Research Report: 19 October 2010

We haven't had time to run a Research Report for some time, but I hope to be able to get some in before the new year. Here's one today from Terry McBurney, who would like information on the great Hurd Super Caster. Here's his request:

Hurd Super Caster and Caster Rod and Reel Combinations
I am researching the Hurd Lock and Manufacturing Company from Detroit, Michigan and their Super Caster and Caster rod and reel combinations for an article that I am preparing to write. I would like to communicate with Hurd collectors to discuss the company, the Hurd family and the well-made rod and reel combinations that they produced.

I can be reached at antiquefishing@comcast.net or by calling - 616-676-1148 (home) and 616-822-4233 (cell). Thanks.

Terry McBurney


Terry sends along this ad from the June 1948 Outdoor Life
Help Terry out! I know there are a lot of Hurd fans out there.

-- Dr. Todd

Research Report: 12 August 2010

The last Research Report about the Origins of the Swimmin' Minnowreceived many answers. Here is the most comprehensive:

Dr. Todd,
The Swimmin Minnow came along well after several other companys made a similar lure.  The history of the Nichols/PICO Perch has been documented numerous times including in the September 1992 issue of TIDE magazine.  During an interview with Fred Nichols son, Harold, he stated he and a friend had taken a early perch, the model with the plastic fins, and cut off the tail.  The shortened body created a tight wiggle when retrieved.  This lure would later become the PICO Perch which was responsible for catching many fish in the 1950s( and still works today).  Other company's products like the Swimmin Minnow and Whopper Stoppers Bayou Boogie were attempts to copy the success of the PICO Perch.  The earliest Bayou Boogie looked nothing like the PICO Perch but was shaped somewhat like a River Runt as Dr. Todd stated.  When the PICO Perch success took off they changed the lure to a copy of the PICO Perch and used the Bayou Boogie name. 
 
There was also an early Texas company, Sportsman's, that made a Talking Perch.  This lure was just slightly fatter the the PICO Perch but had the same basic body type.  Sportsmans history is very hard to come by.  Sportsmans may have actually been an earlier product but the truth remains hidden.
 
 There are several collectors that collect Louisiana lures listed in the NFLCC Directory.
 
Colby Sorrells

Thanks also to Gordon Shaw, Ramon-Singer, Gerald Garrett and others for emailing! Let's keep the ball rolling this week!

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This week, we have a Bagley question from Dan Basore. If you have an answer, send it to me or directly to Dan at OLLURES@aol.com. Here is his question:

Hi Todd....
 
In a moment of inspiration my thoughts went to your offer of your site as a focal point for research.
 
I'm researching the following Bagley questions for effective fishing results with Bagley lures;
 
1. Which Bagley Lures are your favorites for fishing ranked first to last?
 
2. What finishes are best ranked first to last.
 
3. How do you fish them?
 
4. Are there any features of the older or newer lures that are important?
 
5. Why do you like these lures?
 
6. Any other comments will be appreciated.
 
Lures truly,
 
Dan Basore

-- Dr. Todd
 

Research Report: 25 July 2010

This week in The Research Report we get a question from Claude, who asks about the origins of the "Swimmin' Minnow" type of lure popularized by Texas bait makers.

Here is Claude's question:
 
Swimmin Minnow type lures,  Who made the first one? Tackle Industries? A. D. MFG? PICO?  Also did Tackle Industries make copies of their swimmin minnow for other companies,  (Buck Eye Madd Minnow, Ol Bens Hobo and Millionare, Loco (made in Shreveport LA no one has heard of this one) and if so which ones?
 
Any idea where is a good place to start to research Lures made in Shreveport LA?  I don't live there so would be all phone or online research.
 
Also a tidbit of info,  The first Bayou Boogie was made in Monroe LA and looked more like a river runt than a swimmin Minnow.  At least all the research I can come up with says that.  I got one in the box. 
 
Thanks for any info that is provided.

If anyone has any answers to this query, drop me a note and I'll post it on the blog!

-- Dr. Todd

The Research Report: 07 July 2010

My apologies this was a couple days late, but with Nationals here and starting up a Summer Class I have been crushed...

The response to Jim Garrett and Skip Brook's Research Query was gratifying! Click Here to read their original query about Montague 4-screw reels. Thanks to several readers, we've been able to add several new names to their list: VIM (the Chicago sporting goods company) and Van Uxem (another Chicago trade house). Hurray!

This week's Research Query comes from Colby Sorrels. Colby writes:

Dr. Todd,
I am working on a series of articles for the NFLCC Gazette called Milestones.  The articles cover fishing tackle items that made a big change in the way we fish or fishing history.
 
One of the subjects is the Johnson Silver Minnow.  Not much is known about Louis Johnson. 
 
I have 2 questions I would love to have the answers to.
 
1.  What does the date 8-22-1928 represent on some Johnson Silver Minnows?  Now before everyone says the patent date, the true patent date is 8-28-1923 as documented by patent 1,466,231.  This is the patent date shown on many Johnson Silver Minnows.  Johnson was issued a second patent # 1,785,310 on Dec 16, 1930 for another spoon.  The 8-22-1928 date was a Wednesday and at that time all patents were issued on Tuesdays!  Does anyone know what significance the 8-22-1928 date has for Johnson Silver Minnows?
 
2.  Did Louis Johnson have any children?  A John Harvey Johnson of Corpus Christi was issued patent 2,124,822 on July 26, 1938.  This patent was assigned to John Nelson of the Louis Johnson Company.  Was John Harvey Johnson related to Louis Johnson?
 
Thanks for considering my Johnson Silver Minnow patent date question for your Research Report feature.
 
-- Colby Sorrells

Thanks, Colby! Anyone with any information on this, drop me a note at whitefishpress AT yahoo DOT com!

-- Dr. Todd

The Research Report: 27 June 2010

This week's Research Report comes courtesy of Jim Garrett and Skip Brooks, noted tackle researchers. They are conducting research on the Montague Rod & Reel Company, and would like some help on the following research query:

We are doing research on reels made by the Montague Rod and Reel Co.  They made two versions of a high end four screw casting reel.  It is the classiest casting reel they ever made, and they made a bunch.  The second version, with flat skirted controls and a recessed jewel on the endcaps began appearing in the late teens and was sold for at least a decade.   It is the only Montague reel to ever use these endcaps to my knowledge.  It is pictured below and can be found advertised in a number of retail catalogs  with different names such as E. K. Tryon"s "Jay Harvey" model.



My question is this:  How many different names appeared on this reel during its career?  I have nine in my collection, and know of three additional.  The names are, Abbey & Imbrie Delux, Abbey & Imbrie Dolphin, Abercrombie & Fitch, Fox Lake, Habich, Jay Harvey, Jupiter, Marshal Field, President, Vee Bee, VL&A Expert No.3, and VL&A Ne-Pee-Nauk.  Does anyone out there have any others?

Anyone with any additional information on these reels are requested to email us at whitefishpress@yahoo.com -- we'll post any information next week!

Thanks to everyone who submitted a research question. Please keep them coming! You can send any research queries to the above email address.

-- Dr. Todd

A New Weekly Feature: The Research Report!

A New Weekly Feature: The Research Report!

A new feature is being added to the Fishing For History Blog.  The feature, to run every Sunday, is dedicated to those readers and collectors who research antique tackle of all varieties and could use the help and comments of all those readers whose collections and life experiences might provide a missing bit of needed data. 
 
Each week a question on some aspect of tackle related research will be entered on the Blog in hopes that someone out there can provide the answer.  If a helpful reply is received it will be entered the following week so all can follow the resulting dialog.
 
So all you researchers out there who are stumped by some obscure aspect of the hobby, send in your questions and a picture or two of the subject rod, reel, lure, bobber, or other tackle related item.  Send in your queries about a long expired tackle manufacturer or tackle retailer and we will see what answers await!

Additionally, aspiring researchers and authors can send in a short blurb about their project, which will publish in The Research Report every Sunday. The rationale for this is that it is always good to let people know what you are doing research on, so that if they run across something of use they can contact you. Please include a brief description of your research project, the nature of your research, any lingering questions you would like help with, and contact information.

Email whitefishpress@yahoo.com and make sure to put "RESEARCH REPORT" in the email header.

-- Dr. Todd