The Janssen brothers: The End!

MaryOfExeter said:

Of course they will! They're already doing that with the oldest of strains. Although as much as the Janssens have gotten around a lot of birds are probably more pure Janssen than we realize

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Yeah, I know you are correct. Got an email from someone on the west coast of the USA asking if I knew where one could acquire some "Pure" pigeons bred down from birds from "The Late Doctor Arthur Bricoux" !? see : http://www.pipa.be/artikelsnew/gallez/bricoux.htm

If one reads the article, it is easy to speculate that the best so called "Bricoux" were already a part of history by 1952. Which in my mind begs the question, concerning this Janssen final sale. Were the best "Janssens" already part of history a decade or more ago ? I have not really studied all of the interaction and thus contributions of all the various brothers which are now passed. Would have to see the race records from the last thirty years and see if indeed this particular family, although of great historical importance, did they indeed peak many years ago while some of the brothers were still actively involved ?

There is always some value in owning a piece of history and nostalgia, but I am far from certain that owning a pair of breeders at this late of date from the last elderly remaining founders, is a recipe for instant success of any kind. I suspect that better pigeons can now be found in other lofts in Europe, which have recently won some important races. There is certainly no question that the contributions from this loft has revolutionized the design of the modern day racing pigeon. I suspect however, that the rest of the world has caught up to, and has now passed what remains of this colony. Instead of advancing the genetics of a modern loft, one may simply be owning a name of historical interest. Because unfortunately, when one buys one of these pigeons, one does not get the great stock sense that these brothers had. And perhaps all that one really gets, are birds descended down from birds which at the time, were the best around. Time waits for no one, and so I suspect the genetic technology which is now being offered, is now already obsolete. If one does acquire a number of pairs and does turn US racing events upside down, then I will stand corrected.

hillfamilyloft said:

Here is what my obsolete hen has produced me in the last six years. I am sure I forget a bunch and haven't even started the grand children. What many do not understand, is even the toppers of today, ie. Koopman, Sangers, Verkerk and so on established their lines from these birds. Louis did not work the birds, but in my opinion he still had the knack for breeding them. Best in my loft and grand-daughter of what is going up for auction. Not very far removed.
Doo Drop 140 Charlotte
Children 1st,1st,1st,3rd,3rd,9th,17th,23rd
Grand Children 18th,1st,1st,3rd,4th,28th,3rd,4th,4th,19th,12th,30th

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If you purchased that hen directly from Louis, and they are being flown and winning, then they are not obsolete, then again many of the fanciers you mention are all very much active in flying and racing their birds, Koopman, Sangers, Hill Family Loft etc. the fact that the base of their colonies were birds from the Janssen Brothers, is not really all that relevant. At this point, they are no longer Janssen, they are Koopman, Sangers, etc. etc.

I don't know when this remaining Jannssen brother last raced, or what recent birds he has produced. My point is that other fanciers over the last several decades have taken this family and moved forward with it, I suspect that quantum leaps were made many years ago, when all of the brothers were involved and actively racing, and not made in the last decade by the remaining brother Louis. With all due respect, I just can't imagine that a man in his 90's would still be at the peak of his game.

But, by all means, everyone go ahead and scoop up a few pairs. I am sure if they are as good as everyone thinks they are, then surely the investment will be earned many times over in the various auction and One Loft Events !!

I will be interested to see what local fanciers breed on the birds. See what they still think of the line. Warren I do see your point. My thoughts are even if the birds were not flown and were not watered down by lesser pigeons, they should still be of good quality. Like if you line bred your Ludos for 20 years without putting them in races and started up again. I do believe you should fly everything. But who knows, these birds may still be strong. Ganus purchased the grandparents of my birds in the early 2000s, 10 or so years ago. He raised some breeders and then sold them for a profit. My mentor purchased some babies off these guys for 2-3k. Bred the two together and gave me the little hen that became my foundation bird. Not too removed from the loft. She is a proven breeder. There are plenty of top name breeds in my club, Koopmans, German birds, etc, etc, etc,. Birds off her or her siblings have consistently beat these birds every year. I crossed her with another obsolete line, the Vic Miller line that was deadly in the 90s. These birds should not win based on the modern philosophy of "whats hot now". Good birds are good birds, and if managed right should win. In my opinion the Janssen birds are still in the top 10%. Can't take the stock sense and breeding knowledge away from Louis, even if the birds were not flown. The methods were still the same.