Sunday, October 31, 2010
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
Here is Ally on Halloween Night wearing her butterfly costume.
It is very appropriate as the butterfly is a symbol of resurrection.
Ally Dictionary:
Earzy Pearzys (Ear-Z Peer-Zies): Noun: Anything that has soft, bendable ears, such as Knuckles (her current favorite pig)...NOT Daddy ears!
Three Field Find Stories by Jim Schottenham
It's not as if Jim Schottenham over at Lang's has enough on his plate, but he took time from his busy schedule to relate a few of the stories surrounding items in the upcoming Lang's auction next weekend. And let me tell you: IT'S STILL OUT THERE! Here are three amazing field find stories:
The first came from the New England area, when a consignor of Lang's went to a flea market - late in the morning, early afternoon. As we all know, getting to these sales late usually means all the "good" stuff has been found and purchased. This man walked up to a table, and there found three old reels - a marbleized Philbrook & Paine bass sized fly reel, a German silver NY ball handle reel, and a raised pillar Julius Vom Hofe trout reel - all in very good plus or better condition. When has asked the vendor what he wanted for the three, he was told $50. Yes, that is fifty dollars.
The second came from the state of Michigan, when a collector drove to a barn sale. As he walked in to the old barn, he noticed a few tackle boxes on a table, where a man was already picking through them. Not wanting to crowd the man, our collector gave him space and waited for him to move away from the boxes before giving them a look. The first box he came upon was an older tray style Kennedy box that has a rusty old scale in the bottom, with a smooth baby Flying Hellgrammite in the top layer of trays - unharmed. The guy went to find out how much the sellers wanted for the tackle box, and was very happy to hear $10 each. He asked if there were any more boxes, and was told there may be, as they were cleaning out the estate of a relative. He was also told he was the first to ask about the tackle boxes - which surprised them, since they had advertised on Craig's List that would have a few at the sale - and no-one had called or e-mailed before the barn sale. So, in the state that has perhaps more lure collectors than any other, a rare lure was found even after the sellers listed tackle for sale on Craig's List.
The last came from the east coast, when a collector drove past a yard sale held by a man he knew to be an old salt water fisherman. He pulled in, noticed a few rods and reels, and then focused on the open tackle boxes on the ground. Looking through one of the boxes, he found an old hard rubber reel that looked like a Vom Hofe, and sent a few pictures out for identification. It turns out it was an only known George Gates Salmon reel - and in fantastic original condition. When he asked what the man wanted for the reel, he was told $50.
So, as you can see, there are still great and rare items out there to be found. Fell free to use/modify as you need if you decide to use this on the blog. I've purposely kept the specific locations and names out as you would expect.
Unbelievable...thanks again to Jim for sharing these stories, and renewing my faith that every time I hit a flea market/garage sale, I might just find something of value!
-- Dr. Todd
The first came from the New England area, when a consignor of Lang's went to a flea market - late in the morning, early afternoon. As we all know, getting to these sales late usually means all the "good" stuff has been found and purchased. This man walked up to a table, and there found three old reels - a marbleized Philbrook & Paine bass sized fly reel, a German silver NY ball handle reel, and a raised pillar Julius Vom Hofe trout reel - all in very good plus or better condition. When has asked the vendor what he wanted for the three, he was told $50. Yes, that is fifty dollars.
The second came from the state of Michigan, when a collector drove to a barn sale. As he walked in to the old barn, he noticed a few tackle boxes on a table, where a man was already picking through them. Not wanting to crowd the man, our collector gave him space and waited for him to move away from the boxes before giving them a look. The first box he came upon was an older tray style Kennedy box that has a rusty old scale in the bottom, with a smooth baby Flying Hellgrammite in the top layer of trays - unharmed. The guy went to find out how much the sellers wanted for the tackle box, and was very happy to hear $10 each. He asked if there were any more boxes, and was told there may be, as they were cleaning out the estate of a relative. He was also told he was the first to ask about the tackle boxes - which surprised them, since they had advertised on Craig's List that would have a few at the sale - and no-one had called or e-mailed before the barn sale. So, in the state that has perhaps more lure collectors than any other, a rare lure was found even after the sellers listed tackle for sale on Craig's List.
The last came from the east coast, when a collector drove past a yard sale held by a man he knew to be an old salt water fisherman. He pulled in, noticed a few rods and reels, and then focused on the open tackle boxes on the ground. Looking through one of the boxes, he found an old hard rubber reel that looked like a Vom Hofe, and sent a few pictures out for identification. It turns out it was an only known George Gates Salmon reel - and in fantastic original condition. When he asked what the man wanted for the reel, he was told $50.
So, as you can see, there are still great and rare items out there to be found. Fell free to use/modify as you need if you decide to use this on the blog. I've purposely kept the specific locations and names out as you would expect.
Unbelievable...thanks again to Jim for sharing these stories, and renewing my faith that every time I hit a flea market/garage sale, I might just find something of value!
-- Dr. Todd
1000 Words
1000 Words
For the next few weeks, we get some great photos from Terry Oxley's photo book. This first one is one of my favorites. Take it away, Terry:
I took this photo of a musky after a release. I was out by myself and when the fish hung around and so I decided that would make a great photo.....makes it look bigger than it really was!
-- Dr. Todd
For the next few weeks, we get some great photos from Terry Oxley's photo book. This first one is one of my favorites. Take it away, Terry:
I took this photo of a musky after a release. I was out by myself and when the fish hung around and so I decided that would make a great photo.....makes it look bigger than it really was!
-- Dr. Todd
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Deconstructing Old Ads: The Mizzouri Bug
The Mizzouri Bug
This ad, from the September 1917 issue of National Sportsman is for the exceeding rare “Mizzouri Bug.” In checking around, I could find no one who had one of these baits in their collection or anyone who had actually seen one of these wood and rubber baits. This same company produced another rare bait around 1923 called the Mizzouri Bug Wobbler.
The Magazine cover is reproduced here and is one of my favorites as it say a lot about America's involvement in World War I
-- Bill Sonnett
Friday, October 29, 2010
*** The Ally News today is AWESOME!!! ***
Friday, October 29, 2010 6:38 PM, EDT
Lots of news today!
1. Ally's bone marrow results were NED (no evidence of disease)!!!
2. Ally has been off chemo long enough that we can stop one of her medications! She has been on this antibiotic since first being diagnosed!
3. We only have one week left weaning Ally off her appetite stimulant medicine and that will be one more med off her list!!!
4. Ally's next HAMA draw will be November 18.
5. Ally came to Mommy's school today and participated in the Halloween parade!
(Yes, it is one of the last elementary schools to do a Halloween parade and it is AWESOME!!!)
6. We have a busy weekend ahead with a birthday party and trick-or-treating.
Ally Dictionary:
“Napmak” (nap - mak): noun: Ally's word for napkin (one of her few baby words left).
The Friday Funhouse
Friday Funhouse
Video of the Week
Well, how about a little Elvis fishing song to kick off the weekend?
Things I Would Buy If Only I Could Afford Them
This is a neat backpack rattan fish basket.
This is a really rare Cortland silk fly line.
This 1933 Vom Hofe catalog is a rare bird indeed.
Although some people complain that the Horton Bristols are not as good as the earlier Meek reels, I like them, and this Blue Grass Simplex is a sweet running example.
Martin's Nottingham Style of Float Fishing is a classic book on the subject, with one of my all-time favorite covers.
You NEVER see these early come ABU Magazines up for sale.
This Leighton Bait Can from Pittsfield, Maine is an obscure and wonderful tin.
The Aussies are going CRAZY for these wooden Sea Martin spinning reels...
Love this Bogdan Salmon reel!
The Paw Paw Bait co. six pack of Wotta Frogs is simply incredible!
A Yellow Shore Heddon Crazy Crawler is a rare bird indeed...
The Leonard Mills fly reel is always a classic.
I also love this Cozzone fly reel.
A CCBC Wiggler in the box is always a welcome find.
This Jim Donaly Jersey Wow is a terrific fish catcher.
A gorgeous Arbogast Sunfish...
This Marsten Crossle Patent fly reel is a nifty reel indeed.
As always, have a good weekend, and be good to each other, and yourself.
-- Dr. Todd
Video of the Week
Well, how about a little Elvis fishing song to kick off the weekend?
Things I Would Buy If Only I Could Afford Them
This is a neat backpack rattan fish basket.
This is a really rare Cortland silk fly line.
This 1933 Vom Hofe catalog is a rare bird indeed.
Although some people complain that the Horton Bristols are not as good as the earlier Meek reels, I like them, and this Blue Grass Simplex is a sweet running example.
Martin's Nottingham Style of Float Fishing is a classic book on the subject, with one of my all-time favorite covers.
You NEVER see these early come ABU Magazines up for sale.
This Leighton Bait Can from Pittsfield, Maine is an obscure and wonderful tin.
The Aussies are going CRAZY for these wooden Sea Martin spinning reels...
Love this Bogdan Salmon reel!
The Paw Paw Bait co. six pack of Wotta Frogs is simply incredible!
A Yellow Shore Heddon Crazy Crawler is a rare bird indeed...
The Leonard Mills fly reel is always a classic.
I also love this Cozzone fly reel.
A CCBC Wiggler in the box is always a welcome find.
This Jim Donaly Jersey Wow is a terrific fish catcher.
A gorgeous Arbogast Sunfish...
This Marsten Crossle Patent fly reel is a nifty reel indeed.
As always, have a good weekend, and be good to each other, and yourself.
-- Dr. Todd
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday Review: Mark Miller's Hooked on Life
Thursday Review: Mark Miller's Hooked on Life
I can't think of a more fitting book to launch during the World Series than Mark Henry Miller's Hooked on Life: Hooked on Life: Reflections on Fishing, Baseball, and the Other Stuff of Life (Whitefish Press, 2010). This is a book very unlike any I have published before, but is something I have been meaning to do since I started the Whitefish Press five years ago.
It's a book about fishing and faith. It's also a book about baseball and faith. By now, if you've spent more than a couple minutes perusing my blog, you'll know these are three things I love.
And Mark knoweth what he speaks, having recently retired from a 44 year ministry. A graduate of Stanford (where he played baseball) and Yale, Miller writes in an engaging and direct style, as if he is standing in a room speaking to you. He is also a very accomplished angler, and the majority of these stories involve the life lessons we learn from being on the water.
At its core, what Mark teaches us is to celebrate life, to revel in the little blessings -- whether they are a rainbow in a stream, a salmon from the back of a charter boat, a crisp breaking ball, or the joy one gets from helping another in need.
Don't you think we need more of that in life?
By the way, Mark was such an accomplished pitcher he was invited to spring training by the Dodgers in the 1960s and got to be in camp with Sandy Koufax and other legends...
There are more than enough fishing stories for those whose primary goal is a good book about fish; there is an abundance of inspiration for those who seek it. For most, the combination of the two will be a delight. If you read this book and don't come out feeling better, start over--you've missed something.
The book is $14.95 and more information can be found by Clicking Here.
-- Dr. Todd
I can't think of a more fitting book to launch during the World Series than Mark Henry Miller's Hooked on Life: Hooked on Life: Reflections on Fishing, Baseball, and the Other Stuff of Life (Whitefish Press, 2010). This is a book very unlike any I have published before, but is something I have been meaning to do since I started the Whitefish Press five years ago.
It's a book about fishing and faith. It's also a book about baseball and faith. By now, if you've spent more than a couple minutes perusing my blog, you'll know these are three things I love.
And Mark knoweth what he speaks, having recently retired from a 44 year ministry. A graduate of Stanford (where he played baseball) and Yale, Miller writes in an engaging and direct style, as if he is standing in a room speaking to you. He is also a very accomplished angler, and the majority of these stories involve the life lessons we learn from being on the water.
At its core, what Mark teaches us is to celebrate life, to revel in the little blessings -- whether they are a rainbow in a stream, a salmon from the back of a charter boat, a crisp breaking ball, or the joy one gets from helping another in need.
Don't you think we need more of that in life?
By the way, Mark was such an accomplished pitcher he was invited to spring training by the Dodgers in the 1960s and got to be in camp with Sandy Koufax and other legends...
There are more than enough fishing stories for those whose primary goal is a good book about fish; there is an abundance of inspiration for those who seek it. For most, the combination of the two will be a delight. If you read this book and don't come out feeling better, start over--you've missed something.
The book is $14.95 and more information can be found by Clicking Here.
-- Dr. Todd
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 10:55 AM, EDT
Ally did a great job on the overnight at Grammy and Grampa's house. She was very clingy to Mommy and Daddy when we picked her up the next morning. She insists she will not be spending the night at Grammy and Grampa's again. We have no plans to be out overnight right now, but hopefully if the opportunity arises again Ally will change her mind.
Yesterday we had a wonderful playdate. Ally got to play outside and then we did some Halloween crafts! She had tons of fun.
Today I called about HAMA. She is positive (which we thought might happen), so we are on hold for treatment again. Good things: she can now trick - or - treat on the right night, she does not have to endure another week of treatment so soon, and being at home is nice. Bad things: treatment is good.
I am still waiting to hear back about bone marrow results.
Ally did a great job on the overnight at Grammy and Grampa's house. She was very clingy to Mommy and Daddy when we picked her up the next morning. She insists she will not be spending the night at Grammy and Grampa's again. We have no plans to be out overnight right now, but hopefully if the opportunity arises again Ally will change her mind.
Yesterday we had a wonderful playdate. Ally got to play outside and then we did some Halloween crafts! She had tons of fun.
Today I called about HAMA. She is positive (which we thought might happen), so we are on hold for treatment again. Good things: she can now trick - or - treat on the right night, she does not have to endure another week of treatment so soon, and being at home is nice. Bad things: treatment is good.
I am still waiting to hear back about bone marrow results.
Fallen Timbers
Floating over brook and meadow
fallen timbers, overcome with reed
aroma dances with current and breeze
watchers on the bank lay quiet
contrasting sunlight diffuses in light mist
pools of calm cool air penetrate my skin
I am here, I am alive, I am aware
clarity booms deafeningly .. yet silent
travelled so far from antagonism
tranquility stands pacific
How grand the expedition
I am free
I am the pilot
Baseball and Fishing: Babe Ruth, Fanatical Angler
Babe Ruth: Fanatic Angler
Perhaps the most iconic figure in the history of baseball is George Herman "Babe" Ruth, the legendary slugger for the New York Yankees. Ruth began his career as one of the great pitchers in the league, but when he turned full time to hitting, he revolutionized the game. For several years, he hit more home runs than entire teams.
Ruth had legendary tastes and appetites, but one of the things he loved to to do in his spare time was fish. He talked in his autobiography Babe Ruth's Own Book of Baseball how he was as "funny looking a kid as ever got a trouncing for cutting class to go fishing." He became nationally famous early on as a piscator, and was even famously arrested in June of 1926 for fishing without a license in Michigan, and although an arrest warrant was issued, it had no repercussions. Interestingly, the press reported that the Babe only caught "a few scrawny bluegills." I can't help but think the wardens were Tigers fans....
It wasn't until Lou Gehrig joined the Yankees that Ruth really caught fishing fever. "Lou Gehrig would rather fish than eat," Babe famously wrote in his autobiography. They became very close and fished often together.
This famous photo of Ruth and Gehrig fishing was run in the Saturday Evening Post in 1931.
Much of their time spent fishing was in Florida, where as author Harvey Frommer noted, they went "boating and fishing for king mackerel or grouper in the Gulf of Mexico, then prevail(ed) upon a hotel cook to prepare the fish for supper, the Babe was having the time of his life." Ruth became so obsessed with fishing that according to Leigh Montville, one of his biographers, he used to go to the fish markets in New York and buy live fish, then put them in the bath tub in his hotel room and invite players and media alike up for an impromptu fishing tournament.
Photo of Larry Hunter and Babe Ruth fishing in Florida.
Ruth's fishing accomplishments made national news, as did most of what he did. It's hard to explain just how popular Ruth was--hardly a week went by during the 1920s and 1930s that did not see a feature article about him. Here's an example of a 1929 Associated Press photo of Ruth and his wife with a huge mess of fish:
The photo was run in hundreds of newspapers around the country.
One of my favorite stories of Ruth and fishing was his contest with Harold G. Lentz, champion surf caster, that took place in 1921. As covered by the national media (and magazines like Popular Science), Lents tried to cast a four ounce lead weight further than the Babe could hit a home run. According to Popular Science, Lentz won the contest in front of the 30,000 people who showed up at the Polo Grounds to witness it. Below are some photos from the article:
Here's a link to a photo of Lentz with Ruth owned by the Bettman Archives.
Ruth had a legendary soft spot for children. A good example of this is a story reported by the Equine Chronicle about horse breeder Carol Harris, whose father was a friend of Ruth's when she was a child. He used to come to New Jersey to visit, and while there, the two became fishing partners. “He used to visit my Dad and he loved for me to go fishing with him," she reported. "He hated worms and I would always bait his hook and then take the fish off."
So to end Baseball month here on the Fishing for History blog, let's tip a cap to the greatest player who ever lived--Babe Ruth. And let's remember him as a fanatical angler to boot.
-- Dr. Todd
Perhaps the most iconic figure in the history of baseball is George Herman "Babe" Ruth, the legendary slugger for the New York Yankees. Ruth began his career as one of the great pitchers in the league, but when he turned full time to hitting, he revolutionized the game. For several years, he hit more home runs than entire teams.
Ruth had legendary tastes and appetites, but one of the things he loved to to do in his spare time was fish. He talked in his autobiography Babe Ruth's Own Book of Baseball how he was as "funny looking a kid as ever got a trouncing for cutting class to go fishing." He became nationally famous early on as a piscator, and was even famously arrested in June of 1926 for fishing without a license in Michigan, and although an arrest warrant was issued, it had no repercussions. Interestingly, the press reported that the Babe only caught "a few scrawny bluegills." I can't help but think the wardens were Tigers fans....
It wasn't until Lou Gehrig joined the Yankees that Ruth really caught fishing fever. "Lou Gehrig would rather fish than eat," Babe famously wrote in his autobiography. They became very close and fished often together.
This famous photo of Ruth and Gehrig fishing was run in the Saturday Evening Post in 1931.
Much of their time spent fishing was in Florida, where as author Harvey Frommer noted, they went "boating and fishing for king mackerel or grouper in the Gulf of Mexico, then prevail(ed) upon a hotel cook to prepare the fish for supper, the Babe was having the time of his life." Ruth became so obsessed with fishing that according to Leigh Montville, one of his biographers, he used to go to the fish markets in New York and buy live fish, then put them in the bath tub in his hotel room and invite players and media alike up for an impromptu fishing tournament.
Photo of Larry Hunter and Babe Ruth fishing in Florida.
Ruth's fishing accomplishments made national news, as did most of what he did. It's hard to explain just how popular Ruth was--hardly a week went by during the 1920s and 1930s that did not see a feature article about him. Here's an example of a 1929 Associated Press photo of Ruth and his wife with a huge mess of fish:
The photo was run in hundreds of newspapers around the country.
One of my favorite stories of Ruth and fishing was his contest with Harold G. Lentz, champion surf caster, that took place in 1921. As covered by the national media (and magazines like Popular Science), Lents tried to cast a four ounce lead weight further than the Babe could hit a home run. According to Popular Science, Lentz won the contest in front of the 30,000 people who showed up at the Polo Grounds to witness it. Below are some photos from the article:
Here's a link to a photo of Lentz with Ruth owned by the Bettman Archives.
Ruth had a legendary soft spot for children. A good example of this is a story reported by the Equine Chronicle about horse breeder Carol Harris, whose father was a friend of Ruth's when she was a child. He used to come to New Jersey to visit, and while there, the two became fishing partners. “He used to visit my Dad and he loved for me to go fishing with him," she reported. "He hated worms and I would always bait his hook and then take the fish off."
So to end Baseball month here on the Fishing for History blog, let's tip a cap to the greatest player who ever lived--Babe Ruth. And let's remember him as a fanatical angler to boot.
-- Dr. Todd
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
