Antique Heddon Fishing Lures Reel in Collector’s Wallets
Fishing lures have been around since the dawn of man, the first one being made from animal bone, carved into the shape of a hook. The Chinese fashioned their version of a fishing lure out of bronze or brass. Fishing lures were made commercially in the United States around 1900, with the first being produced by the Heddon and Pflueger Co, in Michigan.
Collectors collect memory’s…Fishing collectors come from every walk of life, and collect everything from lures to reels, bamboo poles and more. Since fishing nowadays is mostly a recreational activity, it is usually associated with fun spent with family and friends, tall tales or “fish stories” are also part of the experience. I have heard more about “the one that got away”, then photographic proof of a “jaws” sized whopper. Collectors try to relive these treasured memories thru collecting, remembering days spent with their grandfather on the river, or in a canoe with Dad and Uncle Jake.
Heddon Lures for Collectors…The Heddon Company is one of the oldest lure manufactures in the United States, and although many other companies and names are collected we will focus on them for this piece. Heddon’s early lures were produced of wood with glass eyes; these early artificial baits are among the most sought after antique lures in the world.The purpose of a fishing lure is to catch fish…movement, color, and vibration are all key factors to making a good lure. They come in every shape and size and there are tens of thousands examples of lure available to collectors and fisherman alike.
The creator James Heddon..Heddon lures are some of the most collected fishing lure brands, with a huge following and collector base. James Heddon is considered the creator of the artificial fishing lure, and Heddon lures are still made today. The Heddon Torpedo is the world’s number one selling propeller-equipped lure, and more than 13 million Heddon Hellbenders have been sold to date.. These lures were designed to be abused, that’s why many pro fishermen swear by Heddon lures.
Examples on E-bay…A recent search of the on-line auction site E-bay found over 28,000 auctions listed with the keyword “Heddon. On November 16th, 2012 a Rare Heddon Moonlight Radiant lure sold for $2550.00, and on December 9th a gold flitter spin diver sold for $2150.00. On October 21st , 2012 a Zara II sold for $1008.00, all of these prices are for a single lure that would have cost pennies back when they were sold in general stores. There are pages of examples were these lures are being gobbled up by collectors for $1,000 or more.
The best places to find these gems…The best place to find an old tackle box stuffed with lures would be an estate sale or garage sale. Look in the garage or basement; don’t forget to check the rafters, or inside old boats. Last summer I was at an estate sale and came across one of these old tackle boxes, I paid a mere $25 for the entire box and ended up selling the lures individually on E-bay for over $670.00. There is money in old fishing lures and equipment, maybe it’s time to run that newspaper ad looking for Old fishing gear…. you never know who you will reel in.
