NJ plug and tackle manufacturers: back in time...

[DarkSkies]

We have a thread here for old-time NJ fishermen and stories, people. :HappyWave:

http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=5236

From conversations with them I realize there were a lot of innovative lure and tackle makers that grew up and prospered in New Jersey.

They brought us things like different types of tins, tackle, some lures, and many others.

The most important issue?
How did it swim in the water? http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/images/smilies/don't%20know%20why.gif
Did it catch? :lookhappy:

Early in the history of New Jersey fishing, when fishermen made the transition from bait to jigs, bucktails, and other new inventions of the 1900s, some NJ fishing tackle innovators were at the top of their game.

However, NJ fishermen are a tough breed. If your new fishing idea or presentation you wanted to sell didn't work, fishermen would ignore you. You failed miserably. :beatin:

[DarkSkies]

Let's hear about any old-time New Jersey Commercial fishing tackle manufacturers, from the large companies to the garage operations.

The ones that succeeded, and why you liked them growing up. The ones that failed, and the ones in between.

Let's hear about some local pride. :thumbsup: Someone in your family or a relative make or sell tackle for awhile? Even if they didn't succeed, they are a part of NJ fishing history. If you cite sources that are copyrighted, please remember to put up the link. I reserve the right to edit links I feel aren't appropriate.

I think this is gonna be a good thread for the winter. :cool:

[skinner]

I found this courtesy of Phil White. He has written a few books on early Meisselbach reels, Dark, and I wondered if I put up this tackle history if you might allow a link promoting his books for sale?

http://www.meisselbach.info/


Some Meisselbach History

Growing Up: August Frederick Meisselbach was born in Newark, NJ in 1865. He was the second son of German immigrants who came to the US in the 1850s. The family was all mechanically inclined with Gus' father working as a gunsmith in a Newark gun shop, and his older brother, William also followed in the machinist trade. This mechanical ability and an interest in fishing and hunting led Gus to create his own fishing reel.

http://www.meisselbach.info/images/Meisselbach-AFsurf01w.jpgThe Start: In the fall of 1885 20 year old A. F. Meisselbach entered the oak paneled office of Crane & Miller, Attorneys, with a drawing and samples in hand and an era was begun. The application detailing the petal-shaped spool cutouts to aid in line drying, the thumb brake and a click mechanism, and the spool mounted counterbalance and crank knob was unique enough that patent #336,657 was granted for the reel on February 23, 1886.

By the summer of 1886 advertisements were appearing in the American Angler and other sporting journals, proclaiming the virtues of the "Gogebic Reel." The reel also received press reviews in a new book by John Harrington Keene, Fishing Tackle, Its Materials and Manufacture.

Demand for the new reel was enough that brother William joined Gus in manufacturing their product in a shop behind the Meisselbach home. They called their company, "Meisselbach Bros., Fishing Reel Mfrs." Demand was great enough that they moved to a shop on Halsey Street in Newark in 1888. At this time they added several other products to their lineup, including the Expert Reel, the Universal Rod Holder, and their famous spring bow landing nets.

A. F. Meisselbach & Bro.: New reels and fishing accessories were added to the goods produced by the brothers and they soon outgrew their Halsey Street shop. A three story factory on Prospect Street became the home of the bustling business in 1896.


The http://www.meisselbach.info/images/Meisselbachhouse01w.jpg
company success also allowed Gus the bachelor, his retired father, mother, and bachelor brother William to all move into a new home on 13th Avenue in Newark. The photo to the left shows the house as it appeared in the 1990s.






The Boom: A. F. Meisselbach & Bro. continued to prosper from 1900 to 1917 with Gus at the helm and brother William at his side. (He signed official documents and patents as William Meisselbach Jr., which led some researchers to believe he had a son. He used the Jr. because his father's name was Wilhelm which became Americanized to William). During this period A. F. Meisselbach & Bro. became one of the dominant manufacturers of fishing reels and accessories in the US. Many new reels were developed that were innovative, relatively inexpensive, and appealed to the increasing masses of sport fishermen. The company was incorporated in 1906.

Shortly after the turn of the new century they teamed with a young Italian immigrant, Plinio Catucci, who was an engineering genius and developed over 80 patents during his lifetime. Gus & Pliny developed many new reel designs and improvements and even started a new manufacturing company to develop and manufacture non-fishing products. The Meisselbach-Catucci Corporation operated out of the Meisselbach factory. In 1911 the factory was expanded and they had 75 people on their payroll. At this time the Meisselbach brothers slowed down some and moved to Little Silver, NJ where they could pursue their passion for surf fishing (photo at top of page). William died in 1919, and A. F. Meisselbach passed away in 1927. They are interred side by side in Fairmount Cemetery in Newark.

A. F. Meisselbach Mfg. Co.: In May 1917 A. F. Meisselbach & Bro. was sold to the Otto Heineman Phonograph Company. The Meisselbach factory had been turning out many crank phonograph motors and other items for the new record and record playing http://www.meisselbach.info/images/Meis-Factory-OH-1921w.jpgproducts. The Meisselbach fishing items were produced from a Heineman factory in Newark for several years and the company was renamed A. F. Meisselbach Mfg. Co. Reels were produced bearing the new name with a Newark, NJ address. In early 1921 Heineman moved the fishing tackle manufacturing business to another factory he owned in Elyria, Ohio, where they remained for the rest of their existence. This factory is shown to the right. Reels produced in this factory are stamped with an Elyria, Ohio address.

The depression took its toll on the high quality Meisselbach products and in the 1930s Elyria mainly produced inexpensive casting reels with Bakelite end plates. The company turned to producing goods for the war effort in 1940, and reel production was not resumed at the end of World War II.

[DarkSkies]

Skinner, that's a great snapshot of fishing history, thanks for posting it. :thumbsup:

I would be glad to do a little promo for Phil. His small business is exactly the kind of business that I would promote freely. It seems he's just started his website as of 2009.

No ordering, pricing, or contact info for his books is yet available. Check the "references" section on his site for upcoming pricing and ordering info.

It seems the site is still being filled in. If you have a way to get in touch with him, feel free to invite him here. I'll do a short promo for his books and what seems to be a life-long passion for him.

In the meantime, I found this on his site. Anyone interested in buying one of his books can probably find a source with the information below, and a google search.


http://www.meisselbach.info/

[Much of the information is from my original Meisselbach book, Meisselbach & Meisselbach-Catucci Fishing Reels, which was published in 1995. Since that time I have written numerous articles and two other books about Meisselbach reels. The information from these writings is currently available. However, the original book is no longer in print and that material is no longer available to collectors unless you can acquire a used copy of the book.
Thus, the creation of this web site to recreate much of the information from my original Meisselbach book in hopes that it will help Meisselbach collectors and interested owners of Meisselbach reels to enjoy their collection or accumulation. My most recent book, More Meisselbach & Meisselbach-Catucci Fishing Reels and the small booklet Meisselbach & Meisselbach-Catucci Fishing Reels, Their History & Values, are still in print and information about acquiring them can be found in the References section. ]

[hookset]

Got this from a fishing blog. Dr Todd runs it, great site!






Today we are all fortunate to have a guest author here on the blog, Tim Clancy. You may remember Tim from his very interesting essay on his Lang's experience (http://fishinghistory.blogspot.com/2008/11/langs-final-thoughts-by-tim-clancy.html). Here, he illuminates one of his passions: Ans. B. Decker history.

Ans. B. Decker and his father and three brothers were all well known fishing guides on Lake Hopatcong, a huge resort beginning in the early 1880's and they were guiding and fishing artificial baits that early. I personally believe that all early aluminum prop rotaries (Harkauf, Jacob Mick, Manhattan, etc) are likely of Decker manufacturer and just marketed by the other. I don't think it was until the big companies like Heddon, Pflueger & Shakespeare, started copying his baits that he made a big point of promoting his name.

Here is a chronological listing of the known Decker boxes:


http://www.pixelarchitecture.com/todd/decker_01.jpg

Most common of the Decker boxes, the Yellow folded picture box was used from 1915 until company ended in the mid 1930's


http://www.pixelarchitecture.com/todd/decker_02.jpg

Brown Label Picture Box used from 1913-15


http://www.pixelarchitecture.com/todd/decker_03.jpg

Both size Decker Grand Prize Bait (AKA Loving Cup Box) boxes, used in 1912 only


http://www.pixelarchitecture.com/todd/decker_04.jpg

Recently found and earliest Decker Box known, possibly as early as 1907


http://www.pixelarchitecture.com/todd/decker_05.jpg

Previously thought to be the earliest Decker box, dates from 1910 & 1911


http://www.pixelarchitecture.com/todd/decker_06.jpg

Comparison of the two early Decker Blue Boxes. Larger Patent Applied for w/ Lake Hopatcong address is the earliest I'm aware of and predates 1910


http://www.pixelarchitecture.com/todd/decker_07.jpg

Six different Decker boxes

All dates determined from various advertisements in early outdoor magazines and tackle catalogs.

One known box I don't have and would pay dearly for is the Decker Troller Box (it's about the size of an Al Foss early Tin). Also don't know how the Decker Wobbler spoon was marketed, but I suspect on a card, would step up for that one also.

I would also like to know from your bloggers if anyone else has an example of earliest box. I knew this one was there for several years and never pursued it because I said I have the blue white label box, don't need another. Ran into the guy at a local auction and asked "does your box say Brooklyn or Lake Hopatcong on it?" He didn't remember and sent me a pic...and it was [soon] in my collection looking out on Lake Hopatcong with all it's siblings.

http://fishinghistory.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

[DarkSkies]

Billy West...plugmaker and Surf bag maker

A lot of guys know Billy West of Long Branch as a plug maker. He built interesting plugs, with some cool features. This was back before all the killer air-brush guys and paint brush finishes were important. Some guys out there said the paint was quick to fade off of his plugs. Those same guys said they caught their biggest fish on Billy's plugs.

What does that tell ya about how important the paint job is? :) :learn:

Some may not know that he also built plug bags. For a while he was trying to establish a plug bag business. One of his first shipments of 10 plug bags went to Giglio's B&T in Sea Bright in the 1980's.

I spied a beat up Army canvas, high quality plug bag the other day when scouting the surf. The owner of the bag, was kind enough to tell me it was a Billy West Bag, and he had scored it in Giglio's, about 25 years ago for $40.
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Thanks for the story, and continued good luck with the bag.


They sure don't make em like they used to...look at some of the thin-material bags the guys are using today and ask yourself if they would last 25 years...:kooky:some pics...

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[seamonkey]

Very cool thread, thanks for posting that. When these guys are buried a little bit of our history dies with them.

[stripermania]

When these guys are buried a little bit of our history dies with them.

So true, interesting stuff.

[DarkSkies]

Found some things at Rahway today....will post when I get a chance...

[DarkSkies]

"Sneaky Snake Fresh and Saltwater Lure"

originally manufactured by the Gold Tech Manufacturing Co, Paterson, NJ

Found a few of these in a bin at the Rahway FFM...the guy who had the table was kind enough to let me take a few pics.... :HappyWave:



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[DarkSkies]

GM Products Milltown, NJ

They made Spider Diamond Jigs

and Spider Tube Lures....think it was in the 80's.......
Originally marketed for fishing cod in the Northeast US, they also came to be known for jigging Striped Bass and on the West Coast for jigging other species.

Took a pic of one of the Spider Tube Lures today at the Hi-Mar fishing flea market.
thought you folks would be interested in some of the history.


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The above is a pic of a Spider Tube Lure.



'
If anyone has anything else to add about this or any other of these companies, it would be much appreciated, feel free......:HappyWave:

[clamchucker]

"Sneaky Snake Fresh and Saltwater Lure"

originally manufactured by the Gold Tech Manufacturing Co, Paterson, NJ

Found a few of these in a bin at the Rahway FFM...the guy who had the table was kind enough to let me take a few pics.... :HappyWave:



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Now you are bringing back memories. I used the sneaky snake. Never thought much of it for salt water but I did get some nice largemouths and pickerel in fresh water lakes and ponds. The pickerel were able to destroy it too easily so I used it less and less. It did catch fish.

[DarkSkies]

Driftwood Lures...




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Driftwood Lures.......

Chumbucket was kind enough to let me take pics of some of these original Driftwood Lures he had stashed away...:HappyWave:....this is the company that was run by Tony Spina and Charlie K.....started in 1989

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[bababooey]

It's amazing when you think of all the manufacturers that tried to make in in jersey. Some did, some didn't. Tough lessons learned. Thanks for sharing DS.