Pflueger 1905 Art Print Give-Away (Part II)

Last week, we featured a neat post on Pflueger 1905 Art Print Give-Away. At the end, I mentioned I would LOVE to see what this image looked like in color.



Now, thanks to Canadian collector Merrick Burr, we have an opportunity to see it in full color! Merrick writes:

This print was reproduced by A.L. & W. (Toronto) and used as the cover art for the 1928 catalog. They then made it into a lure box design for their inhouse made lures. I can not give you exact dates for the use as a lure box. I assume it started in 1928 until ????. ALW sold many Pflueger lures and I believe Pfluegar made most of the early metal lures marked ALW.




Wow. Thanks, Merrick! That print is even more beautiful than I would have thought. I find many things fascinating about this, but first and foremost is that it was still being used 23 years (and for years after on lure boxes) it was originated as a give-away. How incredible. Second, it is amazing how they "added" fishermen and a boat to the catalog cover. I wouldn't have thought to notice, but once you know what the original looks like, they stick out like a sore thumb.

The image is timeless and now you know what it looks like in color, thanks to Merrick Burr!

-- Dr. Todd

UPDATE:

Tom Penniston writes:

Pflueger did a tin litho full color sign in 1905 based on that print as well.  There is one in Arlan Carter’s book I believe in full color.  They are scarce, but there is a small handful around, there is one pristine one that showed up at an auction in Northern WI some years back.  Check Arlan’s 19th Century lure book, I’m almost positive he has one in there, but if not, email him, he has it as a center piece in one of his Pflueger metal cases.

I looked in Arlan's book but couldn't find it in the Pflueger section, but I do recall seeing it in his display. Thanks for the update, Tom!

Pflueger's 1905 Art Print Giveaway

Pflueger's 1905 Art Print Giveaway

In the April 1905 Western Field, Pflueger inaugurated a novel give away program that might help us to identify a number of sporting prints that have been floating around for years. In an article entiled "AN ENTERPRISING PROPOSITION," the magazine wrote:

Western Field is in receipt of one of the metal signs and window transparencies gotten out In eight colors by the Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Akron, 0. for display by dealers who handle their goods.

Both the embossed signs and the transparencies measure 10 by 14 inches. The Illustration herewith gives an idea of the subject, though it can not adequately reproduce the beauty of the colored original.

Both the signs and the transparencies are so handsomely gotten up that they are an ornament to the handsomest sporting goods establishment, and are bound to attract favorable attention wherever seen by anglers.

The Enterprise Manufacturing Company. however, have not stopped at this. They have, In addition, issued a set of certificates which, when signed by both the dealer and his customer, certifying that the customer has purchased $1.00 worth of Pflueger's goods from the dealer's store and mailed to the Enterprise Manufacturing Company, together with 4 cents in stamps to cover postage, entitles the customer to an eight-color picture of the subject illustrated below, measuring 10 by 14 Inches, but entirely free from advertising matter of any kind.

This picture is a work of art particularly appropriate for any sportsman's den and the liberal policy of the Enterprise Manufacturing Company in presenting it to their patrons is bound to greatly help the retailers In Increasing sales.

Realizing that there will be a great demand for these pictures during the coming season, the Enterprise Manufacturing Company positively state that not more than one picture will be sent to the same person, no matter what the amount of his purchase may be.

The metal signs. window transparencies. and certificates will be sent to any dealer In fishing tackle addressing the Enterprise Manufacturing Company and mentioning "Sporting Goods" in his request.


I encourage everyone to commit the above print to memory. I know I've seen it before, and did not know it was an Enterprise Manufacturing print. In fact, I am positive I saw this for sale at a recent tackle show.

I recall they were beautiful and I wish I had bought them! Does anyone own one of these prints?

-- Dr. Todd

Voices from the Past: Pflueger Courts the Local Druggist (1906)

Today and tomorrow, we will be relating some small pieces of Pflueger history. Today, we look at how Pflueger worked to court the humblest of tackle merchants -- the small town druggist. In this fascinating article from the March 1906 issue of National Druggist magazine, a very verbose editor for this trade publication extolls the plus side of stocking Pflueger's cheapest line of tackle -- the "O" line.

Fishing Tackle a Profitable Side Line

As quality is the keystone of satisfaction, so is satisfaction the keystone of increased patronage, and the dealer who makes the former his rule finds the latter a constant quantity. Experience has taught the druggist that fishing paraphernalia is not an exception, and that the connoisseur no more than the humblest follower of Isaac Walton knows and appreciates quality and "sticks to" and indulges deep-seated affection for the dealer who shares his enthusiasm and supplies his wants in that particular. The Enterprise Manufacturing Co. of Akron, O. has shown the druggiest how fishing goods can be converted into a handsome revenue, accessory to the drug business, and the quality of their goods has "clinched" the patronage of customers who has used them, from the very start. The immense plant of the Enterprise Manufacturing Co. produces a variety of goods that is nowhere equalled. Their factory has been owned and operated by the Pfluegers for twenty-five years, and enjoys the proud distinction of being the best-equipped and most extensive plant in the country for the manufacture of fishing tackle.

Fishing reels of all kinds and qualities are made for fresh and salt water -- of brass, nickel and hard rubber. Fish hooks, that until recent years were purchased largely in Europe, are now made with improved machinery, and acknowledged much superior in quality to the goods heretofore imported from abroad, resulting in an immense export trade along those lines. Spoons, baits and spinners, flies, leaders, and sneers, phantom minnows, lead sinkers, rubber baits and insects, fishing floats, and a multitude of other goods, all bear the imprint of quality and skillful manufacture, and each and every article goes out of the factory a symbol of perfection. Beginning with their cheapest line, No. 0, being all complete with float, hook, sinker, etc., retailing at 5, 10, 15, and 25 cents, respectively. It is possible to get anything in this line the trade may want, including twisted cotton line, braided cotton and braided linen, cable silk, plain and water-proof. These goods are put up in an especially attractive manner and have proven banner sellers with the drugstore trade.

Briefly told, the goods of the Enterprise Manufacturing Co., of which their new catalogue, No. F 24, lists several thousand of items, are an exemplification of perfect mastery of the business, and reflect great credit upon the makers, whose skillfulness and earnestness to excel has attained that degree of excellence in quality that warrants and deserves the name by which they are so favorably known in the trade. The Enterprise Manufacturing Co. will send their large new catalogue, No. F 24, prepaid, to any druggist desiring their name.

Pflueger didn't get to be the biggest by only courting huge merchants. With tens of thousands of druggists across the country, the majority of them stocking fishing tackle (and a good many of them getting tackle from Pflueger), this was a profitable market for Enterprise to get in to.

-- Dr. Todd