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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Wholly Hell-Gramite!

Found this auction on ebay and was shocked. This lure was found by an apparent non-collector who did "some" homework and knew that it was worth something, but had no idea.

This hellgramite is one of the earliest versions lacking the lathe turned ribs along the body.
This auction was local pick up only and the winner has to extrat the lure in person. For this lure, I am not sure there is any other way!
The Flying Hellgramite, circa 1883

The Harry Comstock Flying Hellgramite is one of the most important lures in collecting. although not as revered as the Haskell Minnow, in my opinion this lure is no less important or valuable.

I had initially estimated its value at $3,300.00 It sold at auction for $3, 150.00. I was off a bit :)

Monday, November 16, 2009

They're Hit'n em' like Bass on Top-water!


My last list of "quick-fire" auction results was a hit with some folks so I will make it a normal posting bi-weekly here on Chuck's Tackle Box's Blog.
Here goes some from the past few weeks... one word. Anarchy.


Creek Chub Husky Pikie, Model #2330
in color #30 - Orange W/Blk Spots. $530.00


Bagley DB3
in Yellow - Hard to find. $123.00


Heddon Punkinseed #740
in RHF. Needed this for my own collection, but missed it. $432.00


Heddon Model #175 Muskie Minnow
in Rainbow w/ the correct box!. $1,225.00


Shakespeare Revolution - Instant Collection, Just add Money.
$1,125.65 (can't forget the .65 cents)

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Shock and Awe - Lure Style

This Creek Chub Dinger in a brilliant green scale pattern is getting alot of attention over there on Ebay.
This auction SOLD at $2,608.32 - Un-friggan-real!

Lang's Fall Auction 2009 - Send me a memo!

This week I tried to remember that the Lang's Auction was taking place... but failed.

If you are like me, you work for a living. People who work for a living are usually "working" during the weekdays. This tends to be counter-productive to actually attending the Auction (even if its is virtual). I can only imagine my boss coming to my desk only to see me bidding on fishing tackle.... I wouldn't have a job for long.

This brings up a curious question, which I have brought to the attention of John and Debbie Ganung...."Why the hell does this auction take place during the week!" It makes absolutely no sense at all!

Understand that one day of the auction does fall on Saturday... after half of the items are gone.
The only collectors who are able to attend and bid are those who either work for themselves or the crusty old farts who are retired and have nothing better to do with their time whilst I kick in to the Social Security system to maintain them.... Go figure.

Dear John and Debbie... Is it at all possible to put this friggan auction on a Saturday and Sunday? or would it be a sin to be chasing down lures when I should be in church?... I mean, what gives here. Its seems like common sense to me - have an auction when the maximum amount of people from your targeted demographic are present.

My second complaint will be brief... It deals with the Live auction vs. an auction with both live and on-line bidding. It seems to me that since going on-line ONLY, Lang's auction has lost some of it's luster. I hear complaints about bids not being registered and bids lagging due to delays in computer systems. Suffice to say that if you can get to the auction and attend an actual auction then you have the best chance of securing that item you have been looking for....But that doesnt happen anymore. I honestly believe that if this auction does not get back to a actual "auction" then this will continue to decline until Lang's is no more.

My final assessment:
I work for a living. period. The past three Lang's Auction have come and gone and I have not attended, nor did I watch online. Its basically become futile for me and I am sure I am not alone.

I do buy the downloadable catalogs for reference sake ONLY.
I live in New Hampshire, which is 1/2 hour from the former Auction site in Boxborough MA. Only discovery is held there now. This takes the option for actually attending away.

Lang's Auction has now become a non-issue in my life and not by my own doing. Until this auction is moved to weekends and held at Boxborough for an actual audience, I believe it will steadily decline into obscurity.... Lang's is alienating a large part of its customers/collectors who simply have to work or cannot attend.

Just my 2 pennies!
~ Chuck

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Heddon Spin Diver shocker


A Heddon Spin-Diver in Redscale. Very hard to find. This one still has 6 days to go and is currently sitting at $455.50 ( reserve is set at $694.00 on this one). It will be fun to see what this go for at the end...They'll be slitting each others throats on this one.


A quick fire list of some auctions


It seems to be quite interesting when you are a collector to just sit back and watch the mayhem.
Below is a list of the carnage left behind - Enjoy!

Heddon Lucky 13 in Bar Perch, Model 2509A
earliest I've seen at $516.01


Creek Chub Surface Dinger, Model #5400
in Western Auto color Sable. $181.39


Coldwater King Lure by The Cold-Water Bait Co.
$299.99 one penny from 300!


Millsite Daily-Double in a Black with Brown spot finish
and with the original box - $167.50


Sunday, October 25, 2009

Screwtail - Spiraling out of control

Here is a nice set up - A Zink Screw-tail complete, in the box with some excellent advertising to boot. Made by Zink Artificial Bait Co. of Dixon Illinois. The lure itself in nice but I believe the interest is in the hard card advertising that comes with the lure and box... The Ad would meake a spectacular backdrop to a lure board.
$429.88 for this beauty.

Nice lure and box combo....

I believe the interest is in the ad.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

A Lucky 13.... Nice


Following up on a few lures that I was watching over the past few weeks.
This one here was on my radar.... A lucky 13 in color VCD - Shrimp Shiner. Tough to find.
Although the Auction did not state color, I knew this color from my Torpedo collection. Sweet addition to someone's collection I am sure. Selling Price - A cool $147.50

Lucky 13 - Color VCD (Shrimp Shiner)

Monday, October 19, 2009

Cats Paw clawing it's way to the top

A fine example of a cat's paw w/box in near mint condition. Currently sitting at $129.00.
Lures like this are always fun to find.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Eye on Lures.

Sometimes when talking with people about lure values it is easy to see that collector to collector value can be much less than the prices realized on ebay.

I have spoken to people who think they are sitting on a gold mine of lures, who are shocked when told that the value of the lure is really based on a number of factors and not necessarily the lure itself.
Color, rarity, lure type are issues that just scratch the surface.
What I will pay for a NPY Heddon is much more than the going rate. This is because I seek it, I collect it and I probably need it in order to complete my case.

This means I am willing to spend much more for these lures than most... not necessarily the actual value. Ebay prices tend to be quite a bit higher than actual worth of the lure, this in turn, gives the public a false sense of lure prices and value

My recommendation to someone looking to make a quick buck is this:
I am not paying that price. if you would like to realize more profit, throw it to the wolves and sell on ebay.

That being said... here are some examples of what I am talking about. Prices not really in line with the lure, yet still commanding a respectable sum. Keep your eye on the ball....
Chuck

A Bagley B-Flat2
in Bass color, Brass hardware etc. Sold on Ebay at $158.26
A Fred C. Young
Nice vintage 70's era bait here in perfect condition worth every penny if you collect it! Sold on Ebay at $512.00 (or half the cost of a NEW sturdy jon-boat) amazing!


Creek Chub - Saltwater Husky
in "got you every-time" gold-fish scale Sold on Ebay at $674.00


and Lastly....NOT true to its name...This NO-snag has in fact snagged someone.
Heddon River Runt ( no Snag)
in that color mentioned above "got you every-time" gold-fish scale Sold on Ebay at $416.00


Thursday, October 1, 2009

Rainbow Fire, fire sale!!


This one is still on the clock, but as of this writing the Auction still has 2 days and 22 hours left but this No. 631 Creek Chub Bait Co. Husky Musky in Rainbow Fire is at $1, 525.00
UPDATE: Auction ended at $1,625.00 with the reserve NOT being met. Love it!


It is very interesting to watch these auctions for more reasons than one. Although sometimes inflated, it does give one and idea of what people are willing to pay for the right lure. This is nothing to sneeze at unless your the Pre-1940's crowd, who thumb their noses at this color and anything else that even looks plastic... Humpf. Lure snobbery.


Hula Popper - Eye Popper



Never Seen this color before and apparently the same is true with other collectors. This hula popper sold for $202.50 without the skirt, without the box.
Nice lure in an red/orange scale type color. Oddly enough this lure also has a "gill-like" pattern at the bottom rear of the lure. I have never seen that on any lure.
Congrats to the new owner!

Another Big-Hedd, another Big Price


Love posting these e-bay stunners...
This one floored me.
Nice Heddon Big Hedd in Color "FY" Chartreuse Mullet. Final Ebay pocket-draining price...$385.99 BRILLIANT!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Monday, September 14, 2009

Record Mako Shark caught off Mass coast

Local to my area:
Here are some photos of the world record mako shark (male) caught 8/27/2009 by Greg Sear's son on a charter boat out of The Mill Wharf, Scituate, MA. @ 624 lbs. 109". The last picture is the tuna (or what remains of the tuna) that was on the hook when the mako was caught.



The Box.... Just the box please.

An addition to the last post.
This Rhodes Minnow box went for an astounding $788.00 for the BOX only!
I break it down like this... It's a simple box, cardboard with some paper glued to the lid. It does'nt even have a picture on it of the sweet lure that should be in the box.. its just a box.

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The reality is it's a wonderful specimen of a Rhodes minnow box and a fine piece of fishing history that will undoubtedly be preserved in somone's collection and I suppose that's what is important in the end. I only wish it wound up in my collection.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Quick Casts.... Recent Ebay Stunners

I have had the pleasure of being able to follow a few recent auctions on Ebay and thought I would share in case you missed them.
The first is a Sand Eel imitation from Edward vom Hofe in a beautiful early 1900's box. This would have most likely been used in saltwater fishing, especially for stripers. The box reads "If it's fishing tackle, it's Edward vom Hofe's" Great combo and the price dictated that - it came in at $393.00

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The second is a Pflueger Supreme DL, Model CK. Pretty slick looking reel that had me guessing the whole time. By the time it was over it had realized $1345.00 Not bad considering that if most folks saw this at a yard sale it would probably have a tag on it for less than 10 bucks.... I pray for days like that.





Sunday, September 6, 2009

Someone got a Big Head for Big money

Big Head for Big money.

Got home just in time to catch the end of Tom Jacomet's Ebay auction on this Heddon "Big Head" lure, Model #9330 in Color NFL - chrome with Fluorescent red rib. The Lure sold at a whopping $418.00 and some change.

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I love lures like this that sell for these astonishing prices, I probably would have missed this one in any tackle box. Nice Lure Tom!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Ted Williams Memorabilia Stolen From NH Auction


Wish I would have known about this auction! but then again, I would't have been able to bid due to some greedy bastard in Tackle collecting...These Items just walked away. 

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Rapala Nation

I had come across this website on Dr. Todds blog. and clicked over to check out this website dedicated entirely to Rapala Lures.

Rapala Nation has pretty much everything you need and want to know about the famous lures from Finland. While you are there say hello to Ted. Great guy and very personable... unlike that other loser's message board... yeah you know who you are.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

The Creek Chub #3401 Snook Pike, Ringed Special


.... a little back story.

Harry Heinzerling, son of Carl Heinzerling, (one of the founders of CCBC), was one of the main forces at Creek Chub Bait Co. until his retirement in 1978. Harry was a man of great vision. Among his contributions to Creek Chub were the introductions of “Spinning” and “Plastic” lures.

Harry was also instrumental in the design of prototype lures for possible production. Harry was a man who also loved to take his work home with him...literally. Harry took a number of lures and items from the factory and stored them at his home (especially lures that Harry considered putting into production but were never produced).











3401 Ringed Special - From my personal collection.


This lure, the #3401 Series Snook Pikie Ringed Special was one of the lures Harry took home. Not until after his death did a relative find three, New in Box, #3401 Snook Pikie Ringed Specials at the homestead. Up until then, no one knew they existed. These are the only three of these lures that are known to exist; no one has ever found more. These lures were originally purchased from the Harry Heinzerling estate.

The relative that discovered the 3401 Snook Specials, also found two other “RINGED” MODELS.....the 3018 Husky Jointed Ringed Pikie Special and the 700 Pikie Ringed Special. There were only three (3) 3401 Specials, three (3) 3018 Specials, and three (3) 700 Specials made and found.

A total of only nine Creek Chub Ringed Specials are known to exist. Considered a prototype, they were made but never went into production, making them uncatalogued lures as well.

This is the lure shown in Dr Harold Smiths book on page 201.

In the acknowledgements section of his book, Harold Smith thanks the Harry Heinzerling estate and Derek Heinzerling for providing lures and photographs. Derek subsequently sold the lure to Roger Robichau of Texas. I want to personally and publically thank Roger for the sale of this fine Piece.


I have created and optical comparison of the two photos and this is in fact the exact lure shown in Dr. Smiths book on page 201. (see below)


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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Tackle Box Treasures

Tackle Box Treasures

Some old lures are worth big money; the rest are nice mementos.

Mike Zlotnicki, Staff Writer.


Modern anglers can have thousands of dollars wrapped up in a tackle box -- lures and tackle designed to catch fishermen as well as fish.
But way back in an attic, garage or shed may be a dusty box containing a single lure worth more than a boat.


The possibility is intriguing.
My foray into antique lures began at a family reunion last year. An uncle, Ronnie Campbell of Sanford, summoned me to his truck. Once out of earshot, he reached into the cab and pulled out two small boxes.


"Your granddad gave me these years ago," he said, "and I put them away and forgot about them. I figured they'd be of interest to you, given your job and all."
In my family, you never know what the walk to the truck will bring. In my case, it sparked a research mission and a little introspection.


Each box contained a big wooden lure -- a Heddon King Basser and a Martin 5KS-12 -- each with two treble hooks on detachable hook harnesses, glass eyes and metal lips. Made about 1950 by the Heddon Lure Co. and the Martin Fish Lure Co., respectively, they were a far cry from today's molded plastic baits.


My first thought? Another thoughtful gesture by a man who always has been full of them.
My second? I wonder what my grandfather was doing with these.
Third? I wonder what they're worth.
That thought has kept me occupied for months.


Lures can fetch hundreds and thousands of dollars -- the world record is $101,200 for a Haskell Minnow made around 1859 by Riley Haskell of Painesville, Ohio.
With any luck, my lures would be a part of that market.


Antique lure and tackle collecting has a small but fervent following, Jim Fleming of Nashville, Tenn., said via phone on Monday.


Fleming is a member of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club and edits the club's publications, including a quarterly newsletter and a twice-yearly magazine.
"We have about 4,700 members," he said, "and there are probably 5,000 to 6,000 what we call 'closet collectors.' "


Fleming had just returned from the club's annual convention, which was held July 12-14 in Louisville, Ky. He said the event had 600 exhibit tables.
About 15 regional shows also are held each year, Fleming said, with millions of dollars passing among collectors.


The research begins


On the advice of fellow N&O writer Javier Serna, a veteran of Midwest fishing, my first call went to Dan Basore of Warrenville, Ill.


Basore inherited his grandfather's fishing gear, sparking his interest in collecting, and he has built a collection he estimates is worth "seven figures." He also administers the Honorary Member Program for the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club and often fields calls from folks like me.


"All the time," he said, "and I'm happy to do it. That's how I get to see certain things."
Basore shared a story about acquiring one prized lure.


One day he got a call at home from a man who was having a moving sale. He said he had tackle that was too old to fish with but might be collectible. He wanted $400.


"He had a very recent Plano tackle box," Basore said. "I opened it, and, lo and behold, there was a Haskell Minnow. It was like finding the Hope Diamond in a Cracker Jack box."
Haskell Minnows, hollow-bodied copper minnow imitations, start about $30,000 with collectors.
Basore had my attention. I had e-mailed him digital photos of my lures and their original boxes and eagerly waited to learn the total of my newfound riches.


"The Heddon is worth $75 to $80, and the Martin $20 to $25," Basore said.
So it wasn't a fortune, but it still was nice appreciation for lures that cost less than $2 new.
Several factors affect a lure's collectibility, Basore said.


Demand is No. 1. Rarity is another factor, but some lures can be so rare that no one really collects them. Condition of the lure is critical, and original boxes or packaging can boost value.
Still, the collector market is fluid, so values change.
Basore had sensible advice.


"I would keep them for sentimental value," he said. "I'd find a photograph of him [my grandfather] with some fish, maybe an old license of his, and keep it on display as a memory box. What good are they tucked away in a drawer?"


Sure, that sounded reasonable, but I was still thinking about my retirement and three daughters' needs for college funds.


I wanted a second opinion.
Another view


I turned to Wayne Williamson of Chapel Hill.


Williamson, 58, is an outdoorsman who collects a variety of gear -- including side-by-side and over-and-under shotguns; Smith & Wesson pistols; and white-tailed deer racks and mounts -- but his first love is antique fishing tackle, particularly Creek Chub lures

.
Williamson said his collection of Creek Chub Suckers and Gar Minnows is considered among the best around. He also collects a color phase of lures called dace (think rainbow trout hues).
His inspiration was local.


"The reason I collect Creek Chub is a fellow I knew in Hillsborough," he said this spring in the basement of his house, where a full-body brown bear mount presides over his collections.
"Gilbert Petty caught more big bass than anybody I knew, and he used Creek Chubs," Williamson said.


Williamson, whose father, Ernie Williamson, was executive director of the University of North Carolina's Educational Foundation for 30 years, started pulling one display box after another out of three massive gun safes.


"Most of my stuff I keep locked up off my property," he said. "Here, I have several alarm systems, and I'm extremely well-armed."


He brought out four glass cases of dace-colored lures, 29 in all. I said they looked valuable.
"I can tell you exactly how much they're worth -- $85,000," he said without looking up.


Each lure in his collection -- which fluctuates from 1,200 and 1,300 at any given time -- has a tag on it that allows Williamson to research date of purchase, location, cost and other data.
My two lures in a plastic sack felt like bag lunch at a banquet.

Another story to envy


Williamson shared a story similar to Basore's.


"I used to go to this tackle shop, Sid's, when I was the fishing manager at Sports Unlimited. They were good guys, and I stopped in there all the time," he said. "One time one of the guys set a shoe box on the counter and said 'Would you give $75 for this?'


"I looked down and saw four or five exceptional lures. I walked away to compose myself and said 'I'll give $50 for it.' I grabbed the shoebox and headed out the door."


His take: three mint Creek Chub Suckers worth $2,400, a Heddon Zaragoza worth about $250 and several Heddon lures worth $50 to $60 apiece.


"It was quite a good find," he said. "Because they were friends of mine, I went back a few days later and gave them some reference books so they could educate themselves."

Down to business


I could have stayed in Williamson's basement for hours, but finally got the nerve to ask about my lures.


He said the Heddon would go for around $250, but he needed to do some research on the Martin. The next day, I delivered prints of the lures, and I checked back with him several weeks later.


Turns out the Martin was worth a lot of money -- to the Martin Fish Lure Co. -- in 1937. Heddon had been sued by Martin in the 1930s over design infringement. The Heddon King Basser is essentially a copy of a Martin salmon plug, and Martin won "a substantial dollar settlement in 1937," according to "Old Fishing Lures & Tackle, 6th Edition," one of Williamson's reference guides. Today, the lure is worth about $30.


So much for college funds and early retirement. Instead, I'm shopping for a nice display box.

A reward anyway


Regardless of their monetary value, the lures still made me richer.


They gave me another point of reference with Uncle Ronnie, and they made me recall my grandfather, Michael Lyczkowski of Sanford, whom we called "Dziadzio," Polish for "Grandfather."


Dziadzio came to this country in 1950. When he took me fishing, it was cane poles and pinched bread for bream, all of which went back to the house to feed family and cats. What he was doing with these lures I'll never know.

But they opened a door for me to a different side of fishing. I may not ever get as deep into collecting as Basore or Williamson, but I'll never be able to pass a yard sale without least slowing to scan for tackle.
There could be treasure in those tackle boxes.

Credit
http://www.newsobserver.com/
Published: Jul 19, 2007 12:30 AM
Direct Link:
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/641909-p2.html

The Weed-Splitter. More sexy than originally thought.

I managed to get my hands on a Model 900B - Perch last year, a fine example of this lure. I saw it for sale and tried to figure on a price that was respectable.


While I am sure I might have over-paid slightly for this lure, I could not get around the beauty of this example...a pristine example, brand spanking new, in the box with the original insert!


The box itself is in excellent shape, label is crisp, clear and readable. The insert as if it was printed yesterday.

The hardware...

I don't know about the rest of you, but I just love those hooks with the light spring-loading and "Stirrup" concept. something about it really hits it off with my Quality Engineering background.


The hooks, 2 on each harness, swing free & independently when struck by a fish. At first glance it appears to be a double-hook treble, but each side of harness in autonomous. There are two sets of these on this model held firmly to the lure body by a hinge and two cap screws.

The hooks also appear to have some form of a zinc-chromate type coating on them, giving the hooks a light lime color. Nice!



The Lure...
The Lure itself, Beautiful. A nice Oreno-type body with very sleek lines. The perch color (pictured), is stunning with dark evergreen head and rich red underside. The scale pattern is of a very real gold color.


Check out the combination of these greens/reds/golds.


Although not a lure that collectors will rave about, the weed-splitter is a definite unsung hero of the lure collecting community. It's unique hooks and hardware make it an interesting collector's item.
The paint on this lure is spectacular in my honest opinion and owning a complete example in this condition is rewarding.

You can typically buy a Weed-Splitter for around $20.00-$30.00 and sometimes more in a box. While I won't say how much I paid for my weed-splitter, I will say that it is one of my favorites for whatever reason.

2/25/2009
Chuck - Chuck's Tackle Box.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Rapala & Beer & Lures and Women



Maybe posting this a little late, but It seems the folks over at Rapala have teamed up with Schells Brewers to make Lake Maid Beer http://www.lakemaidbeer.com/

It has all the makings all that is important... Beer, women, Lures!
They have even come out with a monthly representation of "LakeMaids" for each month of the year Some examples:

These prints are sold as large posters at their website and they are anxious to complete orders correctly. Great group of people over there and at Pocket Hercules. Thanks!