Vaughn's Lure

This wooden body lure was manufactured in the early 1940's by Vaughn's Tackle Company of Cheboygan, Michigan, and has a rotating head with three flutes of varying colors. The head rotates on a shaft which is screwed into the body. A small washer separates the rotating head and body. The hook hangers are simply small eye hooks which are also screwed into the body. The lure is depicted in Carl F. Luckey's book, Old Fishing Lures and Tackle (No. 4) as well as Karl White's Fishing Tackle Antiques and Collectibles (11/1995 edition). The colors listed below were cited or illustrated in both books. The wooden body measures 3 1/2" with another 1/4" tacked on for the nose loop. The two pictures illustrate all three flute colors when the head is turned. The value range for this lure runs from $90 to $200. (Additional note:  these price estimates are from the original 1996 article.)

 

Vaughn Lure Box

The box for the Vaughn lure was fairly simple with printed words and no graphics. These boxes are very scarce and seldom seen and can double the value of the lure if it's in the correct box.

Vaughn's Lure Box Paperwork

As rare as the box and maybe even rarer is the box paper. This is the only known record of a list of advertised colors the lure came in.

Known Colors

Green body, red-yellow-white flutes Yellow body, red-green-flutes Yellow body, white-blue-red flutes Black body, green-orange-white flutes Black body, white-yellow-green flutes Red body, yellow-white-blue flutes Red body, white-blue-orange flutes White body, black-green-red flutes Orange body, white-blue-red flutes Metallic gray body, white-yellow-red flutes

 

Author's Note: An extensive article on Vaughn's Lure was published after this Lure Lore in the NFLCC Gazette, June, 1998 (Vol. 23, #77) entitled Vaughn's Lure by Kelly Girard.

 

Since this original Lure Lore was first published in 1996 we know quite a bit more about this company and lure.  A lot of this can be attributed to Kelly Girard's extensive article in the 1998 NFLCC Gazette on "Vaughn's Lure" as well as additional research of Robert Slade in his Encylodpedia of Old Fishing Lures Made in North America Volumes.  Here are some additional facts about the company and their baits:

• Ray Vaughn started the Vaughn Tackle Company in 1946 in Cheboygan, Michigan.
• He applied for two patents on April 19, 1946.  One for the Vaughn lure and the second for a variation with a Globe type propeller.  That second version would never be put into production.
• In January 1948 Ray Vaughn and his family moved back to lower Michigan ending production of the Vaughn Tackle Company.
• In September 1948 Patent No. 151,106 (Vaughn Lure) and Patent No. 151,107 (Globe propeller type) were issued.
• There was a 1946 largest pike and largest bass contest caught on a Vaughn lure.
• There are four different box variations.  Two for 1946 and two for 1947.  Box variations are shown below.

Vaughn's Lure Box Style 1:  1946  Long Skinny Box, Plain

 

Vaughn's Lure Box Style 2:  1946 Normal Size, Plain

 

Vaughn's Lure Box Style 3:  1947 Picture Box

 

Vaughn's Lure Box Style 4:  1947 Henry Lewis Box (Rare)

 

Below are some additional images some Vaughn lures and their boxes (thanks to Langs Auction for use of the images). 

 

 

 

 

If anybody has additional information or paperwork such as early advertisements they would share it would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Unknown Lure

The lure pictured above is believed to have been made in the 1950's or 1960's based upon the type of hooks on the lure. It is made of light wood - there are no markings on the prop or the lure of any type. It is torpedo shaped, measuring approximately 1 1/4" in diameter and 4 1/2" long. The pictures are of the top and bottom of the lure.

Identification Status to Date: Unknown

 

If you have any further information on any of the items displayed on this page which you'd like to share, please send your comments to me and I'll update the page accordingly. Contributions of interesting items and/or unknowns are encouraged.

© 2020, My Bait Shop, LLC