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

A Bit of Hildebrandt History

I got a package in the mail yesterday containing a couple of dozen vintage spinners. I sorted through them quickly, laying aside the half dozen or so Pflueger and Shakespeare blades I had bought the lot for, and got ready to put the remainder into a box. As I handled the third of fourth spinner spinner marked Hildebrandt a thought occurred to me--is there any more overlooked fishing lure in history than the John J. Hildebrandt spinners from Logansport, Indiana? They are likely victims of their own success. After all, few tackle boxes are found without at least a couple of these blades in them. But Pflueger was equally omnipresent, but we don't ignore its history. So I thought I'd dig through the files and find some materials to help celebrate the 115th anniversary of a true American legend--the Hildebrandt spinner. Here is a great article to help us appreciate the firm, published in The Logansport Pharos-Tribune in August 1920.


DISPLAY OF FISHING BAIT INTERESTING
ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF MANUFACTURE OF FISHING TACKLE AND BAIT ARE RECALLED.
REPUTATION OF CITY EXTENDED
John J. Hildebrandt Company Probably Best Known of Any Single Industry In Indiana.

A clever and likewise interesting window display may now be seen In the Boston store. The John J. Hildebrandt company spinners and personal belongings of the late Mr Hildebrandt, that formed the basis for the origin of an industry that has made Logansport more widely known than has any other single industry, constitute this display.

In 1893 the first spinner was made by "Big John." It was formed from a piece of wire, which made the shank of the spinner. While at his desk, Mr. Hiledbrandt made the blade of the spinner by beating a silver dime with his pocket knife into a blade formatlon. The two parts were put together and placed in a tub of water for trial. It worked, and Mr. Hlldebrandt continued to form this sort of fishing tackle for many of his friends. The business grew and the factory is started, and after the death of Mr. Hildebrandt his son conducted the business which has grown and necessitated the increase of the plant until today the Hildebrandt spinners are more widely known and used more extensively by fishermen than all other artificial bait combined.

There are 302 different sizes and kinds of bait manufactured at this local factory. They are made from nickel, copper, brass, gold, gun. metal, aluminum and pearl. The joining of pheasant, buck tail, guinea and various other feathers of brilliant hue is hard work and the best of materials are used.

There Is on display the late John Hildebrandt's personal rod and reel which he used on all his fishing trips. The original wire from which he formed the shank of the first spinner is also on display in the Boston store window. There is also on exhibit a black and white drawing by Wils Berry of "John's Dream" in 1919 of a fine factory for the year 1920. The picture shows Mr. Hildebrandt in his grave and a large factory in the distance. It would seem that the dream has come true. The Wils Berry picture is one of interest.

The entire display is an interestlng one, the background of which is varigated colored spinners on picture posters and some facts in connection with the display which attract attention.


-- Dr. Todd