Thunderbird Atlatl is the world’s foremost atlatl (spear-thrower) 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!). Business phone: 607-659-3854 or 1-800-836-4520.
Bob and Cheryll Berg operate Thunderbird Atlatl out of two buildings in Candor. Most of our manufacturing takes place in our woodshop on the back of the property. Our shipping area is in the back of our main building. Plans are to set up a showroom and museum in the front of the building. We all work at the family business in one way or another. We also have a few dedicated employees who handle the majority of our manufacturing and shipping. Bob still spends a few hours a week in the workshop but mostly focuses on special projects and workshops. He is always coming up with new innovations while finishing custom orders. Cheryll takes orders, makes sure they get out and helps with finishing touches. Everyone helps with manufacturing, building inventory and getting our orders out.
Please feel free to call us with any questions about our products. We guarantee our products 100 percent and pride ourselves on our customer service. Unused products that are returned within 30 days of delivery will be refunded. Please contact us before returning any items.
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 and Cheryll Berg, founders and owners of Thunderbird Atlatl
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 spear fishing, atlatl hunting, oil painting, and inventing mechanical devices 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 Valley Flint Knappers Association, The Secret Ear of Corn Ooga Booga Society and the World Atlatl Association. They belong locally to the Candor Chamber of Commerce and the First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego.
Family & Friends
We also would like to mention some of the people who help us. John Jefferson (“JJ”) is a local craftsman/artist who has turned atlatl making into an art. Primitive Technologist Barry Keegan can be found at our shop some weeks when he has a reprieve from teaching and wigwam building. Our staff is rounded out with Aaron Kaplan-Hall and Sandra Morris. Aaron is our manufacturing kingpin. He has also become very adept at running the sawmill and making darts from logs. Sandra makes sure our darts are fletched and prepared and also works on getting packages out the door. Meanwhile, we couldn’t have done any of this without the support of our family. Our three adult children have been instrumental in the success of Thunderbird Atlatl.
Peter graduated from Ithaca College’s Park School of Communication. He is our webmaster and videographer. Peter lived in Los Angeles for a number of years. He is now back on the East Coast when he is not trekking around the globe or working as a field producer on a television show. He has done a lot of work for National Geographic Wild and worked several years on the popu
lar veterinarian show, “The Incredible Dr. Pol” Peter has worked on Secrets of the Zoo Tampa and has spent the last several years working on the Discovery Channel productions, “Moonshiners” and “Master Distillers”. He is also working on several independent documentary ideas and maintains his business, Reality Rush, with a business partner in LA. Pete Berg’s website is: PeteBerg.net
Peter Berg in Mongolia.
Sara completed her master’s degree in architecture at Syracuse University in December 2012. She is currently employed as a full-time architect by Ashley Mcgraw Architects in Syracuse, NY. Sara helps Thunderbird Atlatl in a variety of ways, including helping with renovating our shop. She also helps with marketing and ideas. Sara recently developed an earring and accessory line that we are happy to promote. In her sparetime, Sara is very involved with Salt City Roller Derby in Syracuse, NY.
Clara is also living in Syracuse, NY. Clara continues to help with production at Thunderbird Atlatl as time allows. She works at Encore Salon in Syracuse along with substitute teaching. Clara also works with Sara on the earring and accessory line. Clara and a friend recently started a business, Fairytale Braiding. She hopes to expand her hotel/hospitality/business skills into event planning.
Clara and Sara Berg
