Another Vintage Lure with a History...

[JoeW]

Interested in another history "lesson"?

Ever wonder where the idea for diving lips on hardbaits came from? OK, sit back---

The earliest "lures" were either floaters, or they sank like rocks. South Bend first came up with the idea of making a "floater-diver" around 1915 when they discovered an angled groove cut into the face of a floating lure would make it dive when retrieved! Very successful! (See my post on the Bass-oreno). Since South Bend had patented the "groove", this left the other foundling lure makers looking for an alternate way of making a floating lure dive. Enter the Creek Chub Bait Company! About 1916, they discovered that a bent piece of metal, inserted in the front of a wooden lure (a lip, or diving plane as it was known!) would indeed make it dig down deep! Deeper in fact, than the Bass-oreno's! They began their business based on this concept and on several other innovations they had designed! Creek Chub patented these innovations in 1920.

Other wooden lure makers were soon to follow the "lip" idea. Shakespeare, Pfleueger, Heddon, and even South Bend developed lips that differed enough from Creek Chubs to be given their own patents. Since Creek Chub's idea, the "lipped crankbaits" have always been a staple in the lure industry. Right up through, yes--- even the Rapala!

Oh, by the way- the idea of a deep diving lure that floated when not being reeled was very popular with fishermen! It gave them time to clean up the "bird nests" in the old time bait casting reels without the lure sinking and snagging!

The pic below is an example of Creek Chubs earliest bait-- the #100 Wiggler (circa 1916) in near mint condition and with an original "Intro" box. This is one of the favorite old-timers in my collection- I wouldn't part with it. Hope you enjoyed! Best---- JoeW :)

[bass or bass?]

I know my Grandfather had at least one of those in his tackle box. It was chock full of old Creek Chub, Flatfish, Mepps, Heddon, etc. lures. I loved going through that old tackle box when I was a teenager. When he died 4 years ago (at the age of 106) that was the one thing I wanted most of his, that old tackle box full of vintage lures. Apparently somebody else had the same thought as it was missing from it's familiar spot in the garage when I went to the funeral. I was quite disappointed! I did get his old Remington pump .22 rifle, and H&R side by side 12 guage though.

[JoeW]

Shame about not getting your grandad's old tacklebox. I have tackle from several of my relatives that have now passed away and enjoy just looking at it and thinking of the stories it could tell. When I get a phone call to buy somebody's grandfather's old tackle- the first thing I ask is if the tackle means anything to them and I try to talk them into saving some of it as keepsakes. If I end up buying the whole lot, I will still leave them just one item and tell them to just put it on a shelf or window sill. It will mean something to them one day. At least you have the guns as sentiments. Best---- JoeW

As I always say...

[lip ripper]

That is a cool old lure looks like it will work. Does it have two tie points?

[JoeW]

That is a cool old lure looks like it will work. Does it have two tie points?

Interestingly, one of Creek Chub's innovations with that lure was to make it fishable as a surface lure OR a diver! That eye on top the head was only meant to be used to flip the diving lip upside down! Unscrew the eye, remove lip, turn it upside down, replace eye, tie it to your line using the lip eye- and presto- it was a "suface splatter" lure. Turn the lip so it pointed down, tie on using the lip eye, and presto- diver!

What's interesting, and here's a ha-ha, many fishermen thought like you did and used that head eye as a line tie. That made the lure spin wildly out of control! It was clearly stated how to use the lure in the little pocket catalog that came with it, but who reads directions! Several years after it's introduction, Creek Chub finally figured out why they had been getting all the complaints about the lure, gave up on the idea, replaced the head eye with just a plain screw, and from then on- they just advertized their lures as "floating divers"!

Thanks for your interest, and good question! Best---- JoeW

And as I always say....

[lip ripper]

Interestingly, one of Creek Chub's innovations with that lure was to make it fishable as a surface lure OR a diver! That eye on top the head was only meant to be used to flip the diving lip upside down! Unscrew the eye, remove lip, turn it upside down, replace eye, tie it to your line using the lip eye- and presto- it was a "suface splatter" lure. Turn the lip so it pointed down, tie on using the lip eye, and presto- diver!

What's interesting, and here's a ha-ha, many fishermen thought like you did and used that head eye as a line tie. That made the lure spin wildly out of control! It was clearly stated how to use the lure in the little pocket catalog that came with it, but who reads directions! Several years after it's introduction, Creek Chub finally figured out why they had been getting all the complaints about the lure, gave up on the idea, replaced the head eye with just a plain screw, and from then on- they just advertized their lures as "floating divers"!

Thanks for your interest, and good question! Best---- JoeW

And as I always say....

WOW that is awesome ! They actually wanted the user to take apart the lure to make a second configuration. That is a good idea when there probably were not to many lures on the market. That is a cool lure two in one.

[JoeW]

Yep! People didn't have much money back then, and if they could get ONE lure that did the job of TWO, hey! what a deal! Innovations like that one climbed Creek Chub into being one of the most successful lure makers in the country! Creek Chub was in business from 1916 until 1978, and their lures are still being made in plastic by the company that eventually ended up with their rights! Good stuff! Best---- JoeW

[lip ripper]

That is really good they were around for 62 years. I wander who got there right, i might have to google that. It would be fun to try one of those.

[Turnip]

Interested in another history "lesson"?

Ever wonder where the idea for diving lips on hardbaits came from? OK, sit back---

The earliest "lures" were either floaters, or they sank like rocks. South Bend first came up with the idea of making a "floater-diver" around 1915 when they discovered an angled groove cut into the face of a floating lure would make it dive when retrieved! Very successful! (See my post on the Bass-oreno). Since South Bend had patented the "groove", this left the other foundling lure makers looking for an alternate way of making a floating lure dive. Enter the Creek Chub Bait Company! About 1916, they discovered that a bent piece of metal, inserted in the front of a wooden lure (a lip, or diving plane as it was known!) would indeed make it dig down deep! Deeper in fact, than the Bass-oreno's! They began their business based on this concept and on several other innovations they had designed! Creek Chub patented these innovations in 1920.

Other wooden lure makers were soon to follow the "lip" idea. Shakespeare, Pfleueger, Heddon, and even South Bend developed lips that differed enough from Creek Chubs to be given their own patents. Since Creek Chub's idea, the "lipped crankbaits" have always been a staple in the lure industry. Right up through, yes--- even the Rapala!

Oh, by the way- the idea of a deep diving lure that floated when not being reeled was very popular with fishermen! It gave them time to clean up the "bird nests" in the old time bait casting reels without the lure sinking and snagging!

The pic below is an example of Creek Chubs earliest bait-- the #100 Wiggler (circa 1916) in near mint condition and with an original "Intro" box. This is one of the favorite old-timers in my collection- I wouldn't part with it. Hope you enjoyed! Best---- JoeW :)

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL83/511275/23504873/392695812.jpg
The patent was received in 1920 for the metal diving lip. Your Wiggler was first introduced in 1916. In 1921 the patent was received for the scale pattern produced by spray painting thru netting...