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Scarce early photo postcard of South Canal Street in Whitehall, New York. On the left side is the J.T. Buel building, with the company's large rooftop sign "J.T. Buel Trolling Baits" clearly readable. The company operated from this building until 1902. It appears this photo was taken while the company was still in business at this address, as is evidenced by the sign "Fishing Tackle Etc" still in the second floor window (missing from the photo used in Carter's 19th Century Fishing Lures). Card is in exceptional condition, unused, with light silvering to the sides.
Born in East Poultney, Vermont in 1806, Julio Thompson Buel holds an important place in the history of lure making in the United States, having been issued the first American lure patent for his now famous spoon lure. The son of a furrier, J.T. Buel began fishing at an early age at nearby Lake Bomoseen where his father kept a small shanty and a boat. Legend has it that while pausing for lunch during an afternoon fishing trip, Julio lost his spoon over the side of his boat, and as the spoon descended into the clear water of Lake Bomoseen, he witnessed a large fish grab the spoon. That encounter began Julio on a journey into lure making, something he would continue until ill health forced him to sell his company in 1885. Moving to Whitehall, NY in 1827, Buel continued in the family business as a furrier, making only a few of his lures. That would all change after an article appeared in the Spirit of the Times, written by Frank Forester, in which Buel's lures were touted as the best made. The resulting orders put an end to his activity as a furrier, and in 1848 he transformed his furrier shop into a full time lure making business. Buel's first patent was issued on April 6th, 1852 as a "mode of taking fish", given patent number 8853. Subsequent patents were issued for fish hooks on April 11, 1854 and April 22nd, 1856, dates that are now found on only a few examples of Buel's earliest lures. A true craftsman, Buel's lures were a quality product of upstate New York, and remain much sought after in the lure collecting world. Early dated examples of Buel's work are difficult at best to find today, making the following collection offered an outstanding opportunity to obtain one of America's most important lures, from the grandfather of lure making. ImagesClick on thumbnails to see larger images:
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