D. C. Rivit of Bay City Michigan
This beautiful, vintage, tri-colored, brass tack eyed, scaled textured, (5) inch working fish spearing decoy was made by Dennis C. Rivit (1868-1947) of Bay City, Michigan. Circa of this decoy is 1930s. Most decoys made by D.C. Rivit were small minnows ranging from 2 1/4 to 4 inches with drilled painted eyes. The larger scarce glass eyed and brass tack eyed examples are said to have been made by D.C. for himself and his family only. These early minnow like fish attractors were used on Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay in the days of ice spear-fishermen fishing for the commercial market. Condition of this historical fish decoy is very slight in use wear, and it was purchased from the D.C. Rivit family.
Dennis Rivet son of Charles and Alix Rivet. Born 12-2-1868 and died on 1-19-1947. Married to Nettie. Retired fire-chief of the Bay City, Michigan fire dept. Dennis is driving the fire truck in picture
Some information and pictures are courtesy of Steve Frank
Carmel Michigan