Hildebrandt History, Part II

Yesterday's Hildebrandt article brought some very interesting emails from Hilde-heads, as we might call those who collect Hildebrandt. Steve Kuchman sent me the following page from a 1990 Hildebrandt catalog, which I transcribed and cleaned up the images. Here it is in its entirety.

Hildebrandt spinners and lures have been a fishing tradition since 1899. The company was founded that year by John J. Hildebrandt, known locally as "Big John." John was a plumber who loved to fish, which is why he started making lures. The original spinner he made was handcrafted from a fine and one of his wife's hairpins. He made more spinners and they caught fish like magic. Soon, John could not make lures fast enough to satisfy the demand of local anglers. His plumbing days were over.


He decided to make his living manufacturing fishing tackle. He knew that the highest quality materials and workmanship would be important for his success. His desire for the best quality, combined with creative innovation, made Hildebrandt's the originator of many baits and lures that are now considered standards in the industry.


Big John taught his son, Hiram, the same philosophy. Hiram directed the company for forty-two years until 1954. During that time, the tradition of excellence continued and grew. Big John would have been proud, just as would be today. Proud because the value of superior quality materials and workmanship remain the foundation of our success.

Slim Eli appeared on the scene around 1925. Slim was created as a company trademark of dependability and superior quality. He represents the Hildebrandt spirit of a fisherman who is satisfied with his sport and the equipment he uses.


A lot has changed since the first Hildebrandt spinners were made and sold more than 90 years ago, but the Hildebrandt promise has remained the same. A promise to provide our customers with the best fishing spinners and lures available anywhere. All of our many products have one or more of the following features:

Stainless Steel Wire
Solid Brass Spinner Blades
Mustad Brand Hooks
Sampo Ball Bearing Swivels
Bright Nickel or 22 Karat Gold Plated Finishes

Most of the manufacturing of our products is done by hand. While the cost of manufacturing by hand is greater than automated manufacturing, hand crafting allows us to make all of our products exactly the way they should be made. If a product can be improved by making it a different way, we can make the necessary changes easily without concern about machinery designed to make something one way only. Hand crafting of our products also enables each employee to inspect every product at all stages of manufacturing. This is an important aspect of the way we provide our customers with the best quality spinners and lures they can buy.

Look for Slim Eli when you buy fishing spinners and lures. He is your guarantee that you are buying genuine Hildebrandt superior quality. Quality you can count on when you need it just as you always have, since 1899.

Thanks, Steve, for the contribution! Nice bit of Hildebrandt history...anyone got anything else?

-- Dr. Todd