Fall Auction

THE eBay Report - July 2008

by Phil White

The lures picked up at the NFLCC National by dealers began to appear at the end of the month. There were some nice items...

Lures:

There were some nice Heddon lures this month, including a Coast Minnow #640S, strawberry spot that was EX in a VG box and sold for $2499.99. It is shown here. A Punkinseed 740, yellow perch? in EX brought $459.65. An Artistic Minnow with weight, gold and EX- in a poor box reached $300. A fly rod Punkinseed, RH/flitter and EX sold for $1643. A Budweiser ad Heddon Hi-Tail in EX brought $513.04.

One of the most attention getters for the month was an EX- Miller's Reversible Minnow, white with red & green spots that was in a VG+ box and soared to $6650. Also in the miscellaneous maker group was a Florida souvenir Mermaid Mammy, black and EX in a VG box sold for $152.50. A Bite-Em Bait Wiggler, Black/red & white head that was EX in an EX maroon picture box sold for $850. A Paw Paw Crippled Minnow, EX in an EX box and in pike scale? finish sold for $596.55. A Moonlight Ladybug Wiggler, labeled only "Vintage Fish Lure" that was in a beige color (luminous?) and EX- brought $731.99. I noted that no one piped up to tell the seller what they had, hoping that no one else would notice. A Viking Christensen Frog that was EX in a VG box topped out at $1281.

A Pflueger Surprise Minnow, Luminous color, hole eyes, and New in EX maroon box sold for $709.99.

Bagley lures are still drawing interest as a Pinfish in rainbow trout color and EX brought $45.58. It is so pretty that it is shown to the left for all to see. However, the real Bagley Wowser was a prototype Poor Penny tail spinner lure that was never put into production. This mint, yellow with black back, small lure was bid to $1125.02. As Ben Wright would say, "Holy Cow!" An El Campo, TX Hump Lure F28X, red & gold and NIB sold for $337. An L&S Musky Master, white with black bars and in EX condition sold for $165. A Rinehart Musky Jinx, yellow/red ribs & silver scale that was EX in an EX box brought $176.96.

A CCBC Wagtail in rainbow and VG brought $272.76. A Baby Wiggler #212 with no eye and EX sold for $227.50. An EX 200 in natural mullet brought $416. A Tarpon Pikie (originally labeled a Husky Musky) in golden shiner color and EX- in a VG- box sold for $1626.

Reels:

An interesting Indiana style reel by Micro Motor Co., of Topeka, KS in VG condition is pictured to the right. It seemed a good deal at $151.89. Also of the unusual variety, a Great Lakes Whirlaway Imperial 85, Mint in Box, brought $303.

Some of the reels from the last quarter of the 1900s are beginning to capture attention of reel collectors. Among those was a Shimano Bantam Mag Plus #350 that was NIB. It sold for $202.50. A NIB Shimano Stogie (Calcutta) reached $317.02. Those Bronson Invaders #26 are still drawing interest. A Mint in box example with pouch and instructions brought $790.25, while one called a "Jaleoxe (J. A. Coxe) Invader" in VG brought $304.54. An ABU Ambassadeur 2100, Mint in EX box sold for $500.

Older casting reels included a German silver Kentucky style Jupiter trade reel in VG that sold for $321.26. A Heddon Dowagiac No. 1 (Meisselbach Tripart) in VG+ topped out at $332.52. A BOX ONLY for a Meisselbach Flyer in VG sold for $120.50. A very nice Bradford & Anthony 25 yd ball handle brass reel in EX- sold for $356.

Fly reels of interest included a Cozzone 60 yard bound example in EX which sold for $283.79. An A. Allen 3" fly reel made in Scotland with agate line guide that was VG in a VG box reached $312. A brass Billinghurst c1859 in VG- brought $1275. A Sea Master Tarpon fly reel, 4" in dia, in EX sold for $2025. A Pflueger Hawkeye 60 yd model in VG reached $227.50. An R. L. Winston limited edition 5/6 wt. fly reel, mint in a wooden box brought $896.

Not very old yet, but unusual and interesting was a Zebco 50th Anniversary (1949-1999) #33 spincast reel, 1 of 1000 made and mint, which brought $210.25. It is shown to the left.

Salt water reels included an Edward Vom Hofe Pasque 1/0 of HR and GS and EX that sold for $500. A 14/0 Penn Senator Model 117 in VG+ reached $262.52. A Garcia Mitchell 4.0 #1040 big game reel that was mint in a wooden box with papers sold for $416. A Bruce Heitman big game prototype reel in EX sold for $380, and a rare 10/0 size Frank Crawford Hawiian Swordfish Reel, VG in a mahogany case, vaulted to $2737.87.

Rods:

Casting reels seem to take on more importance to collectors with each passing year. This month we had an EX bamboo Heddon #2 "Reliable", 5'6" light action,c1949-52, that brought $204.50. a Jim Heddon Favorite, 5'6", 2/2 and EX sold for $203.58. Casting rod handles have been sought out for years, but mostly Featherlight Champion handles. This Nelson Pistol Grip shown here was EX and unusual, and it sold for $137.75.

Fly rods included an Orvis Madison, 8', 2/1, 8 wt in EX that sold for $380. A Heddon M135 Extra Light, 8' 3/2 and EX brought $646.76. A Thomas & Thomas Maxwell/Dorsey era 6'6", 2/2 and EX topped out at a nice $1912.87. A Wright & McGill Granger Favorite, 8', 3/2 and VG sold for $511.09. A 7'6" H-I Tonka Queen 2/2 and EX brought $243.27. A Winchester made Armax #7242, 9', 3/2, VG with tip case brought $300. A Hardy Palakona 6'8", 2/1, 5 wt and mint sold for $1125. An E. F. Payne, 9', 3/3, for a 5 wt. line in EX reached $2550.

A Tycoon Tackle Tuna Club big game rod, 7' and VG, sold for $510. 

Glass rods are booming. A Shakespeare Wonderod fly rod #A-848, 7'9", 2/1 and EX brought $127.50. A Shakespeare Presidential Spin Wonderod, 7', 2/1 and EX sold for $112.09 while a Mint Presidential fly rod, 7', 2/1 reached $306.03. A top of the line Russ Peak Golden Zenith Ultra #2 that was made for author Carl Richards received 22 bids before ending at $4050. It was 6' and EX. A Fenwick 7'6" 5 wt. Model FF755 in EX sold for $179.50. A Fenwick glass casting LunkerStik #2055, 5'6" and Mint reached $490.25.

Miscellaneous Tackle Stuff:

An original sketch by noted artist Milton Weiler seemed a bargain at $158.05. The 5¾ x 8¾ inch drawing was in EX condition. The Angler's Guide, by T.F. Salter, London 1815 in VG sold for $361.56.

A Montgomery-Ward wooden tackle box with 1 tray brought $227.50. A C.F.C.C (supposedly Chicago Fishing Club) pinback sold for $67.99. It is shown here for you to figure out.

A Cutco Sportsman sheath knife in EX sold for $146.49, while an Imperial folding fish knife with yellow plastic handles, also EX brought $102.50. I guess an EX condition anything will sell for high dollars on eBay. A large size Evans Eagle Claw spring hook in VG reached $322.77.

Thanks once again to steady contributors Ben Wright, Dan Basore, and Frank Cristao.

Due to the California wildfires skies are hazy in Idaho but the fish seem to like the reduced light and are biting well. Remember, all this collecting stems from fishing, so don't forget our heritage - keep fishing.