Vintage Tackle Contest: The Mumford Bait Tin

In case you missed the announcment last week, this is the first installment of our new weekly vintage tackle contest. To recap, you send me old tackle photos, and if I use one in a post, you get new pliers. So far I’ve received photos of some super cool vintage gear. I should note that if you sent a photo this or last week, it is not out of the running because I didn’t use it today. Keep checking every Thursday…you never know when your gear may pop up. Now onto the good stuff.

The photo below was sent in by Layton Pozza, who writes: I acquired this Mumford bait tin at an estate auction. It clips onto a bamboo cane pole to carry your hooks and worms when you are walking. Don’t have any idea when Pflueger obtained the rights to it.

So here’s what vintage tackle expert Dr. Todd Larson of The Whitefish Press and “Fishing For History” blog had to say about this tin. Drum roll please…

“You have an outstanding piece of Victorian fishing tackle on your hands. William B. Mumford of Kansas City, Missouri was granted Patent #402,270 on April 30, 1889 for his simple yet effective tin that did indeed clip to a fishing rod. It was designed to not only preserve any live bait attached to your hook, but also to keep you from hooking yourself. Very early–likely within just few years of the patent–the rights to this invention were purchased by the Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Akron, Ohio, world-famous purveyors of Pflueger fishing tackle. It appears your tin is in very good shape and has a great deal of collector interest, not just from tackle nuts but from tin collectors (a whole other kind of nut) as well. Value is $100-$150 but may go higher than that. They do not appear very often in good shape.”

Congrats, Layton. And good find! Your pair of Berkley Aluminum Pliers (left) will go in the mail shortly!

If you want to win a pair, send photos of your vintage tackle to fstackle@gmail.com, along with the story of how you acquired it, your name, and your mailing address. If I choose your photo for appraisal by Dr. Todd in a Thursday post, you get the pliers (a $50 value). Head to the garage and start digging.