eBay Report - August 2003

The Dog Days of August produced some nice tackle, including several one of a kind Edward vom Hofe reels. There were some dandy lures as well...

Reels:

Edward vom Hofe reels were high rollers this month, as a couple of "one of a kind" or "only one made" came up for sale. A "prototype" salt water reel that was labeled "the only one made" and was in VG-EX condition reached $2025, after 15 bids. This was topped by the reel shown here, called a small surf reel, it had unique features and was the only one known of its type. It was in EX condition, and sold for $3250. A 10/0 Edward vom Hofe reel in the case that was in EX condition reached $1200

Fly reels were abundant in August, as a Pettingill sidemount in G-VG condition sold for $307.50; A Julius vom Hofe 2 1/2 hard rubber and German silver fly reel in VG condition topped out at $555.55. An early Yawman & Erbe in VG-EX condition reached $240; a Leonard Bi-Metal pat. 1877 fly reel, 2" in diameter that was in VG condition except for a couple of missing screws sold for $2550. A mint condition Seamaster Tarpon fly reel came up for auction, and brought $3599.99. So, within a week another one was up for sale that was near mint and it sold for $2550 (you've got to be first). Both were 4" reels with "S" handles. A brass faced Hardy Perfect, with the Rod in Hand logo, 4 1/4 inches and in VG condition, reached $1101. Another salmon size Perfect from the 1950's and in VG condition sold for $402.

A rare B. F. Meek and Sons surf casting reel was offered. It was hard rubber and German silver, and in EX condition. It sold for $3075, and is shown to the left.

Casting reels of interest were a Swedish Arjon reel, The Commander, which was in G condition in the case, and brought $355. A Meisselbach #480 Takapart that was EX in a VG box with the papers sold for $281.41, and a Meisselbach #581 Tripart that was in the same condition sold for $134.50. Then if you put the name Heddon on the Takapart, and it becomes a Heddon Dowagiac reel in VG-EX condition, it gets 19 bids, and sells for $417.26.

A brass Malloch spinning reel in VG condition sold for $300. A Heddon Spin Pal #200 that was NIB brought $201.50, and a Penn Spinfisher #710, also NIB with papers and accessories, reached $416.12.

Lures:

Shakespeare lures stole the headlines this month. The three hook Wooden Minnow in yellow perch color, with B props, and EX in an EX picture box sold for a whopping $9200. It is shown to the right.  In addition we had a nice Revolution in the black picture box - both were in VG condition. This bait reached $2872. The same seller also offered a Shakespeare Worden Bucktail in a black picture box, but even though the lure was VG, the box was only in fair condition. This combination sold for $1035. In addition there was also a Shakespeare Rhodes Mechanical Frog box only. This was the wooden dovetail box, and it was in EX condition. After 18 bids this nice item sold for $2275.99.

A Heddon Crazy Crawler in Chipmunk and VG condition reached $852.90. Another Crazy Crawler - plastic in the green crawdad color and in the box that were selling for $1800+ a few years ago reached $760, but didn't make the reserve. A Creek Chub Bait Co. Brown Gar in the box, both VG condition, sold for $886.89. A CCBC Baby Jigger in silver flash and EX condition brought $525. A South Bend three hook minnow #904, in yellow with red and black spots, and in VG condition sold for $370.

Miscellaneous baits featured an Expert minnow that was White/black gill marks. Even though this bait had no hooks, it was in VG condition, and reached $1402. A T. H. Bates Serpentine Spinner, pat. 1855, seemed a bargain at $610. An Oliver & Gruber Glowurm in the scarcer yellow & green color in the wooden box sold for $587.77. The Johnson Automatic Striker bait shown here - EX in a VG box reached $463.99.

Rods:

A white plastic handled Hurd Supercaster in the case and in VG+ condition received 20 bids before selling for $316.77.

A 6.5' Leonard M37 2/2 bamboo fly rod in mint condition sold for $2281.04. A Jim Payne M221 10.5' salmon rod, 3 pieces with 2 tips received 22 bids before selling for $1025. It was in EX condition. A 7' Winston 2/1 in EX condition received 29 bids, and then sold for $982.67. A Wright & McGill Granger fly rod, 7.5', 3/2 for a 4-5 weight line and in EX condition brought $925.

Finally, a Fenwick fiberglass LunkerStik, 2 piece casting rod brought $300.

Miscellaneous:

A round Spalding split shot tin in EX condition sold for $255. It is shown here. 18 Split Shot tins, plus a few other tins and misc. items reached $203.50.

A South Bend 1929 Trade catalog in mint condition brought $236.50. An Orvis Glass Minnow Trap in the original cardboard box and in new condition sold for $197.10. A rare triangular glass minnow trap was offered that had a couple of cracks. It was a nice green color, and still brought $102.50.

An oval green minnow bucket with nice decorations, but only VG condition sold for $130.00. A boat type double keel minnow bucket in VG condition sold for $130.00.

I need some help from some of you lure collectors to send me auctions of some of the more unusual baits that are offered. I'd like to thank Tom Maxon, Ben Wright, Carl Schultz, and Bill Wiedemann for their help this month.