WHAT’S IN YOUR …….. TACKLE BOX?
Sometimes we find objects in old tackle boxes other than lures and reels and we classify some of these items as cross-collectables. Most of these items are such things as fishing knives, mosquito dope, etc. and have become collectables in their own right.
On rare occasion, we find objects in tackle boxes that do not directly have anything to do with fishing but were still prized possessions of fishermen. A good whisky flask during Prohibition would be such a possession. There’s nothing like sharing a little nip with your best fishing buddy on a cold morning on a lake or stream. Having a fine whiskey flask in the bottom of ones tackle box would be a must.
Fine art advertising posters which combine fishing with spirits, would also fall into the realm of being called a cross collectable. When you are going through the contents of an old tackle box don’t over look those other little items. Keep in mind that some of these flasks have patent dates going back into the 1870’s, which makes them true antiques and very collectable.
It would be fun to make a list of strange objects that collectors have found in tackle boxes over the years.
PS. I find it a little unusual that I have never found a flask with any contents….Strange!!
-- Doug Bucha
Most lure collectors probably have a manufactured lure or two in their collections that they have never been able to identify. It helps, however, when lures in this category have a story to go with them. Even the story might help in their identification. The two lures in the photograph have such a story.
Many years ago, Mike Kechkaylo, Harold Dickert, and I took a week- long fishing trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. While on this trip we ran across an old bait shop just west of Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin. The elderly gentleman who owned the shop for many years was getting ready to retire at the end of the season. During the hour-long discussion with him we found out his life story. He had started out in the 1920’s as a trapper and Musky guide. After a period of time as a Conservation Officer, he went into the tackle business.
After another hour of conversation, he invited us back into his storage room. WOW! Hundreds of old lures hanging up on the walls. There were a few dozen lures that we had never seen before. He stated that he had picked these lures up from clients over the years, who had either left them behind or had just given him the lures for putting them on a good fish.
Another hour passed and he agreed to let each one of us buy a few lures for our “Musky fishing trip”. We jumped at the chance and each one of us picked out a half-dozen larger lures. Because of their uniqueness, I just had to have the two unknown lures shown in the photograph.
I have taken these two lures to shows for the past twenty years and have had little luck in finding out who made them. The spinner on one of the lures appears to be made of tortoise shell while the other appears to be made of horn. After checking the materials using the smell test, I have come to the conclusion that they are both made of natural materials. Tortoise and horn can both be bent to unusual shapes using heat. The lures do have considerable age to them and were made to catch larger fish.
Does any of this help in formulating any ideas as to: who made them? Well, it’s up to you now. Your input is welcome and if you would like to add your thoughts, go to the COMMENTS so everyone can have a look.
Thank you, Doug Bucha (dbucha@att.net)
I just made it back from living on the Gulf in Orange Beech, Alabama for the past two months. I stopped off at the Orange Beech Indian and Sea Museum to look at their displays. The Museum Guide, Gail Graham, was kind enough to let me take some pictures.
This picture is of a salesman's sample ring of Sam Griffin's lures that I thought everyone would enjoy. Sam made his lures in Moorehaven, Florida. In my opinion, I think he did an outstanding job of painting them. Some great eye-catchers!!
-- Doug Bucha
