The grooves were left unpolished - even left tacky. Lathing was difficult to do because the leader tubes were off-center. They were molded into the lure rather than being carved on a lathe. The two-notch dovetails were already the standard back then. Note the tail pieces on the top and bottom. The middle lure uses some early fish-scale patterned mylar tape. The top lure has a shiny metal insert, which was polished like a mirror. There’s that pale blue color again. The slight difference in the hue is probably because of variations in the color of the resin, itself. I don’t know who made them but we can make the point just from their features. Let’s look at a few other lures from the same era. To add some texture, I stippled the tape with a rough-tooth file. On this lure, the shiny surface is aluminum tape press-fitted over a plastic “popsicle” insert. This lure predates all of the fancy, flashy, mylar film tapes we now have today. It seems that every generation “discovers” the process of pouring their own eyes and decides they invented it. Back then, we used a rubber mold that we created by embedding coat buttons in the uncured rubber. Today, we use plastic painter’s palettes. It was made by pouring two layers of resin, first black and then yellow, into a mold made with small curved pockets. On that same Evil blue lure, note the yellow and black eye. Before it became known as “Evil,” it was just plain evil to the fish. The color was very popular back then, just as it is now. I made this Fat Boy lure (left, top) in 1970 or, perhaps, even earlier. Today’s lure makers know that pale blue color by the code name “Evil” and associate it with the Joe Yee Apollo (below right). The top one is the reason for showing the image. The three lures shown at left came out of the same mold over a period of about 45 years. I am using my work only because I know the details of when and how it was created, and I don’t need to speculate on important facts. ![]() I’m starting with a picture of some of my now-familiar work. But there is nothing really heavy in this post. For newcomers who didn’t get started until later, perhaps this and other stories in the Lure-making Tips blog will nudge you to respect your elders. ![]() Perhaps a good reminiscence for old-timers who were among the first generation of “Kona-Style” lure makers and users in the 1950s and 1960s. More lessons from the long-view of history. If you don’t have these books, be sure to get them. The Lure-Making Tips blog is for readers who already know the techniques and methods explained in the books Lure-Making 101/102 and Lure-Making 201/202.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |