Vintage Tackle Contest: DAM Wobbler

This week in our vintage tackle contest we have an import from across the big pond. Many anglers may have heard of the company DAM, but other than their reels, the brand never quite took hold in the states. In Europe, DAM is bigger than Wonder Bread. This lure was submitted by Jim Macormic, who found the mint-condition gem in his grandfather’s old tackle box. Dr. Todd Larson of the The Whitefish Press and “Fishing For History” blog has more on the German beauty.

Dr. Todd says:

“Gott im Himmel! You have a wonderful piece of imported German fishing tackle from the historic DAM company, best known in America for their Quick brand reels. It’s a very old company, having been founded by a pair of German brothers (Oskar and Fritz Ziegenspeck) in 1875. It took the name D.A.M. in 1902 (an acronym for Deutsche Angelgerate Manufaktur) and became the biggest German tackle company. The factory was destroyed during the war, but the company was rebuilt in 1955 in Gunzenhausen. They exported a lot of spinning tackle, including your DAM Wobbler in the box, which dates to around 1960. DAM is still in business today and selling quality tackle in Europe, although not much makes it way here to America. Your DAM lure is a nifty piece of tackle and worth about $30-$40. .”

That find should be celebrated with beer and a brat, Jim. Sweet lure! Thanks for sending, and enjoy the Berkley Digital Tournament Scale 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 Berkley Digital Tournament Scale (left, $40).