Isn't it crazy? They serioulsy haven't come that far in improving type. We still have many of these same issues. I am unsure why the SPR fell out of favor; the pattern varieties are definitely more difficult to work with. Not unlike my Marans; not only do we have type of the bird to breed for, but we also have that gorgeous dark egg to keep in mind. With the SPR, not only do we have the type that needs ironed out, we also have that pattern. It's a tough one. My goal is to move my flock forward, so that when I'm ready to move on, someone else can take them over & have an easier time working them up.Seeing the old photos are really cool. Love the front end of this bird, but that tail...yikes, high and obviously pinched. I would bet a lot that when you handled that bird she was very narrow and closed up in back end and wasn't a very good producer. Quite a lot of fluff for a Rock too. Just goes to show that even back in the old days they had issues too! LOL Sometimes I think a lot of us get lost in "The Golden Age of Poultry" and forget that they had major issues to fight just as we do today.