Stories from A FEW LINES ABOUT LINE
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David Harum and the Cardiff Giant
A FEW LINES ABOUT LINE &bull Mar 2, 2008
One of the reasons that I like to collect vintage fishing lines is the opportunity that it provides for me to learn more about them. I like to research the company names and brand names that appear on the labels to see what more I can discover about their history. Almost every line spool label that I have ever researched has inevitably had a story to tell me. From fishing line labels I have learned about some very special and historical geographical places in our Nation, and I have learned about many famous Indian tribes, and I have learned about… Full Story »
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The Invincible - World's First Waterproofed Silk Casting Line
A FEW LINES ABOUT LINE &bull Feb 24, 2008
To help my fellow tackle collectors learn how to determine the age of "The Invincible" Japan Silk fishing lines that they may encounter I have included information about the different labels and boxes and the dates associated with each throughout this article about the history of the "World's first 'waterproofed' silk casting line". First version with printer's flourish beneath the word waterproof and with Large size letters used in the words HARD BRAID SILK - 1900 to 1931...In 1816 John Gladding, who was a 7th generation member of the original Gladding family that had immigrated to America from England 140… Full Story »
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How Old Is Your Mermaid?
A FEW LINES ABOUT LINE &bull Feb 9, 2008
Among the many old line spools that tackle collectors can find, the Mermaid Brand is definitely one of the most popular. The Mermaid Brand of line spools has a dramatic image on a very colorful lithographed label. Naturally, it is an image of that legendary creature of the sea with the head and torso of a beautiful woman and the tail of a fish - the Mermaid. Contrary to what many tackle collectors might initially assume, the Mermaid Brand does not represent a single fishing line brand, but rather it represents a much larger family composed of many fishing line… Full Story »
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Al Foss and his Bull Frog Fish Lines
A FEW LINES ABOUT LINE &bull Feb 2, 2008
R. J. Hillinger & Company advertised its fishing lines as early as 1910 in various sporting magazines and even included its ads in tournament casting programs such as the one shown below which appeared in 1915. The Marshall Field & Co. sporting goods catalog listing below shows the variety… Full Story »
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The United States Line Company - From Buggy Whips to Fishing Line
A FEW LINES ABOUT LINE &bull Feb 2, 2008
The notion of the buggy whip industry as the archetype of a dated, dying business has entered common parlance. The example of the buggy whip industry being made obsolete almost overnight by the rapid rise of the automobile industry has long been used in business schools to teach students the critical importance of adapting a business to meet the… Full Story »
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The man who was Heddon's "Chief Dowagiac"
A FEW LINES ABOUT LINE &bull Jan 26, 2008
While researching information for the fishing tackle collector's book that I am currently writing, America's Vintage Fishing Lines, I was fortunate to uncover the real identity of the man who was known in the late 1920s as Heddon's "Chief "Dowagiac". The real name of Heddon's "Chief Dowagiac" was William "Bill" Lester Coller, and he was… Full Story »
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What is A FEW LINES ABOUT LINES
A FEW LINES ABOUT LINE &bull Jan 25, 2008
A Few Lines About Lines is the title that I have chosen to use for my new blog about vintage fishing lines.I have chosen it because it states with simple brevity the sole objective of my blog - which is to periodically share a few lines of information about lines. More specifically, to share information about those old fishing lines on wooden spools that we collectors of antique fishing tackle will occasionally… Full Story »
