When Tom Restle first had the molds made, there was no name in the bottom.  Tom had the molds made by Seaport Molds in Toledo. He later added Tom Restle Decoy Co. Maumee, OH in 1/2 inch letters, don't know the exact date.  If you have Tom Restle Decoy Co. on the bottom of your decoys they are pre 1980.

When the Hoecherl's purchased the company in 1981, they changed the name to Restle Decoy Co. , just taking the Tom out of the molds. These were individual decoy molds and occasionally a letter or two would pop out while we were molding bodies.  In a good 8 hour day , they could mold 100 bodies. Hot, wet, sweaty work, as the beads were steam expanded, then the molds cooled in a tank (horse water trough).

It was 4-5 years later, they had a 5 cavity mold made (3 puddles, 2 divers) and they had the bodies made by  Pal Pac Foam in Ottawa (20 miles west of Findlay).They would make a phone call, a week later, pick up 1000 bodies.  Definitely took their production to the next level.

During this time, they made a slight change to the coating and applied for a patent on it.  So the Pat Pend. appreared in the mold.  Roughly 18 months later, they rec'd the patent, and rather than change the plate in the bottom, they just removed two letters. PAT E D.

Herters changed the plates to read Restle Decoy Co. Beaver Dam WI.

These  Dates are Approximates :

   Herters Purchase 1998
 1992-1997EARLY    1990-1992
   1988-89
   1981-1987 
   PRE-1980