I appologize to all...but the Lure Collecting thread has gotten too large...and with all the google and other adware javascripts being run on here...I'm NOT willing to deal with it.

@ mo65....your purple jointed Jitterbug isn't as old as you may think.

There was a purple color in 1968

http://nflcc.org/CPG/displayimage.p...=14&pos=60

But the earliest I can date coach dog to is 1982

http://nflcc.org/CPG/displayimage.p...=14&pos=77

@ Pete...the "D" in Hawaiian Wiggler's model #'s means double spinner...

Here's another copy of my box catalog pic.

Take special notes in the sense that....

1. The catalog listed as 1959...there is also a version with the same cover that says 1961 on the back.

2. The catalog listed as 1972 has 2 other different versions...being different on the bottom of the cover. ONE has a 1976 Arbogast belt buckle on it.

Dave,
  I saw a catalog somewhere...can't remember where...from the late 70's that showed purple coachdog. That would be a good timeline, because I got that 'bug new about that time, I remember buying it with money made mowing lawns.

Posted By mo65 on 08 Jul 2012 04:38 PM
Dave,
  I saw a catalog somewhere...can't remember where...from the late 70's that showed purple coachdog. That would be a good timeline, because I got that 'bug new about that time, I remember buying it with money made mowing lawns.

That would make sense to me mo65. My gut told me that it was about the same timeline as you mentioned...but I don't have access to anything that would confirm it 

Here's group of Jitterbugs that are relatively hard to find.

Green scale (Scale) was started sometime in the early 1940's...but yet gone by 1960...

http://nflcc.org/CPG/displayimage.p...=14&pos=38


The 2 lures...clear covers...and catalogs in the right hand side of the pic need to be swapped.

I will post a pic concerning boxes...covers...and catalogs in the next few days

I have a couple Arbogast lures that are unusual. The first is a black Wheedler that I bought new in 1966. The other is a brown scale pattern Musky Jitterbug. Can anyone age the Jitterbug?

Does that second Jitterbug have a plastic spoon ?

Posted By bass or bass? on 09 Jul 2012 07:55 PM
I have a couple Arbogast lures that are unusual. The first is a black Wheedler that I bought new in 1966. The other is a brown scale pattern Musky Jitterbug. Can anyone age the Jitterbug?

Not sure what you mean by "age"? If you mean "date" one based on certain characteristics....yes.

I don't consider myself an expert at it....but I'd say I'm "advanced" for sure.

The Wheedler is a neat lure...but for some reason they don't get much play on Ebay


Brown scale 1st shows for Jitterbugs in 1968

http://nflcc.org/CPG/displayimage.php?album=14&pos=60

But not in '68 for the Musky size. Not in 1972 either.

http://nflcc.org/CPG/displayimage.php?album=14&pos=61

But shows in 1982...

http://nflcc.org/CPG/displayimage.php?album=14&pos=71

The red lip is plastic....dating approx 1942-1945...maybe 1946.

The 1st 3 from the left have no patent #'s on the lips.

A quick note to ALL who have read this sor far. I had to make some changes to the pic above of the box catalogs...so if you saved it...do another save.

Larry Nicholson has fairly decent info concerning Arbogast lures...though I don't consider it 100% accurate.

http://www.tacklecollecting.com/arbogast.htm

That's interesting concerning the Musky Jitterbug as I know I purchased it during the late 60's or 70's. I wasn't fishing during the 80's. Hmmm......

Yeah the Wheedler is a nice lure. A great one for fishing pads and slop. I pull it out and fish it occasionally. Haven't used the big Jitterbug more than half a dozen times.

Thanks for the info.

Happy Fishing!

Posted By bass or bass? on 10 Jul 2012 07:37 PM
That's interesting concerning the Musky Jitterbug as I know I purchased it during the late 60's or 70's. I wasn't fishing during the 80's. Hmmm......

Yeah the Wheedler is a nice lure. A great one for fishing pads and slop. I pull it out and fish it occasionally. Haven't used the big Jitterbug more than half a dozen times.

Thanks for the info.

Happy Fishing!

You're welcome

As a general rule...lure companies such as Arbogast & Heddon (a few others too)...from the 1940's on...would introduce either a new bait or color to only one or two regions of the country. IF it sold fairly well...they would then add it to their catalog.

Another thing that companies used to do was "special order" colors. Creek Chub was famous for that back "in the day" as long as you ordered 12 or more. I'm sure other companies did the same back then.

These days...you have to order +500 for a special color as a general rule  

Chances are you have one of the first run of the brown scale of the Musky Jitt. IF you have the original box...could be worth a few nickles for sure

JMHO

Here's a good webpage that will show you guys the earliest Arbogast boxes.

http://www.mrlurebox.com/Arbo.htm

Starting in the mid 1950's, Jitterbugs started having patent #'s on the lips.

They are...

2207425 2261867 2429339

1st one was issued in 1940. You can downdload a .pdf of each on these links...

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2207425.html

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2261867.html

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2429339.html

And here's one that looks like it has to do with the Arbogast Locust lure...

http://www.patsnap.com/patents/view...64006.html

No, I bought that Jitterbug when I was about 14 or 15 years old, the box probably went in the trash as soon as I got the lure out! Stupid Kid!!
The lure is in like new condition. Brown with white scale lines painted on.
The old Wheedler is the same age, probably bought them the same summer. It is black. Should be a good night time lure. Every time I go fishing, I forget to give it a try!
Thanks for the information. I love Arbogast lures and history about them interests me.
Oh, another Arbogast collectable I have is a 33 1/3 RPM phonograph record that came in a catalog from about the same time as the two lures I've been discussing, about 1965 or 1966. It is very thin, flexible, and has instructional info on each side spoken by Dick Kotis, president of Arbogast Company. One side is titled "Surface Fishing", the other side is "Obstruction Fishing". And no, I don't still have the catalog it came in. It was in a box of fishing equipment that was stolen from me in 1971.

Sorry to hear about the theft  

I've been lucky over the years not to have been violated

I bet that record would bring $$$ if sold...can't be many of those around for sure