It started innocently enough. Another MFCC member and I began direct messaging about older surf plugs that were no longer made and how they filled a a much needed niche. Wouldn't it be cool to fish some of those old plugs my grandfather had hanging on the basement peg boards I thought. Of course I was never allowed to touch those lures.
Before I knew it, I had a small Gibbs darter that was older than me in my possession. The lure was never fished and was in its original box. The plug was gorgeous, and was really too nice to fish, so on my home office bookshelf it went.
At about this same time, a long-time friend and fellow MFCC member gave me a gift. It was a membership to the NFLCC (National Fishing Lure Collectors Club).
The quarterly magazine was filled with beautiful lures from companies such as Creek Chub, Heddon, and others. However, to my surprise it was very freshwater focused. There was not much in the magazine about surf casting history or the wooden lures that we know and love, which I found odd.
The "Slippery Slope" of Vintage Lure Collecting
The Internet is a marvelous thing for vintage lure collecting! After searching, finding, and reading articles, blog posts, and forum discussions about legendary builders such as Gibbs, Pond, Musso, and Pichney, I stumbled upon the website of the SWLCC (Salt Water Lure Collectors Club). After paying a small annual membership fee, I was soon pouring over library articles and posts about the history of surf plugs and the men who built them
Flash forward more than a year later and I have performed exhaustive internet searches, established relationships with other passionate collectors, and have often engaged in private sales and trades with old salts and collectors. My focus has largely been on wooden surfcasting lures from the 1940's-1960's in VG or EXC condition or better (see NFLCC rating system below).
When possible, I prefer plugs with the original box or packaging. If a story about the lure or lure builder catches my attention, then that will often dictate my searches and purchases.
The majority of my vintage lures decorate my home office, with many being New England or Cape Cod focused (although those NY and NJ old salts also knew how to paint "sexy" plugs). If possible, I enjoy obtaining modern replicas and versions of a plug to display alongside an original. In one case a well known builder was even able to make me a replica, but I promised not to tell anyone, so I cant share that particular plug.
The stories and designs behind these plugs have always fascinated me. Here are some examples:
Emmerson & Ruhren
Not much is known about Emmerson & Ruhren. These lures were built in NJ from 1947-1951, and they are known for their beautiful patterns. I picked up this hand painted top water from a private estate auction.
Wig-Lit
John Gamsby of Wollastan MA produced his "Wig-Lit" from 1947-1955, first under the J&H Tackle Co. name, and then finally for the last three years under his own name.
The lure was very popular, and surfcasters had great success with it at the 1948 Martha's Vineyard Derby.
Jet Squid
The ingenuity of the cotter pin design of the EB Norris Jet Squid (Hyannis MA 1949-1956) is intriguing to me. EB Norris built and sold his novel Jet Squid out of his basement on Sea Street in Hyannis MA from 1949-1956.
Note the cotter pin design used above to attach the hooks. Displayed here is the EB Norris Jet Squid, with the Glen Lewis' GooGooMan replica in his own gorgeous squid pattern.
Flat Bottom Pencil
The Gibbs Flat Bottom Pencil, which Stan sold locally to Cape Cod Canal rats* a couple miles from my current home. *People who fish the Cape Cod Canal with great regularity are often referred to as "canal rats"
Chair Leg Popper
Not much is known about J&J Tackle of New Jersey, which makes this next lure even more fascinating. This Chair Leg Popper was built sometime in the late 1950's or early 1960's before the company was sold. The plug is a great example of something I obtained by establishing a relationship with another collector.
Eely
The Masterlure Eely was built and sold from 1947-1953 in Brooklyn NY before being sold to Senecca Tackle Co. in RI. The Eely in natural finish is rare and one of my prized pieces. The Eely remains one of my favorite metal lips and I almost always carry a modern version of this plug in my surf bag.
Danny Swimmer
The Pichney/Musso's feud over the Danny swimmer, and Conrad Mailcoat's and Pichney's popularizing of it, has also fascinated me.
Conrad Mailcoat was a surfcaster, builder, sculptor, and artist from Provincetown, MA. His metal lip lure "The Conrad" was created with denser wood so it could reach the Outer Cape rips.
Pictured above from top left going counter clockwise; Danny Pichney's verson in white and classic "herring" from the late 1960's, Don Musso of SuperStrike fame, and two RuRu's (Billy Riker) from 2010.
Needlefish
Steve Campo's idea of a larger, heavier needlefish, and the birth of the Wadd Needlefish and the legendary Block Island cows he caught on it, has been mentioned several times in the media and online publications.
From front to back, an original Northrup Grumnan Wadd, behind it; Donny Musso's (Super Strike) re-creation of it (only 120 built), and in the rear a Beach Master version. This is the plug that was the basis for the current SuperStrike Super "N" we all know and love.
I have been lucky enough (or maybe just obsessed enough) to obtain many of these plugs, and I enjoy dreaming about the large striped bass which they have caught.
Loved this blog! Very in depth and informative
Well done Tim! I always enjoy seeing what trickles into your collection.
Hey Tim,
I’ve been following the posts in the vintage lures forum. It’s fun to see the creativity and craftsmanship that has been put into chasing all kinds of fish over the years.
Like others have commented I really enjoy the history that these lures represent. The stories about their creators are captivating. You did a great job sharing some of your collection and the tales that go along with it. Maybe this could be a regular feature.
This makes me think twice about fishing some custom lures I got recently. Maybe it’s better to preserve the history.
Thanks Tim!
Tim, thanks for a great article! Your posts have had me thinking about collecting for a long time and this may have put me over the Top.
Tim
Interesting article and great read! Thank you!
Great article, Tim! I’ve followed your vintage lure forum posts for quite a while and have been Impressed by your subject knowledge, and also by how many vintage lures you seem to have. Curious, how large is your collection?
Ummmm lol – shhhh don’t tell my wife lol
Honestly I’ve never counted but I suspect somewhere between 50-60 not including ones i fish (I have quite a few l69, musso’s, and Habbs that are in my rotation )
I’ve only been collecting for little over a year so no where near others honestly. The list just keeps growing and there are several white whales on it.
A Gibbs squid darter and Cuttyhunk popper are at the top of that list. I am still searching for harder to find Gibbs such as a canal pencil (he was quoted as saying he sold less than 100 of this a year directly out of his house on the canal). Early Wooden Pond (atom lures) is on the list as is RI based Murrat’s. Everytime I check off something another plug gets added as a realize a lot of these builders legacy spanned more than one brand / company.
My focus has shifted as well. I’ve been focusing much more on local historic builders.
When you say canal pencil, do you mean canal special. The canal special was only sold to certain friends, and John only made a small run of these plugs each year. I still fish one occasionally.
Correct! – they were never sold on shops
There are few I’ve seen in others collections but those guys are not giving them up lol
Thank you Tim always enjoy your vintage lure posts
As a collector and member of NFLCC I can appreciate the obsession! I have been collecting lures since I was in my teens and I do have quite a few salties mixed in with all the freshwater lures. My collection is not limited to lures but includes rods, reels, gaffs, boxes and everything in between. I appreciate all the info that you and others post!
David
Would love to have you share some of your collection in the forum.
Also interested if you have any tips o didn’t include here
Thanks for commenting
Tim
Will do!
Really cool lures!
Nice job Tim interesting informative and reads well
Thanks brother
I was so excited to read this article. I find the vintage lures so amazing. I don’t own any myself but I’ll definitely start looking into beginning my collection. Thank you for the article!
Hey Josh – congratulations! You won Tim’s vintage lure giveaway! I will have Tim reach out to you for your mailing address. Hope all is well and gluck out there this spring!
Congrats Josh – you won the plugs! I’ll reach out on email and the forum to get your address
I really enjoyed this blog. I also enjoy seeing the plug’s you post on the forum. I attended the Salt Water Lure Collectors Club show last year. It was my first time going, my girlfriend came with me and it turned out to be a great time. To my surprise she really enjoyed looking at the vintage plug’s and talking with the people that had them on display. As I get older I am becoming more interested the history of our state and fisheries. You have a great collection and I hope to see it at the next SWLCC show
Thanks Teddy
I missed the show last year but really looking forward to it this May. Hope to see you there
I was excited to read this article and appreciate the time and patience Tim has had in gaining these Jewels of the saltwater. He is has a lot of knowledge/wisdom that I pay attention to in many other areas on this site. I always want to hear what Tim has to say.. I Collect Michael Jordan sneakers so I understand the addiction and love for a certain product. Well since becoming a Hard core Salt Water Fisherman the past 3/4 years and seeing many pictures from Tim and other members , I am intrigued and like this Hobby. Now i have Had thoughts for some time of starting a small collection. I am real curious about the Danny Plugs because it’s been around for a while it seems and still fished heavily. Plus my name is Danny which cracks me up they have a plug with my name. The sad thing, I have not a one in my Gear, and I have a lot of Gear.. Thx for the articles, I am sure some of us thought about Grampa”s Fish Box in this one. We call brand new sneakers Deadstock, meaning never tried on and you always need the box in that game , plus receipts at times. I like the never used product, but in this game I believe it’s ok to buy used lures , not necessarily in the sneaker game. We also deal with fakes in the sneaker industry a lot, so authenticity means everything as does having some mastery in the hobby you seek. So when I start this I may reach out – they will go on the mounts that are shown. One thing I have also done is keep the bullet shells of the Bucks I have Harvested, not worth anything, but it helps in the story Thx. for all the efforts putting this together. Pretty Cool stuff Dude. Thx.for sharing , Tim
Thanks for the comment Dan.
Fakes can be an issue in this game too but seem to be much more common on the freshwater side. Repaints are common too.
That said, it is always prudent to ask questions, pics, etc so that you know what your purchasing (especially on sites such as eBay). Many times I’ll see a box with a plug listed and when I ask if the code on the side matches the lure – the answer is “no” (but they didn’t offer that up either in the listing lol).
In many cases the people selling the lure might not even know what it is and has listed it improperly unintentionally. Very common.
Lastly, I agree sometimes a lure doesn’t need to be in excellent or mint condition. Corrosion and hook rash tells a story and can be a cool addition to a collection. I have a rare l Cooper eel skin that is beaten on but it’s only one of three known and I look at that with starry eyes cause you just know it caught some fish lol. It is “sexy” as it is.
Good luck on the plug giveaway
Tim
Great read! I agree with your statement that we have a lot to learn from the builders of these older plugs and why they designed them in the ways they did. Also to see the progression over the years/decades on some of the styles is always interesting, gets me thinking how are plugs gonna look 15-20 years from now.
Indeed! I really enjoy seeing some builders bring back old designs too. Billy of RuRu is a great example with the Eely and Conrad.
I have a very well know builder making me some Nike’s based on the Floyd Roman Nike of the 40-50’s. I am really looking forward to swimming one
Great article Tim! I’m curious — what’s the general feeling among collectors about replacing hardware? To achieve the highest quality ratings, must it have original hooks etc?
Generally speaking – consensus is to leave as is BUT a lot of guys who have the skillset and want to have fun with it too.
I recently saw another member of the club paint and wire some original Fuller Bros bodies from the 40’s. These were sold unrigged and unpainted back then.
They came out gorgeous and I believe he plans to fish them
The NFLCC has a few people listed who they have “blessed” to restore lured, but generally speaking their value is less than an original / untouched. I do have a creek chub striper pikie restored that i can share in the forum (whoever did it did a phenomenal job)
Tim