Lost Patents: The Hanke Minnow (1957)

Chris Diestel emailed me about this very, very cool patented bait and was kind enough to provide some detailed photos. This month's "Lost Patent" is a lure patented by Fred R. Hanke of Cincinnati, Ohio on May 7, 1957. He was issued Patent #2,791,055 for a "Fishhook Device" that was most definitely an original bait. While not a true spring loaded lure, it does, in fact, utilize a spring, and like the Heddon Scissortail (the least successful lure in Heddon's long history), has a scissoring action.

In Cincinnati, the Hanke name is an old and respected one. A major city landmark -- the Hanke Building -- was constructed in 1876 by Herman A. Hanke, who ran Hanke's Department Store there until it closed in 1933. The building still exists today and has been completely renovated.

One member of this esteemed local family was Frederick R. Hanke (1909 - 1967). Hanke applied for a patent for his ingenious bait on April 11, 1955 and was granted a patent a little over two years later, a fairly quick turn around. I don't know what this lure was sold as, so if anyone knows its name, drop me a note. I only know it is one really cool lure!

Many thanks to Chris for sending this in.

-- Dr. Todd

Lost Patents: The Everlasting Creel (1937)

I'm going to start spotlighting a piece of patented fishing tackle that is a bit out of the ordinary over the coming months. The item for this month is a combined metal creel and tackle box -- and a really neat one at that!

It was invented by a pair of Tioga county, Pennsylvania anglers named William E. Smith and Irving J. Focht of Wellsboro. They applied for a patent on July 24, 1936 and it was granted as Patent #2,098,636 on November 9, 1937.





The inventors described their creation to The Pennsylvania Angler in the May 1938 edition. W.E. Smith noted:

Some of the features of this model creel are as follows: in the first place it makes it unnecessary for the stream fisherman to wear a hunting or fishing coat to carry along the anglers equipment which often as we know, especially in hot weather, is not only too hot, cumbersome and burdensome but also prevents ease in casting and walking.

Further this creel, as one whom we contacted stated, is 'everlasting'--he suggested we call it the Everlasting Creel--it will outwear a number of the present reed or willow baskets.

The 'accessibility' of your tackle in this basket over any form of outer garment is greatly superior. The tackle compartment is water-tight or water-proof, and a safe place for valuable fly-books, etc.

We also claim sanitation--we both know how smelly the old fish basket becomes after being in use a short time--this creel can be washed out in a jiffy and kept clean and sanitary. The fish compartment is designed to permit a maximum of ventilation, and drainage from the ferns and moss that the average fisherman uses to keep the trout cool.

Last but not least, the creel will weigh but only a few ounces more than the present reed or willow basket and the fisherman can keep all his tackle in this creel so when going fishing he has but two things to think about--of his rod and basket. You may, no doubt, be able to think of many things I have stated here that this creel may afford the fisherman but the above is some of what I consider the most important; a built-in bait box with an individual lid is incorporated on the left side, which can be utilized for small gadgets by the fly fisherman, or can be removed in a split-second entirely, leaving this space for other paraphernalia—the compartments are removable and adjustable, so he can take them all out or move them around to suit his personal needs."





It's a nifty design and an attractive creel, but I wonder how many of these were sold over the years. I'm betting not too many, and with World War II around the corner and the spin revolution after World War II, I am betting the Everlasting Creel had a short life.

-- Dr. Todd