Abu Lures ? same as reel company ?

Tony Malatesta · Post by **Tony Malatesta** » Mon May 02, 2005 5:40 pm

Hi guys! I know that this isn't the place to ask about lures but i have noticed questions the odd time and these may actually be related to a reel company. Any collectors out there heard of spoons with the markings Toby/Abu ?Any help on maker ,rarity, and value would be greatly appreciated. Both spoons are 3 in. long, silver/chrome, with one side finished in a fish scale pattern, and the other plain except for the company markings. Single treble on each. Thank's! Canadian

P.S : Anyone have any Canadian made Luckystrike lures they would like to sell

Post by **john elder** » Mon May 02, 2005 8:14 pm

gee, wish I could read

Tony Malatesta · Post by **Tony Malatesta** » Mon May 02, 2005 8:23 pm

Just a foot note: The lure also has the word Sweden written on it hence my suspicions of a conection with the Abu reel company.

Lynn Thomas · Post by **Lynn Thomas** » Mon May 02, 2005 8:59 pm

Could be a ABU Bait by Charles Garcia . NY, 1957, 2 1/4 inches valued at $20.00 in Karl White's volume # 2, page 33.

Dr. Rob · Post by **Dr. Rob** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:41 pm

(Er... Am I missing something here? As far as I know,

Abu (YES the reel company) made the Toby lures (and many others, in their own factory in Svängsta) for as many years as anyone could possibly remember. I don't even know where to look to find out when it debuted. Garcia didn't enter the ABU equation until decades later.

I met some of the Abu folks and Len Borgström a few weeks ago though and have Len's book here someplace- maybe the info is in there. Also intend on going down there in the near future; maybe I'll find out then.

..which makes me wonder if you guys know something I don't?)

clinton_beeler · Post by **clinton_beeler** » Tue May 03, 2005 11:25 am

When next you speak to Lenny, would you ask him to please translate his book to english so that I can read it too?

Regards,
Clinton

Dr. Rob · Post by **Dr. Rob** » Tue May 03, 2005 3:22 pm

Sure, Clinton. He mentioned working on the possibility of a limited or small edition in English.

John, what was that? A before-coffee-way-too-early-in-the-morning post?

Tony, I noticed that in the mid- 1970's ABU called the Toby one of the best known lures in the world, and also noticed it in a 1958 ABU catalogue. Maybe there are special versions that are worthy of collecting. (?)

Otherwise, take it swimming.

Tony Malatesta · Post by **Tony Malatesta** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:22 pm

To all posters: Thank's for all the help. Canadian

Harvey · Post by **Harvey** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:39 pm

Now I have a question!
When was Abu's thirty fifth anniversary? Reason I ask, I was digging thru some "Winter" cloths to find some long sleeved stuff to pack and ran acrossed a sweater that states that. I haven't been into those box for years and just wondered. I have no idea where it came from as I have never owned an Abu reel or anything.
Harvey

Tony Malatesta · Post by **Tony Malatesta** » Tue May 03, 2005 8:57 pm

Hi Harvey! The Abu company started in the early 20"s as a watch company. One of the sons started building precision reels in 1931 and the rest is history. Sounds like you have a "vintage" tee shirt dating back to 1966, or a copy of one. It's a shame you've never owned one. In my opinion, the best reels ever made except maybe Shimano.

Canadian

ABUBO · Post by **ABUBO** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 7:39 pm

Hi Tony,
The first ever ABU Toby was released in 1956. There are 3 editions of the lure, and the one you've got - if it has a scale pattern on the intire one side(?) - is the 3rd edition, meaning the most recent one ... manufactured from ca. 1967 up untill the present time.

As for the ABU history ...
You're right Tony. ABU started as a watch making factory on May 27'th, 1921 and was then called "A.-B. Urfabriken", which translates into something like "Watch Factory Inc."
Harvey ... the 35'th Anniv. would then be in ... let's see ... 1956 *wow* - the exact same year as the Toby first came out. What a coincidence huh! If you wanna sell that sweater - I'm HERE4U!

Humm... thinking it over once again Tony might be right here too abt 1966 *daaaawwnn*, cause they didn't make reels or anything fishy prior to 1931, so - 1966 it is (still interested in that sweater, Harvey. Mind you - if you never ever owned a ABU reel, you are simply not entitled to a sweater like that *lol*

)

Right again Tony ... ABU made some of the best reels ever made and that was way before Shimano were even a baaaad dream in some frea...*beeep!*

engineer's rusty Shimano ballbearings mind!

(pardon my French

Okie .. I better stop now before I'm banned from this very interesting board ...!

C'ya all laterrr...
Bo