by Joe Cermele

I'd like to start by mentioning that last week marked the 1-year anniversary of our vintage tackle contest. In case you're curious, Dr. Todd took the liberty of getting some stats together. In the last year, he's appraised 49 pieces of tackle, with a total value of about $5,000. So far, I've given away $2,900 worth of prizes. So both the Doc and I would just like to say thank you to everyone who submitted this year, and we hope you guys still enjoy the vintage tackle posts and will keep on sending them in. Likewise, a special thanks to all the great manufacturers that provided killer prizes this year. We'll be giving away some really cool gear in year 2. Now, back to the tackle...

The strange hook (or perhaps torture device) below belongs to Derek Fraser, who wrote:

While going through one of our local antique stores I came across an old tackle box filled with old fishing lures that I paid $16 for. I was familiar with most of the lures and tackle that was in the box but not with this Greer lever hook. Ive looked online and found some mail order advertisements in Popular Mechanics from the late 1930's and some pictures from lure collectors but little else. Its not a priceless cane rod or elaborate lure but I was hoping that you might be able to help me shed some light on this old piece of tackle.

Derek, it may not be an old cane rod or elaborate lure, but that doesn't mean it's not a rare find or highly valued. Let's see what resident appraiser Dr. Todd Larson of the The Whitefish Press and "Fishing For History" blog has to say about it. Dr. Todd says:

"Moses Greer received two patents for this hook -- the original (from 1900) and a simplified version (1908's Patent #906792), of which yours is an example. It is what we call a "self-striking" or "spring loaded" fish hook, and there were hundreds of patents granted for such inventions. Greer's was quite popular, having been sold for 20 years or more. They sometimes appear with onion skin papers like the one you found, which denotes the reseller (Johnson Smith & Co., a Detroit-based mail order company founded in 1914). The larger sizes of this hook are rare, and paper such as this very coveted, so your combination is worth $75-$125. To learn more about this hook and its maker, see Jeff Kieny's Patented Hooks, Harnesses & Bait-Holders, and to see the revised patent for the Greer Lever Hook, click here."

Hey, I'd say $75 to $125 isn't bad for a whacky hook. Nice find, Derek. Enjoy the Rapala Classic Collector Fillet Knife that's headed your way. 

If you've already sent me photos of your vintage tackle, keep checking every Thursday to see if I chose it for an appraisal by Dr. Todd. If you haven't and want to enter the contest, email photos of your old tackle to fstackle@gmail.com, along with your name, mailing address, and story of how you acquired the gear. If I use it in a Thursday post, you get a Rapala Classic Collector Fillet Knife (below, $70).

Comments (7)

from buckhunter wrote 13 weeks 6 days ago

Would like to tie a streamer with that hook.

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from santa wrote 13 weeks 6 days ago

First off, Congradulations on giving us one year of very enjoyable trips back into yesteryear with the vintage tackle. I have personally been transported back in time a few times with some of the items you have chosen to put in your articles. Please keep on with this vintage tackle blog for many years to come. Now for the lever hook design, all I can say is "Did it actually work and whatever happened to it?"

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from whitefishpress wrote 13 weeks 5 days ago

Spring loaded fish hooks were actually one of the most fertile areas for tackle inventors--the first known patent (and seven of the first ten) issued for fishing tackle in America was for a spring loaded hook invented in 1845--so we know they were popular. It represents a different idea in fishing, one where the difference between landing a fish and losing it meant dinner or no dinner that night. Spring loaded hooks like the Greer pictured here were bought by working folk who wanted to assured themselves they would not lose fish. Did they work? Some (like the Greer) worked well. Others not so much. Eventually most states banned their use as the spring-and-snap part of the hook (think of it like a mouse trap for fish) injured fish badly no matter what their size. Plus they were dangerous to human fingers (one spring loaded fish hook actually carried a .22 short round that blasted when the fish hit the hook--seriously).

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from buckhunter wrote 13 weeks 5 days ago

Thanks for the added info. I have never heard of the spring loaded hook, let alone know they were illegal.

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from dtbc333 wrote 13 weeks 5 days ago

Really glad you're continuing this for another year. As a younger(relatively) fisherman who doesn't really collect old tackle I honestly thought this blog would be boring the first time I saw it, but have since found myself reading every one of them. Very interesting to see some of the strange stuff that has been out there over the years. Well done on an entertaining and informative column, and good luck on year 2!

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from santa wrote 13 weeks 5 days ago

Thank you very much for the added information. The mouse trap reference reminds me of the little rascals fishing where they were using a bathtub as a boat and using a mouse trap instead of a hook to catch fish.

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from Woods Walker wrote 13 weeks 3 days ago

I would like to add my appreciation for this series and wish you all the best in the upcoming year and many more! I now find myself checking for old tackle in all of the antique stores and other sites! Great hobby when we can not get out on the water!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from whitefishpress wrote 13 weeks 5 days ago

Spring loaded fish hooks were actually one of the most fertile areas for tackle inventors--the first known patent (and seven of the first ten) issued for fishing tackle in America was for a spring loaded hook invented in 1845--so we know they were popular. It represents a different idea in fishing, one where the difference between landing a fish and losing it meant dinner or no dinner that night. Spring loaded hooks like the Greer pictured here were bought by working folk who wanted to assured themselves they would not lose fish. Did they work? Some (like the Greer) worked well. Others not so much. Eventually most states banned their use as the spring-and-snap part of the hook (think of it like a mouse trap for fish) injured fish badly no matter what their size. Plus they were dangerous to human fingers (one spring loaded fish hook actually carried a .22 short round that blasted when the fish hit the hook--seriously).

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from dtbc333 wrote 13 weeks 5 days ago

Really glad you're continuing this for another year. As a younger(relatively) fisherman who doesn't really collect old tackle I honestly thought this blog would be boring the first time I saw it, but have since found myself reading every one of them. Very interesting to see some of the strange stuff that has been out there over the years. Well done on an entertaining and informative column, and good luck on year 2!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 13 weeks 6 days ago

Would like to tie a streamer with that hook.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from santa wrote 13 weeks 6 days ago

First off, Congradulations on giving us one year of very enjoyable trips back into yesteryear with the vintage tackle. I have personally been transported back in time a few times with some of the items you have chosen to put in your articles. Please keep on with this vintage tackle blog for many years to come. Now for the lever hook design, all I can say is "Did it actually work and whatever happened to it?"

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 13 weeks 5 days ago

Thanks for the added info. I have never heard of the spring loaded hook, let alone know they were illegal.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from santa wrote 13 weeks 5 days ago

Thank you very much for the added information. The mouse trap reference reminds me of the little rascals fishing where they were using a bathtub as a boat and using a mouse trap instead of a hook to catch fish.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Woods Walker wrote 13 weeks 3 days ago

I would like to add my appreciation for this series and wish you all the best in the upcoming year and many more! I now find myself checking for old tackle in all of the antique stores and other sites! Great hobby when we can not get out on the water!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.