J.T. Buel supposedly made the first fishing lure to hold a U.S. Patent, 1852.  His products were sold in Whitehall NY for decades by Northern Specialty Fishing Tackle Company.  Both Buel's company and Northern Specialty were eventually purchased by Eppinger Manufacturing of Michigan (makers of the famous Daredevle spoons. Eppinger continued to sell the Buel Spinner for some time).

 

 

 

Display at the local museum:

 

I had probably a dozen or more of the Buel spoons and spinners when I was a kid.  They came from old hand-me-down tackle, childhood tackle trading session (we used to do that a lot), etc.  I used them and, of course, eventually lost most of them. ?   I still have a few and they do have some collector value.  

Thanks for posting some history. I had few Beul trolling sinners (spoons) shown as the 1st patent when I sold my antique tackle to a BR member.

Tom

Enjoyed the information. Thanks! I currently have two that are spoons and both say patent  applied for. The hooks are soldered on and they look very early. One is a number one and the other it says number with no number so I guess it’s zero. I’m assuming these are the first from the 1850s. Any info you could share would be wonderful. Thanks in advance, cheers, Sophie

I have an antique  spinner that resembles  the one at the top of the add , except it reads Spalding and has a baseball stamped on the blade . It looks like a Buel .