I was fortunate to have known and fished with Bob Pond when I was a youngster.
I lost out in a bidding war for Atom when Bob sold the company in the mid 90's.
On the last day he owned it, I was invited to join a select group of guests to bid the folks farewell.
Bob loaded all the molds, and handed each of us a plug hot from the steam jackets.
Mine was an Atom 40.
It was literally the last plug Bob ever made.
When it cooled I asked him to sign, I was the only one.