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By Doug Bucha

Michiana Museums offer antique tackle displays.Michiana Museums offer antique tackle displays.If you like looking at antique fishing tackle, donít overlook Michiana museums.

The photograph with this story shows a display of local fishing related items that can be found at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend. The museum also features many fine Studebaker automobiles and is one of the finest auto museums in the country.

In addition, The Center for History is located just next door. It houses all the records from the South Bend Bait and Tackle Company from the early 1900ís thru the 1970ís. These records are available for private viewing for research purposes. Make an appointment first.

There are three museums just across the state line in Michigan which will be of great interest to the collector. The city of Niles offers the Fort St. Joseph Museum that has has a small collection of local fishing items, including the Harris Frog.

The city of Dowagiac not only has the Heddon Museum but it also has a new museum downtown. This little known museum features one of the finest displays of Heddon items that can be found anywhere. This was the former collection found at Southwestern Michigan College.


The next gathering for antique tackle collectors will be held at Heddon Museum Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the former Heddon factory at 414 West St. in Dowagiac, Mich. The Museum is located two blocks north and two blocks west of the Mc Donald's.

The informal meeting of antique fishing lure collectors is mostly a show-and-tell with some selling, trading, and buying of old tackle taking place.

It’s open to anyone interested in old antique fishing tackle or who has old gear that he or she would like to be appraised.


By Doug Bucha

Heddon Underwater MinnowHeddon Underwater MinnowHave you ever seen Heddon’s 150 Underwater Minnow?

You would know it if you saw it. The five-hook Underwater Minnow was probably the longest running production lure in Heddon’s history.

It will be on display and discussed at the antique tackle collectors informal gathering at the Heddon Museum Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

The get-together of lure collectors is open to the public and held at the former Heddon factory at 414 West St. in Dowagiac, Mich. The Museum is located two blocks north and two blocks west of the Mc Donald's.


By Doug Bucha

Shakespeare Revolution LureShakespeare Revolution LureDid you know that Shakespeare Tackle once made lures in Michiana?

Visit the antique tackle collectors get-together Oct. 8 and you can learn more about this and other antique gear once made in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan.

The informal gathering will occur at the Heddon Museum in Dowagiac, Mich. beginning at 6:30 p.m. The museum is located two blocks north and two blocks west of the McDonalds.

William Shakespeare Jr. of Kalamazoo started his fishing lure business by introducing his new Revolution surface lure in 1900. From 1900 – 1901 the lures were made of wood, and by 1902 he had changed the material to aluminum. (see related photograph)


The next gathering for antique tackle collectors will be held at Heddon Museum Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the former Heddon factory at 414 West St. in Dowagiac, Mich. The Museum is located two blocks north and two blocks west of the Mc Donald's.

The informal meeting of antique fishing lure collectors is mostly a show-and-tell with some selling, trading, and buying of old tackle taking place.

It’s open to anyone interested in old antique fishing tackle or who has old gear that he or she would like to be appraised.