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Big 5 Vintage Fishing Lure companies
Big 5 Vintage Fishing Lure companies
One of the first things a person new to the world of vintage fishing lure collecting will hear about are the so called "Big 5" companies that dominate the news about the pastime. Knowing who these companies are (or were) and a little bit about them will go a long way towards alleviating any fears of someone new to the hobby who is feeling intimidated by all of the information available online.
The Heddon Company
The Heddon Company was created by James Heddon, the man who is given credit for the invention of the first artificial wood fishing lures in 1894. The often repeated story is that he had his light bulb moment when he tossed a hand carved wood plug into the waters of the Dowagiac, Michigan mill pond and watched as a bass struck it. With this insight an industry was born. The original lures were frogs hand carved from broomsticks by Heddon himself. The lures were originally made by hand in the Heddon family kitchen located in Dowagiac, Michigan, but by 1910 there was a new factory in Dowagiac and expanding sales.
The Lucky 13, Punkinseed, River Runt, and the Meadow Mouse are a few examples of this classic brand.
Creek Chub
Creek Chub was founded in 1910 by three friends in Garrett, Indiana. The company is named after the creek chub, which is a small fish commonly used for live bait by fishermen.
Henry Dills created Creek Chub's first lure, The Wiggler, which had a metal lip that caused the lure to wiggle in the water leading more fish to strike it. Another early lure was the Pikie minnow. This bullet-shaped lure had more than one variation available, allowing for choices on the amount of movement in the water desired. The Open Mouth Weedless, later renamed the Open Mouth Shiner is another early lure. These lures were designed to be weed proof and featured long-shanked double hooks facing backwards so they would drag over snags without hanging on them. Open Mouth Weedless lures are a hard to find vintage fishing lure and all three of these are great examples of Creek Chub vintage fishing lures and collector's items.
One of Creek Chub's most important innovations in the lure industry was the process of spray painting lures by spraying the paint through netting. Paint applied to this netting (originally from ladies' hats!) was used to create the now common scale patterns on Creek Chub lures. Creek Chub was a very innovative company in other areas as well. Their early adoption of the use of glass eyes on lures and the invention of the weedless bait mentioned above are great examples of this spirit of innovation. Creek Chub also held numerous other patents related to lure improvements.
Pflueger
Ernest F. Pflueger founded the Enterprise Manufacturing Company in 1881 making fish hooks. When his son took over the business in 1906, it changed names to the E.A. Pflueger Company. During this time, Pflueger was the first company to open up commercial production of wooden fishing lures. The company would also grow from being only a hook maker to all areas of fishing gear. As competition in the industry became more fierce the company began to focus more on reels than lures.
Two of the lures that the company started with were the Flying Helgramite and the Luminous Crystal Minnow lure. These are two very vintage fishing lures from Pflueger that incorporate the founding E. Pflueger's invention of a luminous lure paint.
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare, Jr. founded his company in 1897 with a first product that wasn't a fishing lure. He started out with reels before expanding into the lure market. Shakespeare began making fishing lures around 1900 and the first catalog was issued shortly after that containing only four lures: the Revolution, Bucktail, Evolution and a Frog. The Shakespeare Revolution is one of the most collectible of the Shakespeare vintage fishing lures. Many of Shakespeare's early products were rubber lures, including rubber frogs that mimicked real life motions of a frog when in the water. A very rare collector's item is the Shakespeare Tournament Casting Frog, which is a prize find for any vintage Shakespeare fishing lure enthusiast.
South Bend Bait Company
South Bend was founded in the early 1900's by F.G. Worden of South Bend, Indiana.
Worden had already been selling his Bucktail baits since 1894 prior to the official company founding. These bucktail baits were wooden minnow shaped lures that were invented and popularized by Worden. The South Bend Bait Company also made the famous Oreno fishing lures. The Oreno was also a minnow shaped lure and would become a popular long term seller for South Bend. The Bass Oreno, which started production around 1915 and was still in production into the mid 1960's, was the most popular South Bend bait. Another popular vintage South Bend lure is The Vacuum Bait which can be quite hard to find and is a nice collector's item.
Use this information
Now that you know more information about the "Big 5" go and start using this knowledge to build your collection. Try going to a local fishing tackle show or event and with this starter information you will feel capable of holding your own in an initial conversation and start the network that will help you build your collection. Or if you want to go online to browse around for more information or to find out how to find items online, visit the website in the author box below.
About the Author
Vintage Fishing Lures is the resource for information related to collecting vintage fishing lures including how to start and build a collection and how to maintain it. Visit Vintage Fishing Lures for more information.
Wood fish carvings.
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Carved wooden fish $9.99 |
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Vintage Primitive Wood Carved Fish - Folk Art - Wooden Carving Fish Cabin Lodge $14.00 |
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Collectible Gemstone Coral Carved Fish Snuff Bottle $0.22 |
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Nice Chinese Jade Pebble Carving Fish&Lotus $95.00 |
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Vintage cabinet copper lock and key carved three fish $0.99 |
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North American Fishing Carving Set - Knife and Fork- Model # F1611- NIB $9.50 |
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New Carved Star Marble Bear " Standing Fish " Figurine $29.99 |
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New Carved Star Marble " Fishing " Bear Figurine 3" $48.88 |
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Carved Agate Fish & Wave Pendant Bead $2.99 |
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35"Tibet Large Copper Carved Dragon Fish Lion Vase Pair $18,920.00 |
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Wonderful chinese tibet snuff bottle with fish carved $0.99 |
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Handwork Boxwood Wood Carving Netsuke Of Fish $0.99 |
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AMY KAHN RUSSELL Carved Bone Serpentine Jade Fish Sterling Silver Necklace $96.00 |
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Handmade Folding Pocket Hunting Knife Carved Bloster Fishing Collection Gifts $0.99 |
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Handcraft ox bone jewelry box with four fish carved $0.99 |
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Japanese Hand Carved Wooden Netsuke - Cat Holding a Fish - Signed $31.60 |
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VERY OLD ANTIQUE HAND CARVED TORTOISE SHELL FISH PIECE BARRETTE HAIR JEWELRY $39.00 |
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Chinese Carved Flower Red Cinnabar Lacquer fish amulet pendant $8.99 |
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Wood carving Bass chasing Small Fish $9.99 |
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CARVED SUCCOR CREEK JASPER GEMSTONE FISH RING SIZE 8.5 $3.99 |
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Chinese Old Bronze Carved Lucky Money childie Boy Ride on Fish Statue $179.10 |
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BEAUTIFUL HAND CARVED TURQUOISE FISH FIGURINE $149.99 |
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Chinese old style turquoise handwork carved Twins Fish lovey Snuff Bottle $0.01 |
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Chinese tibet snuff bottle with fish carved $0.99 |
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Vintage Wooden Hand Carved Fish Candle Holder $14.95 |
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Vintage Wood and Lucite Carved Sail Fish Pin Great Piece! $12.00 |
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New In Box Louie The Fish Permit Pendant Necklace Hand Carved Original Art $175.00 |
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Fish Family~~Artisan Hand Carved Rotating 3D Wood Sculpture~~Novica Peru $100.53 |
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Fine Hand Carved 1960's Vintage 9"x17" Haiti Souvenir Hardwood Fish Serving Tray $9.99 |
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CARVED FISH MULTI COLOR AMAZONITE GEMSTONE RING SIZE 8.25 $0.99 |
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vintage WHITE CARVED JADE PENDANT fish carving VERY NICE PIECE $75.00 |
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Elegant Chinese Tibet Turquoise Carving Twins Fish Snuff Bottle $0.63 |
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Rare Chinese Collectible Gemstone Coral Carved Fish Snuff Bottle Hot!! $0.70 |
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Carved stone fish $5.00 |
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Tibet Dragon carving pray copper fish bell bell $0.01 |
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DRUM FISH CARVING BREAKING WATER BY BILL DAZET $15.00 |
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Handmade Mixed-color Coconut Shell Carved Fish Beads Pendant Necklace 24"L 1pcs $3.38 |
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FULL SIZE RED FISH CARVING ON A CYPRESS KNEE BY BILL DAZET $38.00 |
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Akan Guardian Fish Hand Carved Wood Mask~Ghana~New $53.96 |
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Carved Autumn Jasper Fish Pendant Bead ED545 $0.99 |
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Carved Tiger's Eye Eagle ＆Fish Pendant Bead $2.99 |
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Rare Chinese old style Brass Carved BIG fish lock/2keys $0.01 |
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Natural Rose Quartz Carved Fish Pendant Sterling Silver Necklace $24.99 |
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WITH CARVED FISH SHAPE CHINESE JADE SNUFF BOTTLE $18.90 |
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Chinese red coral handwork carved Twins Fish lovey Snuff Bottle $0.01 |
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g46072 48x41x8 Indian Agate Carved Fish Pendant Bead $5.99 |
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Carved Succor Creek Jasper Dolphin & Fish Pendant Bead $2.99 |
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CARVED NATURAL LAVENDER / BROWN JADEITE KOI FISH RING -SIGNED NIKOLAI SZ.8 nwt $995.00 |
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Hand Carved New JADE Bear with Fish $17.00 |
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Carved Autumn Jasper Fish Pendant Bead ED575 $0.59 |
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Carved Jade Koi Fish with Bubbles Inkstone $9.99 |
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Carved fish Ocean Wave Jasper Pendant Bead $9.50 |
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vintage carved ox bone fish bird sun flower crown panel big bracelet 1225 $22.13 |
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Fine Natural Golden Honey Brown & Green Color Jadeite Jade Carved Fish Ornament $150.00 |
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colorful Howlite Turquoise GEM Gemstone Carved Sea Fish Loose Beads Finding 15"L $5.99 |
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43mm Natural Lapis lazuli Carved Fish & Leaf Pendant Bead $17.99 |
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CARVED FISH MULTI COLOR AMAZONITE GEMSTONE PENDANT BEAD $2.99 |
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Unique! 61x39x8mm,Natural Red Agate Carved Fish Pendant $4.99 |
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Nice Japanese handwork boxwood netsuke carving monkey hold fish $0.01 |
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Koi Fish~Hand Carved Orig Coconut Shell Sculpture~ART $60.71 |
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Chainsaw Carving Bonefish Carved Sport Fish Replica Art Inshore Sport Fish Decor $125.00 |
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An Old Carved Wood Fish Bookends $150.00 |
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CARVED WOOD BEAR FISH SALMON FISHING RUSSIAN JAPAN USA $199.99 |
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Folding Pocket hunting Knife Wood/Custom Carved Handle Camping Fishing Gifts $0.99 |
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Carved Ocean Jasper Fish, Fire Agate, Citrine, Green Quartz. Necklace~ $5.99 |
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J406_Beautiful Chinese Hongshan Jadeite Fish Carving $55.00 |
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J407_Beautiful Chinese Hongshan Jadeite Fish Carving $55.00 |
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Carnelian/Red Agate Lotus Koi Fish Statue / Sculpture / Carving $749.99 |
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Z2990 Carved Opalite fish figurine $5.00 |
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Folk art hand carved perch wood fish Graham yellow black orange on base $39.99 |
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Exquisite Tibet carved fish snuff bottle $0.90 |
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Natural Lapis lazuli Carved Fish Pendant Bead $4.99 |
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Whimsical TEAK WOODEN SALAD UTENSILS, RAINBOW FISH Carved Handles $12.99 |
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Carved Ocean Jasper FIsh Bead Pendant $2.99 |
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Tom Dolan Signed Carved Wood Hand Painted Fish Puzzle $725.00 |
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Exquisite tibet silver Carved Lotus Fish Lucky jewellery cuff bracelet#257 $0.99 |
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Basic Fishing Lure Carving by Greg Hays (2006, Paperback, Illustrated) $13.45 |
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Vintage 1972 Inuit Eskimo Soapstone Whale/Fish Carving Signed - Mike Pulloch $9.95 |
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Handcraft ox bone jewelry box with four fish carved $1.19 |
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CARVED FISH NATURAL INDIAN AGATE GEMSTONE PENDANT BEAD $2.99 |
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CARVED FISH AMAZONITE GEMSTONE RING SIZE 8 $3.99 |
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Remarkable Chinese Fish W/*Erotic Carved* Pendant #04 $0.99 |
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Carved Natural Australian Opal Fish $199.00 |
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Hand carved wood 2 Asian fish $19.99 |
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CARVED FISH AMAZONITE GEMSTONE PENDANT BEAD $2.99 |
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Vintage Carved Fish of Dark Green Jadeite or Nephrite Pendent with 24" Chain $29.50 |
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163g Lapis Lazuli Fish Carved Display $250.00 |
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Natures Paintbrush Jasper Carving - Large Angel Fish on Base $18.00 |
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Carved Fish Sealife Multi-Color Amazonite Bead $5.50 |
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Chainsaw carving Piranha Carved Amazon River Sport Fish Replica Wall Mount Art $95.00 |
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A pair of Antique Chinese copper bed-curtain hook carved two fish $170.00 |
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Antique Chinese copper bed-curtain hook carved two fish $90.00 |
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MAORI CARVED BONE WHALE TAIL FISH HOOK necklace ; AA028 $0.99 |
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JOMAZ VINTAGE RHINESTONE CARVED GREEN GLASS FLYING FISH PIN & EARRINGS SET $235.00 |
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CARVED FISH AMAZONITE GEMSTONE PENDANT BEAD $2.99 |
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Antique Chinese Jade Stone Hardstone Fish Carving $99.00 |
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Carved Agate Sea Star & Fish Pendant Bead $2.99 |
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Anglers' Choice Fillet /Cutting Station, NEW, Hunting, Fishing, Carving Board $31.99 |
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A pair of Antique Chinese copper bed-curtain hook carved two fish $170.00 |
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Antique Carved Ox Bone Netsuke Signed Fish Out Of Water $24.99 |
