Hi y'all,
Just got back from the wild woods of Northern Wisconsin. While up there, I had a couple of interesting experiences (catching a 5 pound redhorse sucker was just one of them). Stopped by an antique mall near Hayward, WI and talked with the proprietors. HUGE selection of fishing tackle, it is one of their best sellers. They were extremely knowledgable about tackle, probably selling a couple of thousand pieces each year. And they had never heard of either the NFLCC or ORCA. A couple of interesting points they made in their conversation: 1) they sell as much tackle to women as they do to men. 2) Many collectors are seeking information on their reels, lures, etc. My first thought was that a place like this would be an ideal spot for some ORCA informational brochures. Does ORCA have a short tri-fold brochure for promotional purposes?
Second thing. Stopped by the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and was graciously given a tour of their archives by the director (I will write up the experience for Richard and the Reel News). For those who have not been there, it is a neat experience--they have redone their exhibits since I last visited, and they have a huge selection of reels (probably over 2000 on display, including some great Talbot, Meek, and a full display of Zebco). Out front were collector books for sale in the gift shop, and again, I thought what an incredible place for ORCA brochures! People walk out of there amazed at the collection, maybe they would be interested in collectiing having witnessed such nice displays. By the way, the director kindly offered to open the closed archives for ORCA members and I will explain how to access the great info they have in the forthcoming article.
Cheers,
Dr. Todd
New Members...
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Roger Schulz
- Advanced Board Poster
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We have a brochure that is printable on the ORCA Home page. You have to do a link to membership. I can also send the two places brochures (color) if you can provide me addresses for each.
I think this is a great idea to get ORCA information available to new collectors that might be interested.
Roger
Sec./Treasurer
I think this is a great idea to get ORCA information available to new collectors that might be interested.
Roger
Sec./Treasurer
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el Lawrence
- Advanced Board Poster
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- Location: The TEXAS Hillcountry...
Dr. T... great fact finding. Also always good to try and get folks like that antique shop owner to sign up for ORCA membership a year and try us out.
ALSO wanted to mention... for a few folks that are out there... just signing up to CHAT on this ORCA web site doesn't make you an ORCA member. Check out the ORCA HOME PAGE (SEE ABOVE) and DO the membership. I know you think "What more could I get to make it worth the bucks? I get everything I need here on the chat page and web site..." But I am here to tell you– You are missing out on a whole lot more that ORCA has to offer. Try it out a year at least... you will find it worth a renewal.
SO, Dr. Todd... did you have to show your official ORCA badge to see the off limits goodies? lol
ALSO wanted to mention... for a few folks that are out there... just signing up to CHAT on this ORCA web site doesn't make you an ORCA member. Check out the ORCA HOME PAGE (SEE ABOVE) and DO the membership. I know you think "What more could I get to make it worth the bucks? I get everything I need here on the chat page and web site..." But I am here to tell you– You are missing out on a whole lot more that ORCA has to offer. Try it out a year at least... you will find it worth a renewal.
SO, Dr. Todd... did you have to show your official ORCA badge to see the off limits goodies? lol
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Richard Lodge
- Super Board Poster
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- Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2003 10:00 pm
- Location: Massachusetts
Yes!
Todd: Thanks for the travelogue and your continuing ideas on ways to get ORCA in front of people who would be interested. And thank you in advance for the article on the National Fishing Museum. That's something I look forward to. Your article on Thos. E. Wilson reels is in the July issue, which is currently at the printer and should be arriving in mailboxes... well... no way to really predict that, given the vararies of the USPS. But it's in the works and will be out soon.
As to that antique shop, I wish there were more of those around for collectors to discover. Seems like they're getting scarcer and scarcer.
p.s.: I second El's remark that Reel Talk readers who aren't members should join, support our club and learn about all the benefits and information that's available beyond the Web site. Besides Dr. Todd's great article and some excellent columns and stories, the July Reel News is packed with lots of coverage and photos from the ORCA convention in Lake George, N.Y.
As to that antique shop, I wish there were more of those around for collectors to discover. Seems like they're getting scarcer and scarcer.
p.s.: I second El's remark that Reel Talk readers who aren't members should join, support our club and learn about all the benefits and information that's available beyond the Web site. Besides Dr. Todd's great article and some excellent columns and stories, the July Reel News is packed with lots of coverage and photos from the ORCA convention in Lake George, N.Y.
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Reel Geezer
- Ultra Board Poster
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- Location: On the Snake River or Lake Lowell
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All the readers of this message board should stop and click on the ORCA HOME link once a month. It is at the top of this page. Over 17,000 people have checked in from the home page since Jan 1, and we have had over 100,000 hits on other pages. We do have information about the club there - Jim Schottenham sends in Reel Wowsers, and Richard Lodge gives you advance notice of what is appearing in the next issue of the Reel News. Harvey has thousands of catalogs for you, and Roger has a great ORCA Store.
There is a PDF file that gives you a color tri-fold brochure, and it's been there for 6 months. Take a look at YOUR WEB SITE.
There is a PDF file that gives you a color tri-fold brochure, and it's been there for 6 months. Take a look at YOUR WEB SITE.
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drexelantiques
- Advanced Board Poster
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My antique shop.
I sell as much tackle to women as I do to men. None of what I write below is meant to be sexist. Just what I have observed in 17+ years of selling.
Most of the men I sell to are either fishermen, or collectors. Very few are buying items to decorate with.
Some of the women I sell to are collectors, but the majority are either decorating with the tackle, or they are buying it as gifts for men in their lives that are fishermen, or collectors.
The two genders buy very different types of tackle.
A few of my women collectors collect main line tackle, but most specialize, they may collect critter lures, or etc.
Of the women that do collect, the majority have husbands who collect, and the women got into the hobby to give them a common interest, or the common interest already existed.
The women that buy to decorate are either professional decorators, or they are decorating their own home and have a husband or son who is a fisherman, or they are decorating a beach or lake house.
Those decorating buy sporting art that looks good on the wall, cheaper bamboo rods, old looking reels like the cheap raised pillar featherweights, creels, and etc. to decorate with. Usually a couple of rods, reels, a creel, and maybe a few lures or flies they can frame.
They want something that looks old, looks fishy, some want it as inexpensive as possible, some do not care about the cost.
Women that are buying as gifts for fishermen, or collectors, I try to give them the best buy I can, so that both they, and the person they are buying from will be happy. Plus I always offer to let them, or the person they are buying from return the items.
I try to pick some of the more unusual lures that are within their price range.
Most of the men I sell to are either fishermen, or collectors. Very few are buying items to decorate with.
Some of the women I sell to are collectors, but the majority are either decorating with the tackle, or they are buying it as gifts for men in their lives that are fishermen, or collectors.
The two genders buy very different types of tackle.
A few of my women collectors collect main line tackle, but most specialize, they may collect critter lures, or etc.
Of the women that do collect, the majority have husbands who collect, and the women got into the hobby to give them a common interest, or the common interest already existed.
The women that buy to decorate are either professional decorators, or they are decorating their own home and have a husband or son who is a fisherman, or they are decorating a beach or lake house.
Those decorating buy sporting art that looks good on the wall, cheaper bamboo rods, old looking reels like the cheap raised pillar featherweights, creels, and etc. to decorate with. Usually a couple of rods, reels, a creel, and maybe a few lures or flies they can frame.
They want something that looks old, looks fishy, some want it as inexpensive as possible, some do not care about the cost.
Women that are buying as gifts for fishermen, or collectors, I try to give them the best buy I can, so that both they, and the person they are buying from will be happy. Plus I always offer to let them, or the person they are buying from return the items.
I try to pick some of the more unusual lures that are within their price range.
OK
Roger,
will be in touch about the two places, I will send a note to the exec. director of the museum later this week.
El, great comment about the home page and signing up people who are active on Reel Talk but who miss out on all the other fun in ORCA.
Maybe this article on the Hayward museum can spawn a series of articles about reel collections residing in museums?
Cheers,
Dr. Todd
will be in touch about the two places, I will send a note to the exec. director of the museum later this week.
El, great comment about the home page and signing up people who are active on Reel Talk but who miss out on all the other fun in ORCA.
Maybe this article on the Hayward museum can spawn a series of articles about reel collections residing in museums?
Cheers,
Dr. Todd
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el Lawrence
- Advanced Board Poster
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- Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2003 12:19 pm
- Location: The TEXAS Hillcountry...
OH BOY! So I guess I break the mold on the above evaluations of womens buying...
No critter lures collection to speak of, Do collect Pflueger but most other Pflueger collectors would say my collection falls in (in the words of another collector, not mine) the Advanced collector range, I also specialize in Irish made reels (mostly from the 1800s, which almost no one else does... ) plus the odd nice reel that comes my way (9/0 O. Zwarg). Not a decorator (really hate seeing a nice reel screwed down to a lamp base) and spouse dosen't collect. Most people coming into our house ju*mp to the conclusion that the reels... and the assorted trophy mounts... are his. NOPE as he is quick to point out, None of the reels are his, Very few of the guns, and he didn't shoot any of the animals on the wall either. (He wouldn't even come outside to view my very first deer... though he is keen to have venison, or quail for dinner). Though he will fish we rarely go on trips together... have fished more recently and often with other ORCA members than my spouse. He doesn't go to hunting camp either (where I am always the only woman again). Nor does he have any interest in antiques at all... I DID get a third degree red belt in TKD on the "dabbling in his hobby" thing... That count?
Now I must confess that now and then I have let the antique shop owner THINK I planned to decorate with some reel or copper tacklebox... or maybe more of a case of I just let them believe what they want as I think I get a better deal sometimes... like that $50. Zwarg
(seller just hadn't done any research no doubt). Sure I have bought reels and such just because I thought they were cute... but I know a lot of guys that have/do too...
Just don't fool yourself into thinking we are all helpless and have no real interest or knowledge (one of my few "fellow" female ORCA members can tell you Pat. information, dates and values out of her head like she is reading it from a book, makes my head spin! Wish I had that kind of skill). I can field dress my own deer, and clean my own fish (when we are not doing catch and release), so don't think I couldn't part someone from a nice Dixie or Faultless in a heartbeat if the price was right. 
There may not be many of us but... Don't let the skirt fool you... it is very complex camouflage. 
Nope I don't think you were being sexist or anything... I just think you haven't met any of the "REEL" women yet...
No critter lures collection to speak of, Do collect Pflueger but most other Pflueger collectors would say my collection falls in (in the words of another collector, not mine) the Advanced collector range, I also specialize in Irish made reels (mostly from the 1800s, which almost no one else does... ) plus the odd nice reel that comes my way (9/0 O. Zwarg). Not a decorator (really hate seeing a nice reel screwed down to a lamp base) and spouse dosen't collect. Most people coming into our house ju*mp to the conclusion that the reels... and the assorted trophy mounts... are his. NOPE as he is quick to point out, None of the reels are his, Very few of the guns, and he didn't shoot any of the animals on the wall either. (He wouldn't even come outside to view my very first deer... though he is keen to have venison, or quail for dinner). Though he will fish we rarely go on trips together... have fished more recently and often with other ORCA members than my spouse. He doesn't go to hunting camp either (where I am always the only woman again). Nor does he have any interest in antiques at all... I DID get a third degree red belt in TKD on the "dabbling in his hobby" thing... That count?
Now I must confess that now and then I have let the antique shop owner THINK I planned to decorate with some reel or copper tacklebox... or maybe more of a case of I just let them believe what they want as I think I get a better deal sometimes... like that $50. Zwarg
(seller just hadn't done any research no doubt). Sure I have bought reels and such just because I thought they were cute... but I know a lot of guys that have/do too...Just don't fool yourself into thinking we are all helpless and have no real interest or knowledge (one of my few "fellow" female ORCA members can tell you Pat. information, dates and values out of her head like she is reading it from a book, makes my head spin! Wish I had that kind of skill). I can field dress my own deer, and clean my own fish (when we are not doing catch and release), so don't think I couldn't part someone from a nice Dixie or Faultless in a heartbeat
if the price was right. There may not be many of us but... Don't let the skirt fool you... it is very complex camouflage. Nope I don't think you were being sexist or anything... I just think you haven't met any of the "REEL" women yet...
el Lawrence wrote:... like that $50. Zwarg
FIFTY BUCKS! I say we have another convention in TX to coincide with that flea market!By the way, I recently ordered something from the fellows at The Art of Angling magazine out of MA and turned them on to ORCA. They were bummed about missing this year's National right out their back door but seemed excited about the organization and offered to help advertise the club and our next National.
Yep
Hi El,
The two women who ran the antique shop were likewise sharp as tacks, they told a funny story of how some guy came in, found out the antique store was run by women and FULL of tackle, piled up a bunch of $5 lures on top of a $350 one and told them "I'll give you $50 for all that junk." They proceeded to give him a history lesson on the Heddon 150 at the bottom, with a detailed commentary on cup hardware, color scheme, etc. He beat a hasty retreat.
I think there are lots of female collectors out there who just haven't heard of ORCA before. Just like there are lots of male collectors who haven't heard of it either.
About 1990 one of the most impressive collection came to market in Stillwater, MN -- something like 10,000 lures (no junk) and 2000 reels. Accumulated by a shrewd female collector from Brainerd, MN who no one in the NFLCC had ever heard of before. How many more like her are there out there? Who ARE all these people on eBay buying reels?
Of course, this doesn't mean that there aren't women decorators or women buying for their husbands. But neither are all of them decorators either.
Cheers,
Dr. Todd
The two women who ran the antique shop were likewise sharp as tacks, they told a funny story of how some guy came in, found out the antique store was run by women and FULL of tackle, piled up a bunch of $5 lures on top of a $350 one and told them "I'll give you $50 for all that junk." They proceeded to give him a history lesson on the Heddon 150 at the bottom, with a detailed commentary on cup hardware, color scheme, etc. He beat a hasty retreat.
I think there are lots of female collectors out there who just haven't heard of ORCA before. Just like there are lots of male collectors who haven't heard of it either.
About 1990 one of the most impressive collection came to market in Stillwater, MN -- something like 10,000 lures (no junk) and 2000 reels. Accumulated by a shrewd female collector from Brainerd, MN who no one in the NFLCC had ever heard of before. How many more like her are there out there? Who ARE all these people on eBay buying reels?
Of course, this doesn't mean that there aren't women decorators or women buying for their husbands. But neither are all of them decorators either.
Cheers,
Dr. Todd
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el Lawrence
- Advanced Board Poster
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- Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2003 12:19 pm
- Location: The TEXAS Hillcountry...
I know a couple of guys that buy tackle (and antique fish and deer mounts) for the "decorator trade" while they work on their own collections too... Think that is where a lot of what is in "fern bars", pizza joints and "rustic lodge" type places comes from.
Geez I wish I could go to that antique shop too... sounds like the sort of place you just hope for when you go on a fishing vacation or off to some "fishy" sort of place... you just imagine there are places like that lurking down some seldom traveled road or around back of the bait and tackle shop... Been a long time that I have found one myself though. How about a name and or a town for those lucky enough to be in driving range of these ladies? Maybe we can get them into ORCA yet...
Couple of us "gals" are ever hopeful that we will see more women in ORCA.
Geez I wish I could go to that antique shop too... sounds like the sort of place you just hope for when you go on a fishing vacation or off to some "fishy" sort of place... you just imagine there are places like that lurking down some seldom traveled road or around back of the bait and tackle shop... Been a long time that I have found one myself though. How about a name and or a town for those lucky enough to be in driving range of these ladies? Maybe we can get them into ORCA yet...
Couple of us "gals" are ever hopeful that we will see more women in ORCA.
EL, i signed up a new member! MyBoss!!
jump jump usa, EL, I had My BOSS, Carol sign up in ORCA, she collects several types of reels from Pflugers , to mitchels, johnsons, Zebcos and others, why not email her and introduce yourselves? Her name is Carol Grisham, email is () or ) , let her know what you collect as she hasent settled in on any one reel name as of yet! I can tell you she can and does do a very good job on reel repair, and shows us how to do the work before she turns us lose on the PUBLIC! And she has one thing at her fingertips we dont have , yup! its the Whole ZEBCO FACTORY and its history! Now you ladies get to know each other and teach us men folks a few things about reels, EL, send her a copy of the metal paper you had at Lansing! , You ladies have one advantage on us hard working men, you have TIME to study these reels! ha ha , Your ohio Conection On Lake ERIE COL. Milton Lorens aka SWIM JIG