeons when I was a kid...I think it was about 1982 or so. I had all kind of pigeons...I had some commies, French Mondaines, Fantails, Homers, tumblers, white kings and rollers. I loved my rollers the best...of course they were not the quality that I have now. I kept pigeons until I was out of high school. Went to college to play football and my mom said that I had to get rid of my pigeons....it was hard but I did. Then back in 2002 or so...some of my fire dept buddies and myself...flew to Portland from Sacramento to watch the Sac. Kings play some hoop. While we were waiting for the light rail train..we were in downtown Portland...and there were about a billion pigeons....Maybe not a billion..but damn close....Seeing all the birds...well it hooked me again. I came home and told my wife that I was getting pigeons again..she said..WHAT! She thought that she was going to get some back up from my mother to talk me out of pigeons..LOL! Guess what...my mom said...that would be good...I was the happiest person when I had pigeons...well..I had every loft design in the world and she shot down every design. Then she came up with the idea to turn my kids play set into a loft. So..I did...and of course added 3 kit boxes behind it. Anyway..I did what every person does...I bought pigeons from the internet and got screwed blued and tatooed...they basically sucked ass. Then I met Chuck Roe who lives about 10 miles from me..he put up his kit and they put on quite a show...He gave me a nice pair and a nice hen. I then met Mort Emami....he got me 3 or 4 pairs...then I met Scott Campbell...He got me set up with some pairs....then I aquired some Masons, Lavins and then RUby Rollers. Then I did what I explained in my "Starting Out" article. Anyway..I have had rollers ever since. I have met a lot of great roller fanciers and fell in love with the sport and pigeons all over again. I spent a lot of time when I was younger...raising Champion livestock and I put what I learned about breeding livestock to the pigeons...Well, that is all she wrote!
rock and ROLL
Paul
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hud
4 posts
Jun 19, 2006
7:23 AM
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Hi Nicksiders.
The old guy I knew from 1961 or so was Frank Desmond from Weymouth MA. I don't think he'd mind me using his name because he must have been 75 years old and a heavy smoker back then! I bought some great birds from him.
I sold all my birds seven or eight years ago to help pay for a divorce lawyer and I' m just thinking of getting back into the hobby.
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Santandercol
119 posts
Jun 19, 2006
11:58 AM
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Hud,
Were those birds you sold to pay the lawyer gold plated or heated in winter and ac in summer??
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Kelly
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hud
5 posts
Jun 30, 2006
8:34 AM
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Hi Santadercol
Selling all my birds, three kit boxes, feeders, waterers, two carrying cases, books, a shotgun I had since 1963, etc. got me my downpayment to talk to a lawyer. (roughly $600).
I was lucky to be able to sell them when she wasn't around. She also let me have my Gibson guitar I bought in 1966. What a sweetheart!
If I ever get to thinking about getting married again all I have to do is look at my empty coop and I'm sure it'll pass!
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Santandercol
144 posts
Jun 30, 2006
5:59 PM
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Hud,Don't worry.Theres probably a good one out there somewhers.Ya live longer you know if ya have a good one a them woman things.Just don't marry her.
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Kelly
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bman
1 post
Jun 30, 2006
7:01 PM
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Hello everyone,
Got my first rollers about 1980,a buddy of mine talked me into getting some and I got the bug real bad.Got out of them 1993 for reasons that in retrospect don't seem real important, but know I'm back.Found some birds in february and got a small kit going,I can't beleive how much I missed it.I just ammazed at what the internet has done for the hobby,the wealth of information out there is unbeleiveable.I have been checking out several forums and by far this one is the most interesting and "entertaining" by far.Can anyone shed any light on harte/davis or harder/davis family of birds(have seen it spelled both ways)any information would be appreciated.
ron
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thong
3 posts
Jun 30, 2006
10:17 PM
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Russ,how are your Joe Urbon birds doing? and have you breed much form them this year? I'm glad you are still in here.
thong
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RXR Loft
53 posts
Nov 06, 2007
9:53 PM
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"THIS IS AN OLD POST I THOUGHT WAS INTERISTING”
It all started back in 1973 I was in the 3rd grade, living in south central Los Angeles a place called Watts.
Keeping pigeons kept me off the bad streets of L.A.
My uncle Frank built the cage and my brother and I stocked it.. When mom went to the market, it was pigeon catching time... we took a milk crate, stick, string & bread with us and caught our first birds.. Yes... I had Commies...and loved them..
We up-graded to rollers and had very good success most of my kit.. Back then we called it a flock and most did a good 60' tight spin.. Back then some of my sources were Don Bradley Lynwood, Ca. Marion "Suge" Knight Lynwood,Ca. Oscar Real Los Angeles, Ca.
In late 1983 I hung up the loft key's and gave it all to my brother Danny Ramirez.
He continued with the line and came up with his very own strain, his birds are still found around L.A and the central coast (Atascadero, Ca. Morro Bay, Ca.)
I received some birds from a buddy Sam "Smitty" Smith.
so, now I am breeding from these birds, this line goes back some 20 yrs.
These birds are 100% Dennis Godair
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Rudy
RxR Loft
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gotspin7
377 posts
Nov 07, 2007
5:06 AM
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Rudy, I think this is a good one, thanks for bringing it back! I first got started with some commies! I had a uncle that lived close to Downey Wilderness park and had a bunch of commies nesting in his garage and I used to rade the nests for squabs LOL, I was about 11 years old! When my dad found out what I was hiding in the garage made me get rid of them! We later moved to South Gate and there I met Victorio Gutierrez the Teacher and I have had rollers ever since!
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Electric-man
808 posts
Nov 07, 2007
7:21 AM
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Somewhere back around '75,I was about 10 or so,my dad was a college football coach. The campus was pretty much where I grew up! Commies everywhere,and we used to give them hell! One day, one of Dad's players handed me a squab that he had pulled off his window seal, and told me, if I would take this home and raise it, it would be my best friend!
Well, I did and it did become the families favorite pet! I lived in the country and where ever I was out in the fields, it was always right there somewhere overhead,if it wasn't, I could whistle and it would be there! When we were in the house, it would set in that window seal of whatever roomwe were in, and watch us! It would follow us for a ways when the school bus would take us to school and always meet us on the way home! And then one day he didn't show...........
After about a month of moping around, my grandfather helped to build a loft! Him and dad kept talking about rollers and saying thats what I needed! We put an add in the Nickle Post and the next day, a guy called and said, "I can fix you up"! I've had the bug every since!
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Val
"Site Moderator"
Last Edited by on Nov 07, 2007 7:24 AM
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MILO
799 posts
Nov 07, 2007
9:08 AM
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I had my first pigeons over 30 years ago. My grandmother had many she bred for the squab in Italy. I come from a farming family, and it was just a way of life. As far as rollers, I think it was around 1982. I met a friend who had a pair of rollers that he released in the neighborhood. Cool red badges. They weren't great rollers...maybe a couple feet. I thought the act of rolling was peculiar at first, but it got me interested. I had all sorts of pigeons at that time. I had Modenas, Runts, Homers, all kinds... When I asked that kid where he got them, he told me there was a guy a few blocks from us that had many. I went to visit him a few months later and watched my first kit of birds.
When you see your first deep roller, it is a unique experience. If you are a bird lover, it will mezmorize you. You are either instantly hooked, or not. I recently experienced this when a new friend came to my house to see these crazy birds. He didn't say a word, with his mouth wide open, he later looked at me and said, "I swear that has got to be the coolest thing I've ever seen." And that is what I did when I saw my first deep roller.
Back to the young me, I went home that year with a few pairs, gave all my other breeds away, and began the best hobby of my life. The rest is history.
c
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Donny James
86 posts
Nov 07, 2007
7:57 PM
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i got started when i was 14 years old my brother in law steve turner and a guy named bill berry got me started in the hobbie and 33 later i'm still hook in the hoobie thanks steve and bill for getting me startin the great hobbie.............donny james
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houndsandfeathers
10 posts
Nov 07, 2007
9:51 PM
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mine started as a 4 h project there was a guy in town that had some kings and we went to see em now he had real good birds but wouldnt sell me any until he said i could show him i was responsible enough so he sent me to a guy that raised owls and rollers and said if i liked em enough to raise some young birds and keep these owls in good shape he would sell me some of his qaulity show kings well that was a sale he never made i stuck with the rollers also still have 20 pair of owls out of the old stuff and a few homers for good measure 17 years ago or so
Last Edited by on Nov 07, 2007 9:52 PM
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ICEMAN710
26 posts
Nov 08, 2007
3:39 AM
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I started with rollers when I was 5 years old back in 1989. My father aquired a pair of rollers, a dark check self cock and red mottle hen from his good friend who aquired a stud of rollers from his co worker at nasco ship building company who was going through a divorce. Still to this day I never (well me being 5) knew the name of the coworker my fathers friend aquired them from. I think ill try and ask one of these days. These were some great rollers, they were definitly the old school type rollers, which is what everyone is talking about recently on this forum, the quality individual roller. They had great speed and excellent depth. anyhow, my dad later aquired an orange eye's white self hen from another friend from our old neighborhood. It was a rolldown and his friend not knowledgable didnt know why it did that. The loft, an open loft was built and all three birds were housed their. The cock was too agressive so My father returned him and got the red mottle hens father, and black bull eye'd w/f badge cock and paired him back ot his daughter, he also picked up a odd eye'd black splash cock for the white self hen. Later on we aquired all of my fathers friends stud of rollers. the black splash and white self hen only had one young, and black grizzle cock (the white self hen was flown and rolled down form about 100ft and broke its wing and went missing a couple days later (my thoughts were from a cat). That one bird turned out to be the best bird i have ever seen, super hi velocity spinner, super deep and would snap out of the spin like no other. I have yet to see a better bird. My father worked on a separate line within the family which were bull eyed white self's (double grizzles) they were real typie and spin like madness! Ill try and keep it short as I could probably make a novel out of it. I remember countless people come by our home asking to check out our birds as they saw them flying. We would fly all of our birds including breeders, boy what a sight! 100 plus deep spinning rollers at one time. GOOD TIMES! I recall six other rollermen in a couple block radius, those were the days. Where have they gone? I got out in 1996 after a move and our new place didnt allow them. I wanted to get back in in 2002 but could not locate our original stock. it was okay though, because I wasnt exactly ready to get back into the scene. come 2007 i am good to go!
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W@yne
743 posts
Nov 08, 2007
9:52 AM
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I first started in pigeons when i was a child around 11 years old living in a town called Wigan situated in between Manchester and Liverpool me and a friend of mine used to go around old racing fanciers lofts watching birds fly i was fascinated watching birds be homed into and trained to a loft. I helped clean up the fanciers lofts and got friendly with the old guys until 1 day i was given a couple of young squeakers to take home i housed them in a old cupboard that my dad used to put his tools into in our shed i never told my parents i had the squeakers because the answer would of been No Lol.
Until one day my mother found out and to my amazement she let me keep the birds she said it would keep me out of trouble lol. I always remember 1 was a red checker and the other a blue bar i was the happiest kid around the place where i lived.
The pair of pigeons got homed in to my house and eventually laid eggs and had young i soon had six pigeons within no time at all.
My parents eventually made me get rid of the birds. I had to give them away they said the neighbours where complaining. :( Anyway to cut a long story short i eventually left school and joined the armed forces i ended up in the army for six years got myself a great wife and three great kids.
After my kids started to grow up and having more spare time on my hands i knew it was time to get back into pigeons. It was 1996 i was introduced to a guy named Bill Hughes One of the founder members of the All England Roller Club a guy that is no longer with us a guy that used to fly birds with Bill Barrett and Bob Brown a guy that knew Bill Pensom when he was alive a guy that had an abundance experience in pigeons flying and also showing at a national standard.
Anyway i got hooked on rollers realising they was the birds for me , Buying book after book and taking in as much information i could get on these great birds. First of all i started going round flys watching competition after competition buying birds from here there and everywhere thinking i was doing the right thing buying out of the sky costing me a small fortune and learning the hard way.
I started a club in my area the Wigan and district roller club a club that is still going strong today. I also joined the All of England Roller Club and i eventually got the WDRC affiliated to the National, Things where looking up in the north western part of England it was looking very competitive.
After swapping changing trying different birds out only to have birds that i wasn't 100% happy with especially in an area that is very built up like mine. I was introduced to a guy named Ian Birket after watching his birds on several occasions and also judging them i knew these birds would suit my location fine i purchased a kit of squeakers from Ian a guy that bred all his birds from Peter Harper
(world cup winner 1992).
Ian bred his birds from around peter Harpers rose bowl winner.
Ian was very successful with his birds winning every major competition in the UK on more than one occasion.
I stocked all the squeakers the youngsters cost me a small fortune i bred blind just from verbal paper work from Ian getting some great results with the birds .
I have not flown in competition for 2 years because changing strains sure takes time to get yourself established i feel like i am slowly getting to know how these birds from Ian work.
Today i feel like i now am flying competitive birds.
I would just like to point out that over the years of flying these great birds i have met some great guys and true friends from the UK and also in the USA too many to list i just wish them all good luck and happy flying to each and every one.
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Regards
W@yne UK
Patience Perseverance Perfection
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Last Edited by on Nov 08, 2007 9:55 AM
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sundance
271 posts
Nov 08, 2007
5:22 PM
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Ron, you asked about the Harter/ davis birds? I`m assuming these are Russ Harter/ Dick davis? If these are the birds you have and they havent been fouled up with crosses, well my friend, you should have some really good stuff to work with. Dick Davis was from Ft. Wayne area in northern Indiana. About an hour from my place. He is listed in the hall of fame if that tells you anything. The story as it was passed to me by a friend of Dicks is that Dick Davis got his birds from Russ Harter, I believe from Ohio area. I was told that Dick seldom if ever lost any of the flies in this area. I dont believe there was much for national comps back then. My friend spent a lot of time with Dick Davis before his passing many years ago and did have a few of his birds but never got out of them what Dick did. Mr. Davis might have been a better kit manager than most. Kind of like the stories we hear of Monty Niebel. A proven great bloodline with loads of potential. They just need a "special " kind of manager. That could be you...best of luck to ya Ron.
I certainly hope I havent done any disrespect to anyone with this post. If I`ve confused any of the facts, I truly appologise. Maybe some of the others here also know of these guys and can shed more light on this subject.
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Butch @
Sundance Roller Lofts
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sundance
272 posts
Nov 08, 2007
5:59 PM
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kinda like everyone else, I started as a kid, 8 or 9 maybe. One of the other kids in the neighborhood caught a fantail that must have strayed from someones loft and ended up at the local grainery. This was the first non feral pigeon any of us knew. and we all knew this bird very well. It started a pigeon boom in our area. he was a black and white saddle and he came to be knnow as "Pipeo".
Soon almost every kid in our very rural farm community had pigeons of all shapes and colors. we had fantails, tumblers, rollers, nuns, kings, and ferals if they were pretty.
In time we all grew up ,moved on and got out of pigeons, for school, sports, jobs, or women. I got married. I got divorced. A couple years later I bought my house back from the x wife. got to thinking about the fun I had with the pigeons as a kid and decided to get some birds again. Built a loft , found some pigeons , and again had several breeds. including Rollers. By chance I met a couple great great roller guys named Charlie Faulkening and Joe Bell. I went with them on a fly. Seen how real rollers were kept, and flown. been hooked since that day. Now I only have rollers. Nothing else will ever do.
I am re married now. My new wife is the one that introduced me to Charlie. She totally supports my passion for the birds. Thank God for both.
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Butch @
Sundance Roller Lofts
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pacos bill
23 posts
Nov 08, 2007
6:05 PM
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The years was 1956 I had been raising some type of homers that were given to me by our scout master, and had grown a little Bored with pigeons that just perched on telephone pole.
It was at this point a new kid moved in from Northridge Calif. Bobby Hubina and he had Rollers, I had never herd of Birmingham rollers much less ever watched Rollers?
Bobby said he received a pair and one extra hen as a gift from a man in his old neighborhood and by his description none other than Bill Pensom himself who at the time lived in this part of the valley. Pensom are not the effect the roller had on me has lasted a lifetime our birds were from we thought Pensom a fast but not real fast spin of about 4 feet was the average, we did raise a yellow or almond out of this pair and after reading many stories Pensom never had any almond genes in his bloodline leaves me in drought of this base stock we were working with
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Fire Brewed Rollers
17 posts
Nov 08, 2007
9:05 PM
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When I got started in pigeons there was a pigeon auction every Sunday a block from my house, 50 years ago. It was in Hawaiian Gardens Ca. on Carson Street. The Red Barrel was on one side and Plow Boys market on the other side of the auction. Rollers used to go for 25 cents to a Buck on the average, what a deal. You could get any kind of pigeon you wanted there on any Sunday. Everyone in the area had pigeons. Can anybody else remember the place? The only time I didn’t have birds was when I was 19 & 20.
Robert Miller
Fire Brewed Rollers
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