eBay Report, February 2003

If you want to get attention, just pay $31,857.50 for a lure on eBay. Newspapers picked up the story, and probably 10-20 of you sent me emails to make sure I didn't miss it in this report. There were several other astounding sales this month, so read on.

Lures:

This was the one that got all the attention - a Heddon 150 underwater minnow that was in a very rare bronze/orange finish, and in VG-EX condition. It received 26 bids before ending at the $31,857.50. The seller was unaware of what he had when the lure was posted. It is shown to the right as a thumbnail. Just click the picture to see a full size photo.

Heddon plastic lures did well also, with a Crazy Crawler in green crawfish, new in the box, going for $1500. A Magnum Torpedo, white/red head & glitter in VG condition brought $910.

A very beautiful Creek Chub Wigglefish in goldfish color and EX condition received 35 bids before selling for $2720. It is shown here. Another nice CCBC lure was a 700 Pikie that was New in Box. It was yellow, with red and black spots and sold for $968.00. An early Chub Wiggler, in a rare brown with gold spots color and in VG condition sold for $867.

A Decker Surface Bass Bait, white/red head, in EX condition in a VG box was a nice buy at $414.99. An Eger Slim Jim Box only, that was in poor condition brought $265.99. A Clinton Wilt Champion Minnow, orange with a green stripe in VG received 17 bids before settling at $1425.00. And what was called an "Old Glass Eye Fishing Lure found in estate", that looked like a Flying Helgramite, but had no patents or name on it, received 28 bids, and sold for $1345.00

Another great bait that drew a lot of interest was a rare Chapman & Son Brass Minnow. It was in VG-EX condition, and received 14 bids before topping out at $7300. It is shown to the right. A Fred Arbogast Snake lure in VG-EX, with painted eyes brought $506.01.

You lure collectors need to send in those interesting auctions. I can't spend the time necessary to follow everything on eBay, so I need your help.

Miscellaneous Stuff:

Some interesting miscellaneous items came up this month, with the top item a Heddon 1912 Catalog in G-VG condition bringing $12,100. As you might guess this is a rare catalog.

A neat Black Bass cigar box that had a registered trademark date of 1881, but was only in good condition, sold for $113.61. It is to the right. Five J. C. Conroy bass flies in a Conroy envelope brought $150.50. It's nice to see those old bass flies get the recognition they deserve.

An Edward vom Hofe metal tackle box with all the finish gone from the outside of the box brought $131.50. A UMCO plastic #700R small creek tackle box brought $114.27. A Mercury toy outboard motor that had to be fairly recent for it was a 200 HP motor, brought $123.56. A Pennsylvania resident fisherman license pinback from 1924 sold for $330. It was in VG condition.

A nice Paw Paw/Moonlight spearing decoy drew 26 bids before selling for $787.00. It was nice as you can see here. A Pflueger Williams Handle Drag that was in the box with wrench and spare washers brought $147.50.

And finally, the wonderful old TV pitchman's Popeils Pocket Fisherman that was new in the box received four bids and sold for $49.99.

Rods:

A very nice example of the Hurd Supercaster in the case brought $172.50 after 17 bids. It was the walnut handled version, as you can see to the right. There was a bunch of Orchard Industries Action Rods this month, and they are still bringing from $100-150 in good used condition.

"A Leonard 6.5', 2/2, 2 weight fly rod #37-2, from the Leonard Rod Co. President's accumulation in the 1980, and was in mint condition, sold for $4050 after 24 bids. Another Leonard, a prototype from the same period, a Model 39, 7.5', 2/2, brought $3550.00.

A (Heddon) Folsum Arms Co. 7', 2/2 for a 4 wt. line that had been restored received 11 bids and sold for $630. "The best Montague Bamboo Fly Rod ever on eBay", a Manitou, 3/2, 6 wt, in EX condition brought $662 to a buyer with 0 feedback. 

Reels:

A nice wooden cod reel marked "Chas Lehmann" and in VG condition brought $154. It is shown here. An Allcock Arial? centerpin casting reel that was EX in the box brought $1258.00.

Salt Water reels of interest included a J. A. Coxe (Bronson) 1/0 cradle reel in a custom case. It was in EX condition and brought $203.50. An Ocean City Surf Casting reel EX in the Box with papers drew 10 bids and sold for $180.00

A Follett side mount fly reel from the late 1800s, in G-VG condition brought $256.01. A Pflueger Gem fly reel with the telephone style latch in VG+ condition received 23 bids and sold for $173.27. A pair of rare McVickar Bushkill fly reels came up for sale. A Trout reel that was mint in the box brought $274.00, and a Salmon reel that was EX in a pouch with instructions brought $141.30. An Edward vom Hofe Tobique 6/0 multiplying Salmon fly reel took two tries to sell, but it did for $2500.00 with only 3 bids.

A very nicely polished G. W. Gayle & Sons #4 Tournament Reel (I'm not sure what made it a tournament reel) received 10 bids and sold for $2550. It is to the right. A very rare Henshall Van Antwerp, patent 1887 reel sold. It was missing the crank knob and had some buggered screws. What remained was G-VG condition, and brought 1026.25. A Shakespeare Crescent hard rubber and nickel plated brass casting reel brought $154.49. This is a non level wind reel.

A Heddon Pal Model 26 "Pro Weight" level wind casting reel in VG brought $154.59. A Heddon Heritage Model 40 that was as new in the pouch drew 25 bids and sold for $188.00.

A Rogue 150 Spinning reel with the case in EX brought 19 bids and sold for $213.50. A very interesting spinning reel was the Lionel Airex Spinster that was painted Pink for the ladies. It was very good condition. It was pulled from the list, but then reappeared and drew 7 bids before selling for $1000.

Many thanks to Dave O'Rourke, Chris Labuz, Gary Rickert, Dan Basore, Kevin McJunkin, Larry Huffman, Ken?, Tom Maxon, Scott Schwindt, Bill Wiedemann, Ben Wright, Carl Schulz, Butch Hughes, Frank Knapp, and Tom Jacomet. If I left out anyone, I'm sorry.