Fall Auction

eBay Report - May 2007

It is always fun to see someone list an very collectible item on eBay that they know nothing about. This month we had a very nice Leonard Mills GS and Hard Rubber salmon fly reel that happened to be found in a Shakespeare Russell box. The seller thought the reel was a Shakespeare Russell and so listed it, giving the information that was on the box. She was immediately offered $35 by some thief who tried to steal it from her, but fortunately she turned it down. After a couple more low-ball offers she learned what she had. The reel was in EX condition and sold for $885.

Reels:

Another fly reel surprise was an A Clerk Co. brass half handle #4 size (2¼" dia) in VG condition that only reached $174.72. It is shown here. A Horton Meek #54 in VG brought $192.50. A Fin-Nor #2 "wedding cake" in VG sold for $1200. A small #260 raised pillar Meisselbach Featherlight in VG topped out at $400.

Salt Water reels included a Cozzone squidder in German silver and marbleized Bakelite end plates. It was a 300 yard size and in EX condition and sold for $438. A Penn green Monofil #26 that was EX in an EX box with parts & papers brought $118.49. A Hardy Fortuna, 7" diameter and VG, sold for $1755. An Australian George Curl stainless steel Nottingham style reel in EX brought $581.23.A Julius v Hofe 4/0 GS & HR reel with Rabbeth drag handle and VG reached $355. A Florida Zwarg 9/0 big game reel in EX- brought $2000.

A Peck & Snider German silver NY style S handle reel, 1/0 size and EX reached $519.99. Another reel that was not identified by its seller was a GS and HR Julius v Hofe #2 in VG. It brought $531.45.

One interesting casting reel was an ABU Ultra Mag III that had been converted for tournament distance casting. It was in VG and sold for $177.50. An ABU Ambassadeur 5500G, gold anodized, EX in an EX box brought $2500. However, it was topped by a 5500CDL, made for BASS in 1976, grey with gold trim and EX in its wooden box which sold for $3005. It is shown to the right. These were all topped by another very early Record Ambassadeur 5000 that sold on Tradera. It was in EX- condition and is headed for a museum after selling for 60100 Swedish SEK (you do the conversions - I was told $6150 and $8903).

A Heddon 3-35 level wind with balsa arbor and tournament handle in EX reached $373.66. A Meisselbach-Catucci #254 Symploreel with free spool in EX sold for $166.13. A B. F. Meek & Sons #3, jeweled and VG topped out at $406. A jeweled Horton Bluegrass #3 in VG+ sold for $300. Another surprise was a Pflueger Akron #1895, a free spool model, that was EX in its pouch with papers, which sold for $152.50.

Miscellaneous Stuff:

The Bud Stewart bluegill decoy shown here was 7½" long and EX. It sold for $370. A 7+" trout Pearl Bethel fish decoy that was EX topped out at $281.64.

A 1931 Edward vom Hofe catalog in VG condition reached $304.99. A 1926 Thomas A. Wilson fishing tackle catalog in EX sold for $115.01, while an undated Uslan 5 strip bamboo rod catalog in VG brought $72. An Old Town Canoe catalog from 1933 in EX sold for $124.50. A Walton & Cotton copy of The Complete Angler from 1827 bound in Morocco leather and VG reached $318.

A "Floater Assortment" #85 of 12 assorted bobbers on a card in VG brought $233.50. An Expert Floating Minnow Bucket, green with gold and silver decorations, and EX sold for a whopping $630. A Shakespeare "pig" glass minnow trap in EX reached $1350. A Camp glass trap in an olive green color and EX brought $154.50. A Scott-Atwater toy outboard motor in VG sold for $201. It is shown to the right.

A Seattle Star - Ben Paris 1940 salmon derby flag in VG brought $709. It was 12 x 17 inches. An Abbey & Imbrie wooden reel box for #489C, 1882 Patent Compensating Reel in G sold for $144. A Paul Bunyan lure showcase in VG topped out at $265.

Rods:

A J. S. Sharpe Scottie #C5122, 7'6" bamboo fly rod, 2/2 in EX sold for $360.55. A Hardy Bros. "The Marvel", 7'6", 3/1, and EX brought $840. A 5'9" Orvis Flea Rod, 2/1 and VG reached $707. A Uslan 5 strip, 8', 2/2 and mint sold for $787.50. A Heddon trade rod marked Folsom Arms, 8', 3/2 and EX brought $342.99. An unknown maker Abercrombie & Fitch, 8', 3/2, and VG topped out at $441.99. An EX Wright & McGill Victory, 9', 3/2, sold for $350.

An EX condition Harnell glass boat rod, 5'3" sold for $126.99. A Heddon Bamboo casting rod, 5'6", ML action, and EX brought $415.

Lures:

A Texas "Hump Lure" in a paint scheme called Old chubby dot, with no hooks, but otherwise EX brought $305. In case you don't know what a Hump Lure is (like me) it is pictured here. Those Nichols Shrimp keep climbing in value. A white/black head one in EX- brought $1324.99 this month. A Jacob Hanson Spoon Jack Minnow in a blended blue green color and VG sold for $482.09. A triple jointed gold scale Goble Tulsa Wiggler, VG brought $289.99. A Detroit Glass Minnow Tube with early cellophane cap and VG sold for $415.

A Heddon 7300 Jointed Vamp in green crackleback and EX brought $370. A Pacific Blue Herring Zig Wag Jr. in EX- sold for $510. Another interesting sale was a "Vintage Wooden Fishing Lure" that turned out to be a Black Sucker in VG. It brought $1375. Another example, properly identified, that was rainbow color and EX- in a VG box reached $2587.76. A Lucky 13 in white coachdog and VG sold for $491. An EX white Meadow Mouse sold for $249. A chipmunk Crazy Crawler that was EX- in an EX- box brought $999.99. A VG+ 800 Swimming Minnow in rainbow color reached $547.50.

A Shakespeare Surface Submarine Minnow in yellow perch or "bumble bee" that was Mint in a VG box brought $294.98. A Shakespeare Spinner, red & white, that was VG in a G wooden box reached $394.89. A Pflueger Magnet, white and VG+ in a VG maroon box sold for $400.

A Creek Chub Bait Co. blue flash Snook Special, EX- in a VG- box brought $660. A yellow Jointed Striper Pikie, EX in box, sold for $485. A Snook Pikie in Mullet and EX reached $222.50.

Then there was the "Unknown" 3 hook minnow in perch and VG- that drew lots of interest and sold for $1282.50 (obviously several collectors knew what it was). It is shown to the left. 

A Snook Bait Co. Popper in silver scale color that was EX- in a VG box sold for $708. A Bolton ABC Minnow, white with interchangeable backs and EX brought $515.89. An unusual mother of pearl sunfish shaped lure with glass eyes and VG sold for $201.50.