Antique Vintage Aspelin Spring Loaded Fish Hook Trap Lure Auto Harness Frog
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:45131625 | Type: Vintage Frog Lure |
| Fishing Type: Freshwater Fishing | Year: 1922 |
| Original/Reproduction: Original | Brand: Unbranded |
| Fish Species: All Freshwater | Material: Metal |
My daughter who has been posting these on eBay for me has decided to retire….and so has taught me how to put things on eBay……as I am paring down my collection……so there will be other items coming in the following days, weeks and months……..and so I will be writing and typing the descriptions my self from here on in…..so bear with me……… ……some from the book I co-wrote with Tim Mierzwa titled “Spring-Loaded Fish Hooks, Traps and Lur...es”…..like this one.This is the EXACT Spring-Loaded Aspelin that is described and pictured on page 130 of that book.This early spring-hook was invented and patented by J.O. (Julius) Aspelin from Skandia Township, Murray County, (just south of Balaton) Minnesota, on May 30, 1922, being US patent #1, 417, 482. He describes it in the Patent text as consisting of “two metal plates in oppositely disposed parallel relation and partly overlapping each other” that "are loosely mounted on a pivot.” Attached to one end of each plate is a bait hook, while at the other end of each plate has attached to it the lower ends of a coil spring. Notches are cut into each metal plate so that when the spring is compressed, the notches latch onto the outside edge of the opposite plate, thus setting the hook and rendering it nearly weedless. In addition, integral to each plate is a "wing", which causes "the devise to rotate or spin around when drawn through the water" I acquired this red and gold Aspelin Spring-Hook about 25 years ago directly from the inventor’s grandson, who was 78 years old at the time, and it turns out still had a few of his grandfather's hooks, this being one of them. He was very interesting to talk to, and had some information about his grandfather, including photographs and family history, and who he said was always referred to as simply….….”J.O.”…… The elderly grandson told me that these spring hooks were a commercial and financial failure, and that very few were ever made. Each blade of this very scarce, early spring-hook, which is in unfished condition, is deeply stamped………...MFG. J.O. ASPELIN………..and works and sets perfectly…..but it’s tricky……..it is not a Halloween toy to be played with. The pictures in this description show the high resolution scans I have on photographic paper of J.O……... and are included with the hook, along with my copy of the article about the Aspelin Genealogy…and a copy of his 1948 driver’sLicense…..and a copy of the 1922 Letters of Patent. The one interesting picture shows J.O. Aspelin at the throttle of an engine pulling aNICHOLS and SHEPPARD Threshing Separator (which he owned) Pre-WW II …..along with an old Portrait Photo, circa 1910-1920. As to payment……cash or check (preferred)…..but I can do PayPal also……I cannot take a credit card, as Iam not a business but just a private individual.Be sure to look at my other auctions for other pieces from my collection
