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Bob Hart's Saltwater Lure Page
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This Months' Featured Lures! This time we're traveling back down the coast to Brooklyn, New York again for some more Masterlures. Some of the lures featured this month were bought via the internet by me from someone who saw my web page and contacted me by email. After some tense negotiations I was able to purchase the following six pieces. All came in their original boxes and were in new condition. What a great addition to my collection. If you don't already have a web site, it might be a good idea to try to make one yourself if your computer savvy. Or have someone build one for you if you're not. They can be a great venue for finding old tackle plus it also let's you show off your collection to the rest of the world. If you'd like to have a web site built for you please email me and we can talk. It's not too expensive for a small site and you can even register a domain name with your logo too .
The first lure pictured is a Flaptail in blueflash color. This is a massive lure that is over 8" long and weighs almost 3 1/2 oz. The head of the lure is shaped like a Heddon Vamp and the front hook in on the nose along with the line tie. The earlier body type had a cut head like the Snook models. The line tie is a rod that is threaded on the tail end with a screw type end cap to hold on the flaptail. Like I said before Masterlures were stamped on the belly in script Masterlure or in block letters MASTERLURE in black. . Here's a little history again about the company. It was in business in Brooklyn about seven years starting in 1949. I think this is when their best work was done. They made flaptails, poppers and surface swimmers in three sizes. Small, medium and large. The flaptails were made in only the medium and large size. Information is sketchy but after moving from Brooklyn to Staten Island the style of their lures changed some. They used smaller glass eyes and the body shapes on their models changed some too. The lettering on the belly was more of a block-like print MASTERLURE in gold color.
Next is picture of a later Snook model swimmer in Herring color. It is a metal lipped swimmer, 8" long with a beautiful scale pattern and three 5/0 treble hooks. They still did quality work but the paint on these lures didn't hold up as well as on the earlier pieces. Masterlure changed hands again, this time the name was changed to Seneca Tackle and the company relocated to Rhode Island. The paint didn't hold up at all if a lure was fished after this move, probably attributed to a lack of sufficient primer undercoating.
The next lure is a jointed Eel in Green Eel. This large lure is almost 11" long ad weighs 3 1/2 oz. It has thru-wire construction like most saltwater lures. This lure has the earlier large glass eyes and the script marking on the belly. Pictured next is last three lures I acquired through the internet. They are the same body styles but in different colors. First is a Flaptail in Perch. . Next is a Snook Swimmer in Blueflash or Blue Spray.
And third is a Jointed Eel in Natural Eel color.
All came in the green box style pictured below.
The next lure pictured is an earlier large style popper in Natural finish which is clear varnish directly over the wood. Thanks Roy for the use of your picture and plug. This large popper is 7 1/4" long and weighs 3 1/2 oz.
Next up is a medium sized popper in Perch. This is a later Seneca Tackle piece and is new in the box. It measures about 5" and weighs 2 oz. What a great color.
Last up is an early style swimmer in Herring color. This is a Rocket model which has a round head style. It is 8" long and weighs 3 oz. Thanks again Roy for the use of your picture.
Last up is my collection of baby Masterlures in both the Snook and Rocket models. The Snooks have the cut heads and the Rocket has the round one. The color on the top left is Black Demon! The lure in the center is the one for the earlier box shown.
That's it for now. Come back in a month or so for another Saltwater lure.
If you'd like some help with identifying a saltwater lure you're not sure about or if you have any saltwater lures for sale or trade you can email me at:
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Here are pictures of the belly stamps.
Here is a earlier body style flaptail for reference.
