James RickardA few thoughts on lure collecting
July 10th 2008 00:10
I was discussing antiques with a friend last weekend and the conversation, naturally, turned to antique lures.
When it comes to old lures, it’s safe to follow the guidelines you’d follow in any antiquity pursuit. Just because something looks old, doesn’t mean that it is old! Also, as any collector knows, be careful when cleaning any treasure. You’ll be ahead to leave some dirt or corrosion behind rather than ruin the finish!
First of all, you have to decide if you want to collect for the sheer enjoyment of looking at your booty, or for investment purposes. If you want to turn a dollar, get ready to spend and spend hearty! Believe it or not, sought after lures can bring five figure sums while others bring only a few dollars! Someone collecting for pleasure reminds me of a lady I know who has a large collection of Avon bottles. I collect bottles so I know her collection in worthless but, it’s darned pretty!
On the other hand, I went to a gun show a few years ago and there was a lonely fellow sitting at a table with 5-10 handguns that had definitely seen their better days. However, these pistols went back to the 1800’s and most had been in the Indian Wars! It was hard to believe that a few square feet contained the equivalent of thousands of dollars!
I don't know a lot about specifics in lure collecting and I'm not afraid to admit it. However, I do know enough about collecting in general to offer advice.
First and foremost--surprisingly, fishing and lure collecting do NOT go hand in hand. Granted, there are some collectors who happen to fish and got into lure collecting because they ran across a couple of old lures or were given some old equipment by well meaning individuals.
Looking at things realistically, most old lures don't have much value beyond their original retail value. If you think you can buy some cheap lures and wait for the market to bail you out, you should probably reconsider your investment.
Sometimes there's an emotional attachment to older equipment. "It was Dad's favorite lure" or "I caught my first fish on this lure," are often heard. Others simply find beauty in older equipment or may appreciate the processes involved in creating something fifty or a hundred years old.
Identification of an older lure is one of the challenges faced by collectors. Naturally, printed guides are available to aid in this task but other methods rely on the knowledge of the collector.
One way to vaguely date a lure is to note changes in its manufacturing. Most lures that have been around a while have made the transition from wood to plastic. If you can find the date of such a change, you at least know that the lure was made before or after a certain year. Other changes can include dates or writing on the bottom of lures, going from metal to plastic hardware (popular in WWII era lures) or even hook placement.
You're probably wondering how to obtain such information. New Internet sites pop up every day so, check out the Web even if it means you have to visit the local library or Internet Cafe. You can also try the aforementioned books or even word of mouth from other collectors.
Where to find old lures
Unless you really know what you're doing, I DON'T recommend perusing online auctions with intent to buy. There is simply too much room for unhappy surprises and you're at the mercy of another person's description and terminology.
So, what to do if you don't buy online???? There's always the possibility that someone will GIVE you a lure but the alternatives I like are swap meets and yard sales. Flea markets can work too but the people selling at these often know what they have and finding a bargain may be pretty tough.
A word of warning! You have to be careful at big sales! Last winter I found what looked to be an old Jitterbug in an old Heddon box. Since old for a box may be only a few years and I couldn't accurately date the lure, I let it go. I may not know everything about lure collecting but I know enough to pass on an Arbogast lure in a Heddon box! Either the seller didn't know what he was doing or DID know and was looking for a rube!
Although the historical significance of older lures can be fascinating, people often get taken just because they think anything old is worth something. You must remember that "old" is a relative term. I have a couple lures from the 70's that aren't worth a plugged nickel! To someone in their 20's, those are probably "old" lures. On the other hand, (and more technical) "Lazy Ike" lures went from wood to plastic in 1960. You can have one of these from 1959 and have a bit of history that is less than 50 years old.
That's a quick illustration of the folly of relying on age alone to drive the price of a lure. Circumstance can dictate price too. If any of the guys on the tournament trail ever get eaten by an alligator, any lure they endorse will, surely, go up in value!
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
When it comes to old lures, it’s safe to follow the guidelines you’d follow in any antiquity pursuit. Just because something looks old, doesn’t mean that it is old! Also, as any collector knows, be careful when cleaning any treasure. You’ll be ahead to leave some dirt or corrosion behind rather than ruin the finish!
First of all, you have to decide if you want to collect for the sheer enjoyment of looking at your booty, or for investment purposes. If you want to turn a dollar, get ready to spend and spend hearty! Believe it or not, sought after lures can bring five figure sums while others bring only a few dollars! Someone collecting for pleasure reminds me of a lady I know who has a large collection of Avon bottles. I collect bottles so I know her collection in worthless but, it’s darned pretty!
On the other hand, I went to a gun show a few years ago and there was a lonely fellow sitting at a table with 5-10 handguns that had definitely seen their better days. However, these pistols went back to the 1800’s and most had been in the Indian Wars! It was hard to believe that a few square feet contained the equivalent of thousands of dollars!
I don't know a lot about specifics in lure collecting and I'm not afraid to admit it. However, I do know enough about collecting in general to offer advice.
First and foremost--surprisingly, fishing and lure collecting do NOT go hand in hand. Granted, there are some collectors who happen to fish and got into lure collecting because they ran across a couple of old lures or were given some old equipment by well meaning individuals.
Looking at things realistically, most old lures don't have much value beyond their original retail value. If you think you can buy some cheap lures and wait for the market to bail you out, you should probably reconsider your investment.
Sometimes there's an emotional attachment to older equipment. "It was Dad's favorite lure" or "I caught my first fish on this lure," are often heard. Others simply find beauty in older equipment or may appreciate the processes involved in creating something fifty or a hundred years old.
<<<<<>>>>>
Identification of an older lure is one of the challenges faced by collectors. Naturally, printed guides are available to aid in this task but other methods rely on the knowledge of the collector.
One way to vaguely date a lure is to note changes in its manufacturing. Most lures that have been around a while have made the transition from wood to plastic. If you can find the date of such a change, you at least know that the lure was made before or after a certain year. Other changes can include dates or writing on the bottom of lures, going from metal to plastic hardware (popular in WWII era lures) or even hook placement.
You're probably wondering how to obtain such information. New Internet sites pop up every day so, check out the Web even if it means you have to visit the local library or Internet Cafe. You can also try the aforementioned books or even word of mouth from other collectors.
Where to find old lures
Unless you really know what you're doing, I DON'T recommend perusing online auctions with intent to buy. There is simply too much room for unhappy surprises and you're at the mercy of another person's description and terminology.
So, what to do if you don't buy online???? There's always the possibility that someone will GIVE you a lure but the alternatives I like are swap meets and yard sales. Flea markets can work too but the people selling at these often know what they have and finding a bargain may be pretty tough.
A word of warning! You have to be careful at big sales! Last winter I found what looked to be an old Jitterbug in an old Heddon box. Since old for a box may be only a few years and I couldn't accurately date the lure, I let it go. I may not know everything about lure collecting but I know enough to pass on an Arbogast lure in a Heddon box! Either the seller didn't know what he was doing or DID know and was looking for a rube!
Although the historical significance of older lures can be fascinating, people often get taken just because they think anything old is worth something. You must remember that "old" is a relative term. I have a couple lures from the 70's that aren't worth a plugged nickel! To someone in their 20's, those are probably "old" lures. On the other hand, (and more technical) "Lazy Ike" lures went from wood to plastic in 1960. You can have one of these from 1959 and have a bit of history that is less than 50 years old.
That's a quick illustration of the folly of relying on age alone to drive the price of a lure. Circumstance can dictate price too. If any of the guys on the tournament trail ever get eaten by an alligator, any lure they endorse will, surely, go up in value!
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
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