Shapleigh Hardware 1936 catalog

[Mike N]

Opened in St. Louis in 1843, Shapleigh’s became a massive retailer, and sold items under several brand names, including “Diamond.” The business closed in the 1960s following a change of ownership in 1955.

Shapleigh’s 2000-page 1936 catalog contained 125-pages of tackle. Pre-WW II meant silk line was still readily available. I learned a few new things just paging through it. Here is a link to the online index.

https://shapleighs.com/shapleighs-general-index/

[Mike N]

Here is a set of “Ultra” brand flies sold by Shapleigh’s Diamond Mfg. unit.



Last year at the FATC in Daytona one exhibitor had an incredible Shapleigh/Diamond display.

[leland99]

thanks for sharing the link Mike!

[Mike N]

John Etchieson of Texas, who many of you may know as a leading authority on vintage fishing line, just sent me these photos of a Shapleigh “Ultra” reel and a Shapleigh “Diamond” line spool from his collection.

[Alan Baracco]

Shapleighites,

Ultra was (Norvell) Shapleigh's first US Trademark, in 1910. Black Diamond was an early one as well, in 1923, and nearly their last in 1948. Had 8 all told.

Alan

[Mike N]

Thanks, Alan. Very interesting.


I am interested in Kingfisher brand lines and while searching the 1936 catalog, I found this tidbit:

Barbour brand thread could be used either for sewing up a hole in your fishing gear....or as fishing line in some localities. Austere times are the mother of improvisation, I suppose.





Then this about Kingfisher thread spools:

[1badf350]

being 1936 do they happen to show the first year Penn Senator?

[Mike N]

being 1936 do they happen to show the first year Penn Senator?

Chris, I tried to word search the 1936 Shapleigh catalog but found no mention of Penn Senator. I suppose this should not be surprising since Penn first mentioned the Senator in its own 1936 catalog. I do not believe Penn issued a catalog in 1937, but then gave the Senator a bigger spread in its 1938 and 1939 catalogs. I’m no Penn authority so anyone should feel to correct me.

[1badf350]

Thanks for looking, Mike.