Identification and Value Guide to
South Bend Fishing Lures
by Terry Wong
When I talked to author Terry
Wong in March about this book, and learned that it was going to be
self-published, a few mental alerts went up. There was no need for concern,
however, for this is a great book for the South Bend collector, any lure
collector, or for all of us with an interest in old fishing tackle. It also had
to be a great trick to finish up this book while juggling the responsibilities
of the tax season (the author is a CPA), and the first fishing tackle show in
Las Vegas, Nevada.
A massive 212 pages of information, with all photographs in color, this is also
a very pretty book to look through. It starts with an introduction that relates a
short history of the South Bend Bait Co. This information is followed by a
section on identifying and dating South Bend lures, which follows the use of
glass eyes to painted eyes, and Shakespeare notched props up to surface rig
hardware.
The author follows up this
information with 36 pages of color photographs to illustrate known South Bend
colors from 1912 to 1964, including special or unusual colors. A massive section
of 66 pages, again with wonderful full color photographs, follows. What will
probably be the most referred to part of the book, this section deals with South
Bend wood and plastic lures, those confusing Best-O-Luck baits, South Bend boxes, fly rod lures,
metal lures, and advertising products. Prices are listed for the specific lures
illustrated. The last third of the book is filled with color charts for all the
South Bend lures, arranged by lure number.
All the sections tie together for the researcher. You can identify your lure,
learn which color it is, and then go to the color chart section to determine if
the lure is common, tough, or rare in that particular color. Prices are listed
with the color charts for each configuration and color of the individual lure.
There are also quotes from catalogs with each lure to help the collector to
understand the purpose of the lure and how it was marketed. The author makes a
disclaimer about the wording and grammar, as they are direct quotes from the
catalog and not the result of the authors education.
There is obviously no problem
with the author's education. Wong's method of putting together the three main
sections of the book as a useful price guide is very unique for fishing tackle
collector books. The book is a fine addition to the data bank of antique fishing
tackle, and should be found in all lure collector's libraries. As author Wong
stated a few weeks ago, if you aren't a South Bend collector you especially need
this book so that when you find that South Bend lure you can identify it and its
color, and at least equal the playing field a little with the specialists. As a
fellow tackle collector said, "This book is the most user friendly of all
the fishing lure collecting books I have. I am not a South Bend collector, but
can't resist information. I am glad I purchased your book and believe your
layout should become the standard for books of this kind."
Identification and Value Guide to South Bend Fishing Lures is
available only from the author - Terry Wong, 1657 W. Acoma Dr., Phoenix, AZ
85023. The cost is $30.00 plus $3.00 shipping. More information can be viewed
at: http:www.mindspring.com/~lureman/southbendad.htm
(Perhaps it should be pointed out that Terry Wong was the inspiration for
this book review section of the Old Fishing Stuff web site, when he volunteered
to send me a review copy of his book. I hope you think his idea was as good as
I do.)
Review by Phil White
July 2000
