eBay Report - October 2004

I think the highlight of the month was the appearance of an Elvis Presley reel on eBay.

Reels:

The Presley reel description read "My consignor says this Elvis Presley reel is rare". It has an "Awsome antique style (black and white) picture of "Elvis Presley..." Thank goodness that buyers are smarter than I thought. The reel had an opening bid of $20 and there was only one bidder willing to spend that amount on this "rare" collectible. The reel is shown to the left in all it's glory with a photo of the king on the tailplate.

A gold trimmed ABU-Garcia 5500C Deluxe, as new in its walnut box and shipping box, received 29 bids before selling for $4005. An ABU Ambassadeur 5000 Deluxe, near mint in its wooden box from 1964 reached $1600. A Lew's Speed Spool BB-2 (wide spool) in VG condition brought $168.51. A BB-1 Speed Spool in mint with bag and instructions reached $145.45. A Bronson Invader 26 in VG sold for $369.83.

Kentucky reels included a Horton Meek #3 Tournament with small tournament handle and balsa arbor in VG+ condition, which sold for $306.01. A Talbot Comet in #2 size with Smeltzer Arms Co. markings and EX brought $556.10. A brass Meek & Milam #2, in VG condition with replaced crank knob reached $1250.

A nice #2 size Thos. Conroy fly reel, German silver and hard rubber, by Julius vom Hofe came up. It had square raised pillars and was in EX condition. It topped out at $2284.99. A similar reel, but with standard raised pillars and in VG sold for $1325. One of Julius's revolving plate fly reels in a 3.5" size and nickel and hard rubber and EX sold for $565. A 60 yard Cozzone fly reel in EX sold for $483. A Hardy brass faced Perfect fly reel in a 4" salmon size and VG+ received 26 bids before selling for $1437.89. A scarce Leonard Atwood salmon fly reel in VG sold for $790. A Carlton Gem side mount fly reel in EX brought $152.99. A Bogdan Model 200, made for Abercrombie & Fitch from 1934, and VG in Champaign color, sold for $1390. A Hardy bronzed and hard rubber 4" fly reel, with the rod in hand trademark received 33 bids before selling for $761.04. The reel was EX and had nickel silver rims. It was reportedly from 1890-96, and is shown to the left.

Salt water reels included a VG Julius vom Hofe B Ocean in an unlisted size which reached $583.76. A Julius vom Hofe 6/0 Big Game reel in EX seemed a bargain at $282. A California J. A. Coxe 5-1/8" big game reel in EX sold for $2275.

An Indiana style Marc Reel, that was Mint in an EX box with papers reached $258.99. A great deal of Keist reel items have appeared from an estate recently. Sold on eBay was a Keist reel as new in a mint reel can, some reel blueprints signed by Keist, brochures, cancelled checks, 100+ letters to Keist, shipping and box labels, misc. paper, and counter display cards. This lot should be in a museum, but it sold for only $331.

Lures:

I thought the most interesting lure item came up late in the month when a well known collector posted a Heddon Spin Diver, EX in Frog Scale color. The lure drew 19 bids and sold for $1824.99. Frank revealed in the questions to buyer section an email he received offering $1000 to close the auction early. Wisely and legally, he refused. If sellers would post these offers on the sale page, perhaps some of these illegal acts would cease.

One of the more interesting and historic baits to be sold in October was a Gregory brass Cleopatra lure from England. This bait was missing the side hooks, but otherwise in VG condition. This 1890's lure sold for $596, and is shown to the right. Other miscellaneous baits included a Hastings Frog that was VG in an EX box, which seemed a bargain at $280 with only 5 bids. A Goble Bait that was Mint in an EX box, and golden scale color reached $2275. An orange and black Charmer Minnow in EX condition received 27 bids and sold for $1226. An Airex lure display, with 10 new spinning lures on a factory card sold for $609. A Myers-Keller Gets-Em, green back/ white belly and EX- sold for $406.99. An early version of the Christiansen Viking Frog, pat. 1936, and VG sold for $411. A Manitou Minnow, EX in and EX book with accessories sold for $2901.

A Pflueger Catalina Minnow in Strawberry spot and EX in a VG- maroon box reached $1275. A Pflueger version of the Kent Frog with Neverfail hardware and EX sold for $777.89. A VG Rev-O-Noc 3 hook rainbow colored minnow in an EX wooden box sold for $555. This minnow was made by Pflueger for Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett. A Pflueger Maybug, 1.75" and in VG- condition sold for $961.

A Heddon Musky 350S Surfusser, in strawberry and VG+ in a G box sold for $676.52. A Tadpolly that was EX in a VG picture box, and in strawberry color sold for $750. An empty Heddon wooden box for a white #152, and VG condition sold for $698.88. A Heddon Bass Bug that was New in an EX box sold for $380. A Lucky 13, in the early no eye version and Toilet Seat hardware in perch scale and EX condition topped out at $1151.

A nifty red wing blackbird Creek Chub Dingbat that was EX- sold for $685. An albino Crawdad #301, which was mint in an EX picture box sold for $1725 after spirited bidding. Another scarce CCBC bait was a Feather Casting Minnow that was EX. It was brown/yellow scale and sold for $250.

The yellow with gold spotted Shakespeare Revolution shown to the left had B notch props and was in EX condition. It brought $650. A Musky Pad-Ler, black, in a VG and correctly marked box box brought $725.51. An empty Shakespeare Minnow picture box for a #1632 minnow that was in VG condition brought $2400.

Newer baits included a Bagley Killer B3 in greenback/gold belly that was new on a bubble card topped out at $178.50

Rods:

An EX Heddon #8 bamboo fly rod, 8', 3/2 in original bag and tube sold for $320. An E. F. Payne 9' 3/2 in VG brought $820.58. A Phillipson Paramount in rare configuration came up. It was varnished, rather than impregnated, 7.5', 2/2, and in EX condition and topped out at $699. A Montague Sunbeam, 8', 3/2 and EX sold for $178.53. A South Bend #59 8'6", 3/2, and EX and sold for $202.50. A refinished 8' Leonard Mills #208, 3/2 brought $736.50. A Winchester 9' 3" (?) model #6901, 3/2 with tip case reached $698.88.

Salmon fly rods included an F. E. Thomas 9' Browntone. It was 3/1 for a 7 wt. line and VG and sold for $256.75. Another Thomas that was 12' two handed and VG topped out at $358. A Payne 10' 3/2 in VG reached $765.

Casting rods included a Johnson/Phillipson fiberglass Profile, 5' 8" (probably 4" short) yet it still sold for $555. A Winchester #6370 Gardner Lake bamboo casting rod, 5', 1 piece with detachable handle, which was EX reached $425.

A partial box of rod winding silk thread from Granger drew lots of interest. It was six large spools of 00 size in various variegated colors and sold for $181.51.

Miscellaneous:

One of the more interesting miscellaneous items was an 1858 patent model spring gaff. It was in VG condition and sold for $975. An EX unmarked flying gaff that was "similar to an Edward Vom Hofe" brought $231.50. It is shown to the right. A Sterling match safe with a fisherman on it and a gold wash interior and in EX condition sold for $227.50.

An EX 1940 Creek Chub Bait Co. catalog in the original mailer sold for $381.10. An H. L. Leonard 1971 rod catalog in EX was bid to $117.50. A Hardy Bros. Angler's Guide from 1913 in EX brought $376.58. A 1919 South Bend Catalog, Days of Real Sport, in VG received 21 bids before selling for $382.77. A new hardback copy of Dick Spurr's out of print book (1992), Classic Bamboo Rod makers, reached $80.

Spearing decoys included a rare trout pattern Paw Paw decoy. It was in EX condition and brought $305. Another Paw Paw in the "rare open mouth" version in perch? finish and EX sold for $624.

A Kingfisher Minnow Bucket - the Anchor Floating Model - in VG+ reached $124.50. A nifty copper minnow bucket in a large 18" oval size and VG sold for $650. A Dozen Ideal Bobbers (Asst. #85) new on a display card and EX topped out at $207.50. Celluloid topped Split shot tins included a rare "Dyas Cline - Los Angeles" in EX for $342, and a "Selby Buck" in EX that drew 31 bids before selling for $510.

An ABU enameled pocket knife from the 1960s or 1970s, mint in its box brought $384.99. A North Carolina fishing license badge in EX from 1939 sold for $137.52. It is shown here. (badges are very tricky and due not reach true value today due to all the outstanding counterfeits)

Creels included a French "watermelon" creel, 14" x 10" in EX for $129.99. A MacMonies creel with leather trim and half top, nicely stamped brought $510. A leather bound creel with fly pouch in VG- with unreadable maker's stamp that was apparently from Helena, MT sold for $205. A George Lawrence leather half top and trimming in VG sold for $461.99.

A Winchester countertop 11 x 14" sign showing the Multi-Wobbler on one side and VG topped out at $975.

Thanks to Ben Wright, Harvey Garrison and Bill Arp for their help with this report.