Page 50 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles June 2019
P. 50
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles and Asheford Institute of Antiques have teamed up to present:
Asheford Institute of Antiques
www.asheford.com
APPRAISERS CORNER A Commitment to Excellence Since 1966
Certified Appraisal Training
Dear David, Hunting paraphernalia, Duck decoys, fish decoys, fishing lures, and fishing
equipment have fallen into the genre of Sporting collectibles. In my opinion
I just picked up these three lures at an prices for Fishing lures were at their highest peak overall in the 2006/2008 period.
antique show for my husband, but have no When the economic recession hit in the 2007/2009 time period, prices tumbled
information on them. They were part of a on just about everything in the sporting collectibles genre. We have started to see
large collection but these four just stood out a collecting upswing and price/value resurgence in the past few years. Antique and
to me. Can you help me out and let me collectible fishing lures will always be collected and in demand.
know what kind of value they have? Fishing lures have been made out of wood, metal, glass, and plastic. Shapes
and styles have been made by the thousands. Patents have been applied for and
Thank you, granted along with unauthorized copies and spin-offs of successful fishing lures. I
Carolyn would have to see your 4 lures in hand to give an official appraisal as to whether
your lures are plastic or wood, original paint, with or without original boxes, true
Hello Carolyn, condition, original manufacturer or spin off, etc. By the picture sent I will give an
estimated opinion. Your 4 Fishing lures are factory or commercially made lures.
Thank you for your ultimate “Man Cave” collectible submission. They are common but collectible old fishing lures. Values of old fishing lures are
I have personally followed lure collecting since the early 1960s when the plastic based largely on rarity, age, paint, with or without original box and condition.
lures were just getting a foothold in the fishing lure industry and the wooden lures Identification and valuation of the lures in the picture sent will be from left to
were on their way out. right and are my opinions:
There is a mystique to fish baits or fishing lures in every fisherman’s heart and 1. The lure pictured on the far left seems to be a vintage circa: 1970s/80s
mind. My Grandfather and Dad were no exception to this thought. They both plastic lure by an unknown maker. I am estimating that this lure is valued at
had their favorite artificial lure that “caught the big ones.” I can remember taking $5/$10.
week-long fly in fishing trips to Ontario Canada with Dad and Grandpa. We 2. Helin Mfg. Co plastic “Flatfish” lure with a gang hook. I believe this is a
would sit around a crackling campfire daily, eating a shore lunch of freshly caught harder to find color. Just about every tackle box in America had either a “lazy Ike”
walleye or Northern pike and I would listen to them sharing tales of catching big or Helin Flatfish lure in their assortment of lures. A very common type lure, the
fish with particularly blessed or lucky fishing lures. This is what sparked me as a valuation is $15/$20.
boy to collect some of the old wooden fishing lures of the early 20th century. 3. This lure is a Fred Arbogast “Tin Liz” metal lure. The Fred Arbogast
As an Appraiser, my inquisitive nature asks; why have specific genres turned Company started manufacturing the “Tin Liz” lure in the 1930s. Your lure is
collectable? Fishing lures fall into the category of what I call utilitarian collectibles metal with glass eyes and in good condition. Value is $20/$25.
in that since the dawn of the artificial lure, people have collected and amassed 4. This Wooden lure is called an “injured Minnow” and was manufactured by
them. Like duck decoys, the early fishing lures were carved by hand; and then later the Creek Chub Bait Company of Garret Indiana starting in 1924. The Creek
in the mid to late 19th century, they were commercially made and never meant Chub Bait Company or CCBCO made its manufacturing debut in 1910 and in
to be collected or set in a showcase to admire. They were utilitarian and made for its history sold lures with names such as “The Plunking Dinger,” “The Pop and
the purpose of catching fish. They were bought, given, and traded by fisherman Dunk,” “The Snook Pikie,” and last but not least “The Husky Dingbat.” One
who saw that they did exactly what they were created to do. cannot help loving a lure called “The Husky Dingbat.” Value on your
As a lad in the late 1950s and 60s, I found myself fishing every week with my wooden Injured Minnow with painted eyes, in what appears to be silver shiner
Dad, Grandpa, Uncles, and friends. We fished Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, paint, is approximately $35/$45.
Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, Tennessee and Arkansas. On every fishing trip I
took, I saw displays of old fishing lures in Sporting goods stores, fishing bait and David Moore is part of the school’s “Ask The Experts” appraising
tackle shops, fishing resort offices, etc. In the late 1960s/early 1970s I started to team, and is an honors graduate and “Certified” Asheford
see people who had never fished a day in their life collecting the early wooden Institute of Antiques Appraiser. Mr. Moore is the owner of
lures. In the 1980s collecting Fishing lures became and obsession and has Waterman’s Antiques, was President of the Indiana Archaeo -
continued to grow exponentially. Since the 1980s price guides, lure history and logical Society, and is a published author, with over 50 years of
identification books, on line websites, etc. have been available to the collector. experience in the research and study of antiques and collectibles.
The Journal of Antiques & Collectibles and Asheford Institute of Antiques have teamed up to provide our readers with professional appraisers to help you learn more
about and value your finds. Do you have questions about something you have acquired? We welcome your questions and photos. Send your information to
editorial@journalofantiques.com or mail to Journal of Antiques & Collectibles, PO Box 950, Sturbridge, MA 01566 attn: Appraisers Corner. To learn more about becoming
a “certified” antiques appraiser, visit www.asheford.com or contact the Admissions Office toll free at 877-444-4508.
RESTORATION
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
48
Asheford Institute of Antiques
www.asheford.com
APPRAISERS CORNER A Commitment to Excellence Since 1966
Certified Appraisal Training
Dear David, Hunting paraphernalia, Duck decoys, fish decoys, fishing lures, and fishing
equipment have fallen into the genre of Sporting collectibles. In my opinion
I just picked up these three lures at an prices for Fishing lures were at their highest peak overall in the 2006/2008 period.
antique show for my husband, but have no When the economic recession hit in the 2007/2009 time period, prices tumbled
information on them. They were part of a on just about everything in the sporting collectibles genre. We have started to see
large collection but these four just stood out a collecting upswing and price/value resurgence in the past few years. Antique and
to me. Can you help me out and let me collectible fishing lures will always be collected and in demand.
know what kind of value they have? Fishing lures have been made out of wood, metal, glass, and plastic. Shapes
and styles have been made by the thousands. Patents have been applied for and
Thank you, granted along with unauthorized copies and spin-offs of successful fishing lures. I
Carolyn would have to see your 4 lures in hand to give an official appraisal as to whether
your lures are plastic or wood, original paint, with or without original boxes, true
Hello Carolyn, condition, original manufacturer or spin off, etc. By the picture sent I will give an
estimated opinion. Your 4 Fishing lures are factory or commercially made lures.
Thank you for your ultimate “Man Cave” collectible submission. They are common but collectible old fishing lures. Values of old fishing lures are
I have personally followed lure collecting since the early 1960s when the plastic based largely on rarity, age, paint, with or without original box and condition.
lures were just getting a foothold in the fishing lure industry and the wooden lures Identification and valuation of the lures in the picture sent will be from left to
were on their way out. right and are my opinions:
There is a mystique to fish baits or fishing lures in every fisherman’s heart and 1. The lure pictured on the far left seems to be a vintage circa: 1970s/80s
mind. My Grandfather and Dad were no exception to this thought. They both plastic lure by an unknown maker. I am estimating that this lure is valued at
had their favorite artificial lure that “caught the big ones.” I can remember taking $5/$10.
week-long fly in fishing trips to Ontario Canada with Dad and Grandpa. We 2. Helin Mfg. Co plastic “Flatfish” lure with a gang hook. I believe this is a
would sit around a crackling campfire daily, eating a shore lunch of freshly caught harder to find color. Just about every tackle box in America had either a “lazy Ike”
walleye or Northern pike and I would listen to them sharing tales of catching big or Helin Flatfish lure in their assortment of lures. A very common type lure, the
fish with particularly blessed or lucky fishing lures. This is what sparked me as a valuation is $15/$20.
boy to collect some of the old wooden fishing lures of the early 20th century. 3. This lure is a Fred Arbogast “Tin Liz” metal lure. The Fred Arbogast
As an Appraiser, my inquisitive nature asks; why have specific genres turned Company started manufacturing the “Tin Liz” lure in the 1930s. Your lure is
collectable? Fishing lures fall into the category of what I call utilitarian collectibles metal with glass eyes and in good condition. Value is $20/$25.
in that since the dawn of the artificial lure, people have collected and amassed 4. This Wooden lure is called an “injured Minnow” and was manufactured by
them. Like duck decoys, the early fishing lures were carved by hand; and then later the Creek Chub Bait Company of Garret Indiana starting in 1924. The Creek
in the mid to late 19th century, they were commercially made and never meant Chub Bait Company or CCBCO made its manufacturing debut in 1910 and in
to be collected or set in a showcase to admire. They were utilitarian and made for its history sold lures with names such as “The Plunking Dinger,” “The Pop and
the purpose of catching fish. They were bought, given, and traded by fisherman Dunk,” “The Snook Pikie,” and last but not least “The Husky Dingbat.” One
who saw that they did exactly what they were created to do. cannot help loving a lure called “The Husky Dingbat.” Value on your
As a lad in the late 1950s and 60s, I found myself fishing every week with my wooden Injured Minnow with painted eyes, in what appears to be silver shiner
Dad, Grandpa, Uncles, and friends. We fished Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, paint, is approximately $35/$45.
Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, Tennessee and Arkansas. On every fishing trip I
took, I saw displays of old fishing lures in Sporting goods stores, fishing bait and David Moore is part of the school’s “Ask The Experts” appraising
tackle shops, fishing resort offices, etc. In the late 1960s/early 1970s I started to team, and is an honors graduate and “Certified” Asheford
see people who had never fished a day in their life collecting the early wooden Institute of Antiques Appraiser. Mr. Moore is the owner of
lures. In the 1980s collecting Fishing lures became and obsession and has Waterman’s Antiques, was President of the Indiana Archaeo -
continued to grow exponentially. Since the 1980s price guides, lure history and logical Society, and is a published author, with over 50 years of
identification books, on line websites, etc. have been available to the collector. experience in the research and study of antiques and collectibles.
The Journal of Antiques & Collectibles and Asheford Institute of Antiques have teamed up to provide our readers with professional appraisers to help you learn more
about and value your finds. Do you have questions about something you have acquired? We welcome your questions and photos. Send your information to
editorial@journalofantiques.com or mail to Journal of Antiques & Collectibles, PO Box 950, Sturbridge, MA 01566 attn: Appraisers Corner. To learn more about becoming
a “certified” antiques appraiser, visit www.asheford.com or contact the Admissions Office toll free at 877-444-4508.
RESTORATION
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
48
