During the 1930s and 40s,Wendell Gilley produced primarily small-scale carvings of song and game birds, which he sold to the New York City store, Abercrombie and Fitch for $3.75 each. Larger, more details and animated bird carvings followed as Gilley’s talents emerged. At the age of 52, Gilley decided to make a career out of his hobby and sold his plumbing company, Gilley Plumbing, and devoted himself full-time to his "special calling."Look: Wendell Gilley Museum in Southwest Harbor, ME