The Encyclopedia of Old Fishing Lures: Made in North America

By Robert A. Slade

Robert A. Slade, after collecting old fishing tackle since 1958 and contributing articles on old fishing lures for a collector magazine for several years started researching and writing books in the 1990's. He published the HISTORY & COLLECTIBLE FISHING TACKLE OF WISCONSIN in 1999 which sold 4,500 copies. Bob realized that even though there have been many books published on the subject of old fishing lures that few books covered any detailed history on the old lure makers. His latest book writing project was nine years in the making and covers over 100 years of lure making history starting in 1875 and covers over 2,500 lures makers throughout all of North America. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF OLD FISHING LURES MADE IN NORTH AMERICA is the first publication with extensive history and patent information on old lure makers and the first to include extensive coverage on Canadian lure makers. The author traveled to 11 states and 3 Candian Providences visting collectors homes, newspaper archives, museums and other sources and has taken over 10,000 pictures in preparing the historical stories for these books. The set of books arranges for the individual and company lures makers to appear in alphabetical order. People purchasing these books can buy any one single book, a whole set, or even a book a month if they desire as the books will be printed and shipped on demand. Each book has over 400 pages of text, pictures and collector values with each book containing a table of contents and index as well as a master index for the complete set of books.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Aug 26, 2010
• ISBN: 9781425152499

Robert A. Slade

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF OLD FISHING LURES MADE IN NORTH AMERICA covers over 2,500 American and Candian lures makers starting in 1875 and for the next 100 plus years. There is extensive history and patent information along with numerous pictures of the of the lures made.

Book preview

The Encyclopedia of Old Fishing Lures Made in North America

Volume 5

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Order this book online at www.trafford.com or email [e-mail]

Most Trafford titles are also available at major online book retailers.

© Copyright 2010, 2011 Robert A. Slade.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4251-5248-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4251-5249-9 (e)

Trafford rev. 09/22/2011

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North America & international

toll-free: 1 888 232 4444 (USA & Canada)

phone: [phone] fax: [phone]

Contents

Dedicated in loving memory to Tony Nata III.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

INTRODUCTION

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE LURE

DEATZ, A. C.

DECATUR BAIT COMPANY

WEEDLESS BAIT COMPANY

DECKER, ANS. B., INC.

DECKER, EW

DECOU McGINTY’S

DeCOURSEY BAIT COMPANY

DECOY MANUFACTURING COMPANY

DEEP-RIG TROUT REEL COMPANY

DEER CREEK BAIT COMPANY

DeFIER BAIT COMPANY

DEGTEROFF, GABRIEL P.

DEL-LAMAR INDUSTRIES

DELANEY, THOMAS M.

DELANY, WILLIAM

DELONG LURES

DELUX BAIT COMPANY

DELUXE TACKLE COMPANY

DEMBIEC, JIM

DEMEE, CHARLES

MINNOE LURE COMPANY

DEMON LURE COMPANY

DENNINGER, AL

DENSLO, FRANK

DEP, INC.

DEPPE, E. E.

DePRIEST, AL

DEPTH GLIDER COMPANY

DERRY, W. O.

DETROIT BAIT COMPANY

DETROIT BAIT MANUFACTURING COMPANY

DETROIT GLASS MINNOW TUBE COMPANY

DETROIT TACKLE COMPANY, INC.

DETROIT WEEDLESS BAIT COMPANY

DETTY’S FISH GRIPPER COMPANY

DEUSTER, E. J., MFG. & DIST.

DEVITO’S LURES

DEW DAD FISHING LURES

SHOE FORM COMPANY, INC.

DEWITT, BILL, BAITS (2)

DIAMOND JIM TACKLE COMPANY

AL’S GOLD FISH LURES

DIAMOND MANUFACTURING COMPANY

DIAMOND RAY, L. L. RAYMOND

DIAR PLASTICS COMPANY

DICK PRODUCTS

DICK’S & BURT’S LURES

DICK’S CEDAR PLUGS

G. C. FOLMER CEDAR PLUGS

CEDAR PLUG COMPANY

DICKEN’S BAIT COMPANY

DICKEY TACKLE COMPANY

DICKINSON, JOHN T.

DICKS, J. C.

DILLY, B. F., & SON

DINEEN, JOHN

DINTRUFF, R. F.

DITSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY

DIVE-O LURE COMPANY

SCHUMACHER COMPANY MANUFACTURING

DIXIE POPPER SUPPLY

DO-ALL BAIT COMPANY

DOC’S CATFISH WORMS

DOC’S POOL ROOM

DOERING,F. S., & COMPANY

PEARL BAIT COMPANY

MONARCH AUTOMATIC FISH HOOK

DOLEJS, JOSEPH

DOLLAR BAY BAIT COMPANY

DOLPHIN MANUFACTURING

DOMINION FISHING TACKLE COMPANY

OWENS ENTERPRISES

DOMORE, E., INC.

DON-ASH COMPANY

DONALY, JIM, BAIT COMPANY

DONNELLY, CHRIS

DONNIE WOBBLER

D. B. DOTY, INC.

DOUBLE H LURES

MEYRE DECOYS & LURES

DOUBLE V

DOUCETT BAIT COMPANY

DOW, H. W.

DOWELL, BUCK

DOZIER BAIT COMPANY

DRAG-IT SINKERS AND LURES

DRAKE, F. R.

DRAKE, H. W.

DRAKE, HARRY F.

DRAKE, THOMAS W.

DRIFTER TACKLE COMPANY

ST. CROIX RUBBER PRODUCTS

DRUMMOND ISLAND TRADING CORP.

DRY-A-LINE COMPANY

DUBLE THE KATCH TACKLE COMPANY

DUBROW, F. W.

DUGDALE’S MANUFACTURING COMPANY

DOO-DIT COMPANY

DUKES & COMPANY

DULUTH FISH DECOY COMPANY

DUMB IDEA FISHING LURES & OTHER FISHING DEVICES

BAIT-LIFE

BIRCHCRAFT, INC.

BOWMAN AUTOMATIC FISH ALARM

CASTING SAIL COMPANY

HOVER LURE

H S M PRODUCTS

HY PARK SPECIALTY

THE INCREDIBLE GROWING TONGUE

LAKATOR COMPANY

LEISTER GAME COMPANY, INC.

LOU MEYER COMPANY

FLO-LINE UNIVERSAL REEL

POWERPAK LURES, INC.

RAPID-ROLL, INC.

THE SPOT’ OCATER

TOWNSEND ENGINEERING COMPANY

PICTURE SETS

DURA PAK CORPORATION

DURA-FLOTE (BY NET MACHINE, INC.)

DURALURE COMPANY

DURYEA, JUDD

DUTCHY LURE COMPANY

DYNA TACKLE COMPANY

DYNOMITE LURE

  E  

E & E LURE COMPANY

E & O MANUFACTURING COMPANY

E & O METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY

EAST COAST SALTWATER SURF AND STRIPER FISHING LURES

BASS BOMB BAIT COMPANY

BEACHCOMBER LURE COMPANY

BRAIDWOOD STAMP COMPANY

BRIDGEPORT SILVERWARE

MANUFACTURING COMPANY

BUNKER LURES

CAP’N ANDY LURES

CAP’N BILLS

COMMANCHE TACKLE COMPANY

DANKANICS LURES

DIAMOND FEATHER LURES COMPANY

E & E TACKLE COMPANY

EMMERSON & RUHREN COMPANY

FERRON FISHING PRODUCTS

FULLER BROS.

CAPT’N GOUCH

HAB’S CUSTOM PLUGS

BOB HAHN

ELMER HANSCOM COMPANY

HARDY BROS

HICKY-DO BAIT COMPANY

J & J TACKLE COMPANY

J & J TACKLE COMPANY

J. & H. TACKLE COMPANY

GAMSBY’S ACTION LURES

K & M TACKLE COMPANY

WALTER KRYSTOCK

LINESLIDER COMPANY

BILL McFADDEN

ANTHONY MOTTS MARTELLI

MASON BAIT COMPANY

MASTERLURES

NORRIS HOBBY SHOP

RELIABLE LURE COMPANY

FLOYD ROMAN, REEAL LURES, INC.

CHARLIE RUSSO

SEA WOLF TACKLE

SNOOK BAIT COMPANY

TAMEO COMPANY

TONY’S TEASERS

TRIFIN

TWIRLER LURE COMPANY

EAST COAST METAL EEL LURE

V. S. WATER

WHALING CITY TACKLE COMPANY

WOOLNER BROTHERS

PICTURE SETS

EATON, T., COMPANY, LTD.

EATON, ROBERT

EAU CLAIRE FLY COMPANY

E. A. EBERT LURES

ECCO LURES

ECKARDT, MAX B.

ECKFIELD BOAT COMPANY

BAIT DIVISION

ECKSI-LURE MANUFACTURING COMPANY

ECONOMY SPECIALTIES COMPANY

EDDIE BAIT COMPANY

EDELMANN, J. P.

EDGREN MANUFACTURING COMPANY (Not Inc.)

EDON BAIT COMPANY

O. L. STRAUSBORGER

EDSON FISH LURE COMPANY

EDWOOD COMPANY

EGER BAIT MANUFACTURING COMPANY

ELCO TACKLE COMPANY

ELECTRALURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

ELECTRIC LUMINOUS SUBMARINE BAIT COMPANY

ELECTROLURE COMPANY

ELECTRONIC UNITS, INC.

ELKAY BAIT COMPANY

E. M. ELLINGSON

ELLIS PLASTIC PRODUCTS

ELM SPORTING GOODS

ELROD, GEORGE E.

ELWAY LURES

EMERY, JOHN V., JR.

EMERY, H. G.

EMMONS INDUSTRIES

EMPIRE TACKLE COMPANY

ENGINEERING DESIGN ASSOCIATION

ENGLISH, DOUG, LURES

ENTERPRISE MANUFACTURING COMPANY

ENTICER BAIT COMPANY

EPPICH, F. E.

EPPINGER, LOU J.

ERICKSON LABORATORIES

ERICKSON, INGEMAR

ERIE DEARIE

ERTEL, BILL

ESLINGER, JOHN HEDDON STINGAREE

ESTEP’S, MIKE, BALSA WOOD LURES

ETCHEN TACKLE COMPANY

ETTERSHANK-ROBERTSON BAIT COMPANY

EUROPA TRADING COMPANY

EVANS & EVANS

EVANS, S. W., & SON

EVANS MANUFACTURING COMPANY

EVANS, GLEN L., INC.

EVANSTON TACKLE COMPANY

EVERGLADES MANUFACTURING COMPANY

EVERHART SPORTING GOODS

EWERT, W. S.

EXCEL LURE COMPANY

Dedicated in loving memory to Tony Nata III.

A percentage of the proceeds of the sale of this encyclopedia will be donated to

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Providing Kids with Leukemia a Room to Grow and a Chance to Survive

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Tony’s Room Foundation is focused on building clean room environments in the homes of children battling Leukemia. Tony’s Room Foundation was formed to build hope for families of children with Leukemia as a way to honor the memory of a courageous little boy from Slidell, Louisiana who really loved to fish—Anthony J. Tony Nata III.

To make a 100% tax-deductible donation and for more information, please visit www.tonysroom.org.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Writing a series of books on this scale took me over a nine-year path of research and photography. However, even with that, it would not have been possible for me to have completed this project without the assistance of hundreds of contributing people. Consequently, these books are the result of the collective efforts and contributions of the following people and many others too numerous to mention.

First of all, I would like to extend special thanks to Dan Basore of Warrenville, Illinois. I spent nearly a month at Dan’s home as an invited guest on two separate visits to do research and photography. We spent countless hours pouring over the Richard Walton files alone. (Richard Walton is without a doubt this country’s first intensive lure collector. He started shortly after the turn of the twentieth century and collected and kept meticulous records of his finds for another 50 years.)

Other major contributors included the following: Alan Bakke (MN), Adrien Delbasty (LA), Dennis Giese (WI), Billy Gregory (WI), Steve O’Hern (MN), Doug Lenicheck (WI), Gary Ludwig (IN), Dean A. Murphy (MO), Robert Robbie Pavey (GA), Virgil Potvin (WI), Joe Stagnitti (NY), Larry & Pat Sundal (IA), and Matt Wickham (KY).

There were many collectors and non-collectors who contributed serious time and effort into these books: Philip Allen (MN), Laurie Bingham (NY), Eric Borgerding (WI) David Budd (IN), Robert Bulkley (IN), Doug Carpenter (OH), Arlan Carter (WI), John Conlin (MN), Craig Farver (CO), the late Art Hansen (WI), Peter Heid (NY), Tom Jacomet (AZ), Jack Leslie (IN), Randy Nelson (IN), the late Richard Nissley (MI), the late George Richie (MI), Dale Roberts (MI), William Robinson (IN), Ray Rodgers (AK), Richard Rounds (Canada), Tom Schofield (WI), Travis Slater (NY), Chris Slusar (WI), Arne Soland (OR), Colby Sorrells (TX), David Spengler (WI), Mike Thompson (OK), John Workman (Canada), and the late Clarence Zahn (MI).

Other contributors to these books included the following: Bill Bailey (TX), Hollis Bosley (IL), Tom Clayton (NJ), Randall Cobb (CO), John Collen (WI), Curt Conner (IA), Gary Cripps (WI), Wayne Dionne (TX), William Earl (MI), Mike Echols (FL), Lindy Egan (OH), Mike Estep (TN), Jim Frazier (FL), Ron Fritz (FL), Dave Gusted (CA), Walter Geib (WI), Mike Hampton (CA), Ron Hanley (GA), Eddie Hobbs (IL), Dave Hoover (OH), Tom Jacomet (AZ), the late Art Kimball (WI), John Kolbeck (MN), Robert & Sue Kutchera (WI), John Laimon (WI), Bob Lehmkuhl (WI), Joe McCarthy (WI), Dennis McNulty (VA), John Muma (MS), Joe Muzynoski (WI), Mike Potthier (WI), Bill Stuart (FL), and Joe Yates (FL).

Edited by: Jessica & William Lehmann (WI) Layout by: Robert Lehmann (WI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meeting Bob Slade for the first time was a shocking experience to me. It was December, 1988 that another collector introduced me to Bob, who at the time was completing research for his book, The History & Collectible Fishing Tackle of Wisconsin. Here was this big guy talking non-stop with unbelievable passion about Wisconsin fishing lures. Most impressive was his knowledge of the history of each lure and its inventor or manufacturer. To me, this is what sets Bob apart from many other lure collectors in this compulsive and rewarding hobby of ours. It helps that Bob is blessed with a wonderful memory that supplements his passion for collecting fishing tackle and the history of fishing lures. Bob trained himself in the art of photography to enhance his stories of lure history and lure identification.

Bob was born in 1938 in Charlotte, Michigan and grew up on the family farm. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and ran a trap line while in high school. Bob spent four years in the United States Air Force and graduated from Michigan State University. Bob worked in the insurance industry for over thirty years in both management and sales. Since his retirement, Bob has concentrated on fishing-lure collecting.

I have fished with Bob in the Northwest Territories at a lake at which he has fished for many years. The fishing hole is 140 miles north of Yellowknife and has yielded many monster pike and lake trout to Bob including a 35-pound pike that he boated. At home in Wisconsin, Bob is a fanatical bass fisherman.

All this fishing fits nicely into his passion for lure collecting. Before I met Bob, his lure collection had numbered over 12,000 lures-one of the largest collections in the United States-which he sold for health reasons. However, Bob could not be stopped for long and soon started collecting again. When he finished his book on Wisconsin lures, Bob sold his second collection of many thousands of lures.

Today, Bob is still very busy buying and selling lures for research of the history. This task could go on and on forever and never be finished. Bob is quickly recognized at lure shows carrying his camera, interviewing collectors, and taking photos of both new finds and different variations of known lures. (Many collectors have never known the history of some lures prior to Bob writing up their story.) He greatly enjoys the hunt part of collecting, and I think he is on a mission to provide all of us with a guide to tackle identification and to tell the stories of fishing lure history.

Bob is blessed with a wonderful wife, who graciously puts up with all of this lure stuff and also does the hard work of packaging and shipping his lures.

Thank you, Bob, for this encyclopedia of fishing lures.

DOUG LENICHECK

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INTRODUCTION

When I started doing research and writing on this current book project in the fall of 1999, I had no idea that it would take nine years to complete. I have traveled to eleven states and three Canadian providences doing research and have taken well over 10,000 pictures.

I have been invited into dozens of homes to do photography and have spent many days in museums and libraries researching old archives. During these nine years, my normal fishing time has been cut in half, and our home has become a warehouse of boxes of papers and pictures.

I originally began the project with the intention of covering only a few Great Lakes States, and, in fact, the original title of the books was going to be, Lures of The Great Lakes States. However, the undertaking kept growing and growing until finally it was covering all of the United States and parts of Canada. I’m not professing that these books cover every lure maker that existed in this country and Canada, but it covers only those that I became aware of in my 49 years of collecting or recent research. I have realized that it would take more than one lifetime to cover the entire subject of fishing-tackle makers.

Therefore, the first thing I decided was to not include the big six lure makers-Creek Chub, Heddon, Moonlight/Paw Paw, Pflueger, Shakespeare, and South Bend-to save space in my books and because there are countless books available that cover these important lure makers. I also decided to not cover bobbers, fly rod lures, ice fishing decoys, rods, reels, and other miscellaneous fishing tackle. However, for reasons you will understand, there are exceptions to these statements found throughout the books.

A task of this magnitude meant that I had to accept help from many other people and didn’t always do the photography. Consequently, there are some pictures in these books that are not of the quality I would like, as everyone does not own top-of-the-line camera equipment--so it is what it is. There are examples where only patent drawings could be shown, as the lures were too rare to come by.

The next issue was publication. I interviewed with over 35 different publishers. Some wanted to retain copy rights and pay only a token royalty that would not come close to covering my research cost. Some wanted close to $400,000 before they would print the first book, and others wanted to sell the set for over $1,000. I settled on Trafford Publishing because they print on demand, I do not have a book storage problem, and the books are reasonably priced. However, to accomplish this, I had to go with a soft cover and black-and-white pictures but with either a CD of color pictures in each book or a website with color pictures.

I am very fortunate to have my wife, Tess, who has put up with all this madness for these ten years.

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE LURE

EAST COAST BOSTON WHALER

Due to the vast numbers of lures that I have had in my collection over the years I have frequently been asked what my favorite lure was. There is no question in my mind that it was the pictured 4-1/2 IVORY MINNOW. Extensive research has revealed that this late 1800’s solid ivory minnow was hand carved by a east coast Boston Whaler of an unknown name. The lure has a 1 long oval shaped solid silver in-lay just behind the eyes. The indented eyes have a deep set silver in-lay as well. Even the hand forged hook is silver plated. The intricate checker-scale pattern was all painstakingly done by hand. The long line tie is real leather that goes through the lure to the tail hook. I no longer own this lure, but the present owner, John Conlin of Maple Plain, Minnesota has graciously provided me with the attached pictures of this beautiful piece of art. John says the lure is the centerpiece of his collection and in his opinion... it is priceless.

Estimated trade value is $5,000

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DEATZ, A. C.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

In the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, Adam C. Deatz, of Kansas City, Missouri, developed and sold a DEATZ WEED GUARD system that consisted of a metal, cone-shaped head with a wire-through line tie and a connector clip at the other end to attach a live bait hook, spinner, or whatever the fisherman so desired. That connector was surrounded with four long wire arms that were embedded in the cone nose piece that would protect from weeds whatever the fisherman attached to the central clip.

Deatz also produced a 4-1/2"-overall long DEATZ PORKER BAIT that consisted of a 1-1/2-long connector with an in-line one-blade Foss type unbalanced prop and a triangle end clip holding the lure body. The lure body was a metal, cone-shaped piece cut in half that was hollow on the inside. It had two tiny screws through the nose of the metal piece and into a lead core that was molded onto a 3-long single hook. The pictured example had a dark-blue painted body with yellow-painted eye rings around the two screws that also served as the lure’s eyes. The lure was designed to be fished with pork frogs or pork strips.

I have never seen the Deatz Weed Guard (Patent picture shown here) and don’t know its trade value, but the Deatz Porker bait trades in the $20 to $25 range.

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DECATUR BAIT COMPANY

DECATUR, ILLINOIS

As far as could be determined, the Decatur Bait Company, of 1076 W. Main Street, Decatur, Illinois, only made one lure: the JIT-O-WIG. This was one of a very few lures that were first introduced during World War II-in this case, 1943. The 2-1/2 wooden lures were somewhat shaped like the Moonlight Trout-Eat-Us with a short, down-slanted face and a longer, down-slanted tail. The lure had a double hook held by a screw at the hook eye and by a staple near the tail in a cradle fashion on the belly. The lures were finished in colors of red head with white and in solid colors of green, red, yellow, orange, or black with contrasting color spots in the same five colors. A 1944 ad read, It rocks, it jitters, it wiggles-an action so tantalizing it stirs the fighting instinct in all game fish...Cast Like A Bullet."

The Jit-O-Wig trades in the $20 to $25 range.

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WEEDLESS BAIT COMPANY

BLUFFTON, INDIANA

Not much is known about the post-war, 1946 Decatur Weedless Bait Company of Bluffton, Indiana, except that it had Decatur Company name on the side of the box cover and Bluffton, Indiana, on the top of the cover. This name conflicted with an Illinois company using the same name, so, in short order, the company’s name was changed to the Weedless Bait Company of Bluffton, Indiana.

The company by either name made the same 4" wooden torpedo-shaped lure with a cut nose slot holding a half-circle metal nose lip. The no-eyed TOP WATER WABBLER was sold in a two-piece tan cardboard box with dark-green, almost black, print that simply gave the name of the lure, company, and address. The very rare lure is pictured here in white head with black with original box (Courtesy of the Jack Leslie collection).

The Top Water Wabbler trades in the $100 range and better.

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DECKER, ANS. B., INC.

LAKE HOPATCONG, NEW JERSEY

Anson B. Decker was in business for a longer time than most companies of his era. The first wooden top-water and underwater Deckers were fashioned in 1882. He started commercially making lures around 1905 and was still making lures until he passed away in 1940.

Each of his jointed Globe type wooden lures was rigged with two side treble hooks and another at the tail, but some lures were rigged Jersey style with single hooks in order to comply with early New Jersey fishing laws. Cataloged sizes were 2-3/4, 3-1/2, and 3-3/4 long, but there were others. (The collector has it easy when he finds a Decker with marked props, but others can be more difficult because no less than a dozen and a half companies made Decker look-a-likes.")

Each of the square, two-piece yellow or white with black label Decker lure boxes had a lure picture on the cover and usually read, "The Genuine Ans. B. Decker Surface Water Casting BASS BAIT." The Decker signature was also at the bottom of the box’s cover.

One of Decker’s rarest lure productions was his little 2-1/2 (3-3/4 overall) DECKER TROLLER that consisted of a cigarette-shaped wooden body with a slide-on metal, double-winged prop with the tips bent in opposite directions. The lure was finished with a red feather-dressed treble hook. Two of these lures, one all red and one all white, are pictured here, courtesy of the Tim Clancy collection via John Muma.

Boxed Decker lures trade in the $75 to over $200 range and to $300 in box with papers. The very rare Decker Trollers trade at over $1,000.

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DECKER, ANS. B., INC. (2)

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DECKER, ANS. B.,