Hooks Made in America
This section of the old hooks features hooks made in America and a few which may have been made elsewhere but for American companies. Some of these are hooks made by Bate. The Bate company was started by two brothers, Thomas & James Bate from Redditch England. They had a hook making business in Redditch. In 1822, they opened the T & J Bate Co. in New York. This company would take on new names every few years with the final one, the venerable firm of Wm. Mills & Son. In all their years of doing business, the company remained a family owned business.
Most hook makers in the early years came to America from Redditch England and the surrounding area. That was really the center of the hook making world for a good many years.
When viewing the various sections of this old hook section, you will see hooks in any given section that may have been made somewhere else. Some companies had hooks made in different countries. The Edward Vom Hofe company is a good example. I have hooks imprinted with the Vom Hofe name and England, USA and Norway. Where to put the hooks? Since they functioned in the US, many of their hooks will be in this section. There will also be a good many Vom Hofe hooks in the Saltwater and even the snelled section. The Thomas J Conroy Co. is another US company who’s hooks I have imprinted with their name and at least one Conroy package of snelled saltwater hooks marked R Harrison & Co., Redditch.
All of this cross pollination can be quite confusing made even more so due to the lack of written accounts of the companies and their products.
The obvious place to start this American hook section is with a couple hooks made by who some call the father of American hook making, Job Johnson.
1. This great original advertisement by Achim Johnson, Job’s son, was taken from an 1882 book/magazine. It is about 5 ½” x 8 ¼”. The hook laying on it, I believe to be a Job Johnson original. Most of the original japan remains on the hook which is in near new condition. It is about 3 5/8” long with a gape of about 1 ¼”.
2. This is another hook that I believe to be a Job Johnson creation. It has a slightly different bend than the one above and the point is not dropped. It does have age on it’s side. It was in the 1900’s collection so I am certain that it predates that.
3. This is a Court/Crosby patent ringed hook purchased from Jeff Kieny and as seen on page 3 of patent papers. Below the hook is the point/barb/bend detail. A very nicely done hook. Also shown on page 155 of Larson’s book “The History Of The Fish Hook In America”.
American Fish Hook & Needle Co.
The American Fish Hook & Needle Co. Was founded by Dr. Chauncey O. Crosby, a Dentist and the inventor of the first automated hook making machine. His brother Charles A. Crosby, Dexter Alden and some other minor individuals founded the company in 1864.
The New Haven, Connecticut company was successful from the beginning. By 1867, 180,000,000 hooks a year were being made by the company as noted in a contemporary issue of Scientific American! For all practical purposes, the day of hand made hooks was over.
The American Fish Hook & Needle Co. would later be bought by E.F. Pflueger of the Enterprise Manufacturing Co.. The Pflueger company operated for many years after that now making their own fish hooks.
You can read more about these two companies in Todd Larson’s book “The History Of The Fish Hook In America”
The early boxes that hold the hooks are wonderful little treasure chests. I believe them to be hand made as none are quite the same. Not only is seeing this many American Fish Hook & Needle Co. hooks a treat, but seeing the boxes in such good shape is as well.
You will note that some box lids have an indent with a hook sewn into it. Down in the lower rt. corner these boxes have patented July 18, 1865. This patent date is not for the hooks but is for the boxes. Also of note, not all of the hooks in any given box are the same. Some have dull japanning and others glossy. Some even are different shapes.
4. American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #6, Limerick, flatted, spear pointed, japanned. About ¾” long.
5a American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #8, Kirby bent, flatted, blued. About 11/16” long.
5b American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #8, Kirby bent, flatted, blued. About 11/16” long.
6a American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #4, limerick, flatted, japanned. About 15/16” long. Here you see the American Fish Hook & Needle Co. box in detail. Not only are the boxes different but as you can see by the two hooks from that box are not the same. Actually, as far as fish hooks are concerned, not even close to the same yet there are more in that box and I am certain that these hooks have remained undisturbed since they were made all those years ago. Why I love old hooks!
6b American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #4, limerick, flatted, japanned. About 15/16” long. Here you see the American Fish Hook & Needle Co. box in detail. Not only are the boxes different but as you can see by the two hooks from that box are not the same. Actually, as far as fish hooks are concerned, not even close to the same yet there are more in that box and I am certain that these hooks have remained undisturbed since they were made all those years ago. Why I love old hooks!
6c American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #4, limerick, flatted, japanned. About 15/16” long. Here you see the American Fish Hook & Needle Co. box in detail. Not only are the boxes different but as you can see by the two hooks from that box are not the same. Actually, as far as fish hooks are concerned, not even close to the same yet there are more in that box and I am certain that these hooks have remained undisturbed since they were made all those years ago. Why I love old hooks!
6d American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #4, limerick, flatted, japanned. About 15/16” long. Here you see the American Fish Hook & Needle Co. box in detail. Not only are the boxes different but as you can see by the two hooks from that box are not the same. Actually, as far as fish hooks are concerned, not even close to the same yet there are more in that box and I am certain that these hooks have remained undisturbed since they were made all those years ago. Why I love old hooks!
7a American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #3, Kirby bent, flatted, japanned. About 1” long. You also see two hooks from that box showing two entirely different finishes. Both japanned but one glossy as should normally be and the other flat. You can see that the box has what appears to be half glossy and half flat. Certainly not a mistake by one of them being placed in the box. Knowing something of the japanning process, I expect these hooks were from two different batches of japanned hooks that simply came out differently. Whatever the reason, it sure adds interest.
7b American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #3, Kirby bent, flatted, japanned. About 1” long. You also see two hooks from that box showing two entirely different finishes. Both japanned but one glossy as should normally be and the other flat. You can see that the box has what appears to be half glossy and half flat. Certainly not a mistake by one of them being placed in the box. Knowing something of the japanning process, I expect these hooks were from two different batches of japanned hooks that simply came out differently. Whatever the reason, it sure adds interest.
8. American Fish Hook & Needle Co., both #4, one Limerick and one Kirby, both flatted, one blued (l.) and one japanned (r.).
9a American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #2, Mackerel hooks, drop point, japanned. About 2 1/16” long. On the bottom of the box is another label by H.H. Crie & Co., dealers in iron & steel, Blacksmith’s stock & tools. Quarry outfits, blasting powder, fuses, &c. Carriage stock, trimmings and paints. Ship chandlery and fishermen’s goods. Guns, revolvers, powder, shot &c. Rockland, Me.
9b American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #2, Mackerel hooks, drop point, japanned. About 2 1/16” long. On the bottom of the box is another label by H.H. Crie & Co., dealers in iron & steel, Blacksmith’s stock & tools. Quarry outfits, blasting powder, fuses, &c. Carriage stock, trimmings and paints. Ship chandlery and fishermen’s goods. Guns, revolvers, powder, shot &c. Rockland, Me.
9c American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #2, Mackerel hooks, drop point, japanned. About 2 1/16” long. On the bottom of the box is another label by H.H. Crie & Co., dealers in iron & steel, Blacksmith’s stock & tools. Quarry outfits, blasting powder, fuses, &c. Carriage stock, trimmings and paints. Ship chandlery and fishermen’s goods. Guns, revolvers, powder, shot &c. Rockland, Me.
9d American Fish Hook & Needle Co., #2, Mackerel hooks, drop point, japanned. About 2 1/16” long. On the bottom of the box is another label by H.H. Crie & Co., dealers in iron & steel, Blacksmith’s stock & tools. Quarry outfits, blasting powder, fuses, &c. Carriage stock, trimmings and paints. Ship chandlery and fishermen’s goods. Guns, revolvers, powder, shot &c. Rockland, Me.
10. The Jamison Barbless Hooks, #6794, #8, bronzed, ringed. USA Patent, July 29/24 1,502781, British Patent, Oct. 16/24, 223,137. Manufactured expressly for The W Jamison Co., Chicago, Ill., USA by S Allcock & Co., LTD.. Sole Agents, Redditch, England. Hooks in the box are about 13/16” long.
11. Allen’s Miracle Hook, pat. No 2,591,764, R V Allen Mfg., Box 7, Chino Calif. I suspect that these hooks were made with the arrow to hold pork rind. There is nothing on the box to indicate otherwise.
12. Edgar Patent Barbless Hooks, #8, straight bend, blued, patent No. 196648, made by William Mills & Son, sole proprietors and manufacturers. About 2 1/8” long.
In the late 1800’s, discussions raged over the merits of “barbless” hooks. The arguments were focused generally on the point of fish hookup. In other words, the relative ease of penetration of a needle point hook sans barb vs. a more traditional barbed hook. Fish mortality also entered into the discussions but was a subordinate line of discussion. It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same as these discussions continue to this day.
There was one fellow by the name of Butler Edgar who developed and patented the so called “Edgar Barbless Hook”. The idea was simple enough, have a needle point barbless hook for ease of hook up and another opposing needle point to prevent breaking off a fish.
They were made by the Wm Mills & Son Company (The Bate hook company). Later, they were made and sold by other companies.
Again, you can read more about this in Todd Larson’s book “The History Of The Fish Hook In America”.
13. Edgar Patent Barbless Hooks, #?, kirby bend, blued, patent No. 196648, made by William Mills & Son, sole proprietors and manufacturers. About 1 ½” long.
14. T & TH Bate’s, Pennell turn down eye, Cincinatti Bass shape, hollow point, #27, bronzed. Ca 1843 to 1852
15. T H Bate’s, Aberdeen hooks, #5/0, blued. Marked. Ca 1859 to 1874
16. T H Bate’s, Aberdeen hooks, #5, marked, bronzed. Ca 1859 to 1874
17a TH Bate’s Aberdeen hooks, #7, blued, marked. Ca 1859 to 1874
17b TH Bate’s Aberdeen hooks, #7, blued, marked. Ca 1859 to 1874
18. TH Bate’s Aberdeen hooks, #6, tapered, bronzed. Ca 1859 to 1874
19a TH Bate’s Aberdeen hooks, size ?, No. 501, marked, blued. About 1 ¾” long. Ca 1859 to 1874
19b TH Bate’s Aberdeen hooks, size ?, No. 501, marked, blued. About 1 ¾” long. Ca 1859 to 1874
20. TH Bates’, Aberdeen hooks, marked, bronzed. About 1 ½” long. Ca 1859 to 1874
21a Thomas H Bate’s hook packet, #11, Limerick, ringed, japanned, hollow point. Ca 1853 to 1858
21b Thomas H Bate’s hook packet, #11, Limerick, ringed, japanned, hollow point. Ca 1853 to 1858
21c Thomas H Bate’s hook packet, #11, Limerick, ringed, japanned, hollow point. Ca 1853 to 1858
22a Clerk, Green & Baker hook with a Mason’s symbol on the flat and the name embossed on the bottom of the shank. There is no place of manufacture on the hook. Hook is about 3 ¾” long and a gape of about 1 1/8” directly above the point. This hook and #33 are almost the same length, the bends are virtually identical and except for the slight upturn in the shank and slightly lower point, one could surmise they came from the same hook shop. I am not saying they were but hook companies did private label hooks back in the day.
See more on this hook in the English Hooks Section.
22b Clerk, Green & Baker hook with a Mason’s symbol on the flat and the name embossed on the bottom of the shank. There is no place of manufacture on the hook. Hook is about 3 ¾” long and a gape of about 1 1/8” directly above the point. This hook and #33 are almost the same length, the bends are virtually identical and except for the slight upturn in the shank and slightly lower point, one could surmise they came from the same hook shop. I am not saying they were but hook companies did private label hooks back in the day.
See more on this hook in the English Hooks Section.
22c Clerk, Green & Baker hook with a Mason’s symbol on the flat and the name embossed on the bottom of the shank. There is no place of manufacture on the hook. Hook is about 3 ¾” long and a gape of about 1 1/8” directly above the point. This hook and #33 are almost the same length, the bends are virtually identical and except for the slight upturn in the shank and slightly lower point, one could surmise they came from the same hook shop. I am not saying they were but hook companies did private label hooks back in the day.
See more on this hook in the English Hooks Section.
23. Wright & McGill Co., Arrow Point Fish Hooks, #2/0, #251, ring eye, bronzed.
24. Wright & McGill Co. Fish Hooks, #2/0, #291, ring eye, bronzed, straight Point, sproat. About 5/8” long.
25. Pflueger Carlisle Fish Hooks, various sizes, ringed, blued.
26. Pflueger Carlisle, #8921, 4/0.
27. Pflueger, Buddie Fish Hook Assortment #3999, japanned and bright wire.
28. Pflueger, Limerick, ringed, 3121-J, 9/0. About 2 ¾” long.