Thunderbird Atlatl

Thunderbird Atlatl is the world’s foremost atlatl manufacturer, owned and operated by Bob and Cheryll Berg. Founded in 1990, Thunderbird developed from a hobby into a full-time business, and is now known worldwide as the premiere manufacturer of atlatls, darts and accessories.

The Thunderbird Atlatl shop is located in Candor, New York. Candor is a small village located just south of the Finger Lakes Region about equidistant from Ithaca to the north, Elmira to the southwest and Binghamton to the southeast. You are welcome to drop by during business hours and check out our atlatls and darts (but call us first!).

Bob and Cheryll Berg operate Thunderbird Atlatl out of the street level portion of the building and live upstairs with their children Peter, Sara and Clara — that is when they are not off in distant places studying, working or traveling. We all work at the family business in one way or another. Bob is usually manning the workshop on week days. He is always coming up with new innovations while finishing custom order. Cheryll takes order, makes sure they get out and helps with finishing touches. She keeps track of everything and makes sure Bob is making things that were ordered but are not in stock! You can usually find Cheryll at the post office just before closing time passing long boxes over the counter. She is a regular fixture at the post office that time of the day.

 

About Bob and Cheryll Berg

Bob Berg, born in Hilo Hawaii, grew up on a farm in Apalachin, New York after his family moved there from the Islands in 1959. Bob’s family raised beef cattle on the half square mile farm. They also produced hay and timber. Bob graduated from Alfred University in 1974. He majored in German.

Bob has been interested in all things primitive for the greater part of his adult life. He is skilled in many of the primitive arts and enjoys passing his knowledge on. Bob enjoys a few hobbies both in and outside the atlatl business, among them atlatl fishing, atlatl hunting, oil painting, and inventing mechanical devises designed to save the world.

Cheryll Berg grew up in the Catskill mountains in Hancock, NY. She graduated from Utica College of Syracuse University and majored in journalism/political science. After working for a couple of daily newspapers, she founded a weekly newspaper in 1984 with a partner. She retired from the newspaper in 2004 and now is busier than ever working with Bob.

Bob and Cheryll are members of the World Atlatl Association, Ohio Atlatl Association, New York Atlatl Association, Society for Creative Anachronism, Genesee Flint Knappers Association, The Secret Ear of Corn Ooga Booga Society and the International Atlatl Society. They belong locally to the Candor Chamber of Commerce and the First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego.

 

Our Children and Employees

Peter graduated in 2007 from Ithaca College’s Park School of Communication. He is our webmaster and videographer. He currently works for Actual Reality Pictures in Hollywood, CA as a segment producer. Peter’s website is: PeteBerg.net

Sara is studying architecture and is applying to graduate schools. Sara helps out in her spare time by fletching darts and putting the finishing touches on atlatls. We hope to have her help design the new shop soon.

Clara is a senior in high school and is great at answering the phone. She will be attending college in the fall of 2009 majoring in hotel management.

We also would like to mention our craftsmen John (”JJ”) and Brandon as well as our fletcher Melanie. Without them our orders would never go out in time.