eBay Report, December 2003

The year ended with a bang. Some nice Christmas presents came and went on eBay this month. Take a look here at some of the goodies...

Miscellaneous Tackle:

One neat item that I spied that attracted a lot of attention was a c1903 Casting Medal. It was imprinted "Interstate Trophy - Fly & Bait Casting" on the face, and listed the winners of various events on the back. It was 2.5" in diameter and in VG condition. This item sold for $258.25. A Horton-Meek glass oil bottle with cork stopper in EX condition brought $431.25.  

A Kingfisher (Martin Line Co) line dressing tin in only G condition reached $56.00. A Winchester split shot tin in VG-EX condition brought $190.39.

Paper items of interest included a J.A. Coxe and Bronson catalog from 1951, with a covering letter. In EX condition it brought $80.95. A 1924 Creek Chub catalog in VG sold for $519.99, and a 1929 South Bend catalog in VG brought $165.08. A large (25 x 28 inches) Philip R. Goodwin fishing calendar with a full pad from 1917 sold for $305.

An aluminum "salesman's sample" John Boat that was 41" long sold for $458. It was pretty neat, but didn't look like a John boat to me.

A Leonard Rod Co. priest or fish knocker in EX condition topped out at $56.99, and then a follow up 2nd one reached $66.00. It was reported these were made by apprentices at the Leonard Rod shop. A Shakespeare Wonderod Rod Rack that held 21 rods sold for $68.76. A bobber or float that was 19" long and reportedly an Ideal Bobber factory display received 47 bids before selling for $1800.00

Reels:

There were some nice reels sold in December. The giant among them was a B. F. Meek and Sons #11 salt water reel. This hard rubber and German silver reel had a Rabbeth drag handle and was in VG condition. It sold for $9,433.00. A Meisselbach Sea Line #75 surf reel in EX- reached $208.49. An old Pflueger sandwiched salt water reel with a Blackburn drag and in VG condition topped out at $405. An Edward Vom Hofe 9/0 big game reel #621, made of German silver and hard rubber, and in EX condition in its leather case sold for $835. a Bronson made J.A. Coxe big game reel, 6" in diameter and EX condition sold for $861.56. An Ocean City Ike Walton salt water reel (EX) in a VG box brought $342.50.

A half handle fly reel marked T.H. Chubb #3, in nickel plated brass and hard rubber was undoubtedly made by Julius vom Hofe, and it brought $350 in VG condition. A Julius Vom Hofe raised pillar hard rubber and German silver #1 size fly reel in EX condition brought $1324 after 27 bids. It had "Leonard Mills" markings. Another JVH with Leonard Mills markings, a #50, with half handle and in EX condition sold for $1601.00. A 4 Bros. Delite #113, 60 yard fly reel, in its box brought a lot of attention. The reel was EX and the box only G and it sold for $787. An Edward vom Hofe Trout Fly Reel #4 size and VG-EX uncleaned condition sold for $4617.

A brass Meek & Milam #3 with two numbered screws and in VG condition brought $1800. A Meisselbach Narrow Spool round pillar Take Apart in G-VG condition sold for $861. It had an automatic click. Another regular width round pillar Take Apart with standard click and VG+ brought $330. A Bronson Invader #26 in VG condition attracted 14 bids before going to Japan for $243.50. An EX Pflueger Redifor sold for $547.50. A Rochester Kelso 4 X casting reel, pat. 1910 and VG-EX sold for $330. A Generic Kentucky style casting reel in German silver and marked "Jay Harvey" sold for $313.88. It was in EX condition. An EX German silver and hard rubber Edward vom Hofe Kentucky style bait caster sold for $2275. a Heddon Dowagiac (Meisselbach Takapart) reel in VG sold for $375.

A Hardy Super Silex, c1928, 3-3/4" and in EX condition sold for $405.01. A Brass Hardy Perfect with the rod in hand logo, ivory knob, and leather case brought $32.50. It was in VG condition. An early British Brass winch with an unusual free spool and in EX condition sold for $438.00 (it is shown to the right). An Allcock Aerial 4", 2 x 6 spoked reel, c1929 and in EX condition reached $1626.

Finally, a Gar Wood Fin Nor #3 Spinning Reel in EX condition sold for $310.00

Lures:

The top of lure of interest that I noted was a Pflueger Trory Minnow. This 4" example in EX condition started at $1000, received 12 bids, and ended selling for $22,985. It is shown here. A small size Johnson Auto Striker in EX sold for $500.99. A Winchester 5 hook underwater minnow in green and VG-EX sold for $432.89. An uncertain DAM, Heddon, or Goble celluloid wooden (?) bait that was nifty looking and VG-EX in the box brought $1180. A Flood Florida Shiner new in the box with papers topped out at $831.99.

A four point Heddon Ice Decoy in green scale and EX condition sold for $1653. A very pretty Heddon 150 underwater minnow in Sienna color and EX brought $1225. An EX condition fly rod Punkie Spook #980 in W/RH and glitter topped out at $1083.

Creek Chub baits of interest were a Giant Jointed Pikie in a "never in production" color of Psychie Pikie, TE and EX condition sold for $985.86. Another standard size Jointed Pikie in Mackeral color that was EX in box sold for $909.99.

A Shakespeare Floating Minnow, B notched props, green, red and silver color and VG+ condition reached $365. A Worden Bucktail aluminum bait in EX sold for $338.33.

A South Bend Plug Oreno in EX- sold for $300. These are really great looking baits. A Pflueger Kent Frog in VG-EX sold for $808.09.

Shown to the right is a Walton Products Speed Bait. This early 1900s multi-rigged spinner was in VG-EX condition and sold for $541.01.

Rods:

A G. H. Howells 8', 2/2, bamboo fly rod for a 4 wt line in unfished condition brought $3450. It was unfished and had the original correspondence between Howells and the seller who was the original owner. Another similar Howells rod, but for a 5 wt line and in EX sold for $2750.

A Leonard #39, 7' 6", 2/2 for a 5 wt and in EX sold for $1850. A 7' Wright & McGill Granger Aristocrat, 2/2, 4 wt, and in EX condition reached $860. A Phillipson Preferred 7' 6" 2/2 in EX topped out at $697.93.

A Fenwick FC60, 2 pc fiberglass casting rod with removable handle, 6' medium action and EX condition reached $510; while a heavy duty Fenwick PLC60, 6' heavy action and VG sold for $260.  

And to all the people who constantly wonder about the value of those Bristol telescopic rods, two of the quality hexagonal models were offered in VG-EX condition. They had a $9.99 starting bid and no one bid. Another one with a $15.00 starting bid got the one bid and sold for $15.00. I guess we've still got a ways to go before these make their mark in the OFS eBay Report.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Again, my thanks to Harvey Garrison, Ben Wright, Bill Arp and Carl Schultz.