boxcalls for turkeys

[hhughh]

I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the correct spot; mods, feel free to move it.

Does anyone know when boxcalls for turkeys came about? Are they an early call, or just late 19th/20th century calls?

Thanks,
Hugh

 

[rabjr]

February 5, 1867 Samuel Mc Clain was awarded a patent for a mouth whistle.
January 5, 1897 Henry Gibson awarded the patent for the box caller.
July 20, 1912 William Saunders was awarded a patent for a crude Friction Slate call.
February 1, 1921 Henry Bridges was awarded a patent for an improved Mouth call.
August 18, 1949 Reuben Boatwright was awarded a patent for what I can best describe as a push button caller.

 

[Wehrmacht]

I have a contemporary box call made out of basswood which was duplicated from an original dated to the third quarter of the 18th century. Mine was made by Charlie Norwell of Memphsis,Tennessee, many years ago. He had the original.