This 1950 George Lawrence, Portland, Ore., size 15, Tillamook Model split willow creel fetched a record $9,020.
A South Bend Fishing Tackle Company record was set with this wooden Truck-Oreno example, which brought $2,970.
BOXBOROUGH, MASS. – Lang’s Sporting Collectibles, Inc. of Ramond, Me., held their annual auction of antique and classic fishing tackle and accessories at the Holiday Inn recently. Good rdf_Descriptions brought great prices, while more common lots sold unpredictably. Five hundred and eighty four lots found buyers for a total of $141,855, well within the $122,040 to $171,260 presale catalog estimate. All reserved rdf_Descriptions sold and three lots were passed due to lack of interest.
A George Lawrence, Portland, Ore., size 15, Tillamook Model split willow creel having leather trim, half leather lid and leather pocket on front established a new world auction price record when it sold for $9,020, which exceeded its $4/6,000 estimate. This one-owner creel was originally purchased in 1950 and was never used. It came with the original 1950 “Established 1857” catalog. A leather trim close weave rattan “Turtle Trademark” creel sold for $2,640. A similar “Turtle” creel, selling for over $7,000, was the former record price creel.
Among fly reels, an H.L. Leonard Model 44A elicited a high bid of $2,970 while a wide spool Model 50B brought $1,760. Others included an Orvis 1874 prototype ($1,870); Walker TR-4 ($1,210); Bogdan large trout ($1,100); and a plain early size three Julius Vom Hofe ($880).
Highlighting bait reels was a Blue Grass (Horton Mfg.) No. 7, which went for $880. Others included a B.F. Meek & Sons No. 4 ($660); Blue Grass Reel Works No. 3 ($330); German silver and hard rubber size three Julius Vom Hofe ($550); Talbot Star model ($385); Julius Vom Hofe size 3/0 B-Ocean ($300); and a Edw. Vom Hofe size 4/0 model 621 ($250).
Topping split bamboo rods, a George Halstead, Danbury, Conn., 7½ -foot trout rod commanded $3,410. Others included a three rod set by S.J. Small ($2,640), Payne salmon rod ($1,320), Goodwin Grander 7-foot ($1,100), Leonard eight-foot Model 50DF ($880), Hardy 7½ -foot Marvel ($715), Orvis 8½ -foot Wes Jordan ($550) and Superlight 5-foot Spinning rod ($660).
A collection of Old Town Canoe catalogs from 1925 to 2000 sold for $5,280. Tackle catalogs included an 1847 Martin Bradford, Boston ($2,475), 1910 Hardy Brothers ($495), circa 1900 Orvis ($330) and a 1934 Creek Chub ($330).
Among lures, a wooden red and white Truck – Oreno sold for $2,970 and set a new auction price record for a South Bend Tackle Co. lure. Heddon lures were a perch scale model 150 Underwater Minnow in box ($935), Vamp in Allen – Stripey finish ($550) and empty wooden lure box ($660). Others included a Pflueger five-hook Neverfail Minnow in its original box marked “Neptune Wooden Minnow” ($495); C.C.B.C. early Pikie Minnow in box ($440) and white with red Beetle ($315); and a group of four Lou Rhead baits ($770). Fly rod baits were a Harkauf Trout minnow ($550) and C.C.B.C. Mouse ($470). An empty tin box for a Howe’s Vacuum Bait sold for $880.
An auction record price of $1,100 for an antique American leather covered tackle box was achieved. Other rdf_Descriptions were a 16-foot Old Town Sponson canoe ($1,430); tall collector’s chest ($1,210); framing of Frances Stearns salmon flies ($605); mahogany tackle box ($495); Marbles Woodcraft knife ($385); Ideal float ($200); and four Carrie Stevens flies brought from $330 to $440 each.
Prices include a ten percent buyer’s premium.
