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19 – Purebred PIGEON
good opportunity to discuss breed-
ing techniques, problems, medica-
tions and the like.
Rudy was president of the Em-
pire Short Face Tumbler Club and
under his charge the club decided
to modify, create, and improve the
Standard Book of Perfection. Rudy,
also, had the Empire Club Chartered
in New York State. The breeds all
greatly improved at that period of
time. There were many breeders and
excellent breeding stock available
and we were able to work together
to improve the structure and color
of our respective breeds. We all
leaned on Rudy for advice. He,
also, knew so many breeders that
he could steer you in the right direction to find the “missing piece”
you were looking for. Who needed a cock? A hen? He brokered all the
deals that everyone needed to make. He was the clearing house! He
was home all day to take the phone calls and receive visitors. Kearny,
NJ was the hotspot. Everyone knew Rudy and he was totally respected
by all who knew him. He was a tremendous breeder and never wasted
anytime with a bird unless he could use it in his program. Rudy never
produced birds in large quantities. His usually flock was about 15 pair
and if he had a good season he raised approximately 50 youngsters.
Since he only specialized in the
dark beak Budapest (Storks,
Blues, and Grizzles) it was not
necessary to keep more birds than
that. He always released birds in
early to late Fall, after that period
of time, it was unlikely that you
be able to get any spare birds. He
always had a waiting list for his
birds and they did go fast. Any
Budapest breeder who raised dark
beaked birds had his bloodline
in their flocks. He did plenty of
importing as well. Most of the
birds that came into the country
came from Dr. Istvan Szecsenyi
of Hungary or from Henry Weiss,
who was German, and living here
in Hackensack, New Jersey. However, there were many Budapest here
in the USA before WWII. The importations after the War just helped
to improve excellent existing bloodlines.
During the time that Rudy raised Storks, Blues and Grizzles, only
the Storks and Blues were accepted into the Standard of Perfection.
The beautiful steel marked grizzles were considered a “sport” or stock
pigeon. In time, the Grizzles became far superior to the Storks and
Blues. Rudy was instrumental in expanding the Budapest Standard to
include the Grizzles. He and I wrote the standard for the Grizzles and