Herters Catalog

[Fishing Rhino]

I had been trying to remember the name for months, and like most other things, it came to me when I wasn't perusing my memory banks.

I had one, or two, probably even more of those catalogs. You could buy in bulk and save bucoup dollars. Need ball bearing swivels? Buy them by the hundred, for pennies apiece. Spinner blades of every size and configuration. Also available in bulk. Beads, the same.

I was busy at that time making spinner rigs for stripers. And for a few bucks I could make them with two or three spinner blades, beads, stainless steel ball bearing swivel, line and hooks for about fifty cents each.

In addition to the brand name lures of that era, such as the "Lazy Ike" Herters offered knockoffs such as the Lazy Iver. He also had a deeper running version called, yep, you guessed it, the "Lazy Iver Go Deeper".

To my knowlege he had no stores. Everything was mail order. His catalog dwarfed those of today's BPS and Cabelas. It was Nirvanha for the do it youselfers. Blanks, eyes, everything imaginable for fly tying. He did not miss a trick. It was truly something and everything for everybody.

http://neveryetmelted.com/categories/herters-catalogue/

[GrundleLove]

So this no longer exists? Sounds awesome what happened?

[Fishing Rhino]

So this no longer exists? Sounds awesome what happened?

He ran afoul of government regulations about feathers. A regulation was enacted that banned the harvesting of a particular bird or feathers. He had a huge stockpile and the government would not let him use them even though he had obtained them legally. Being stubbornly independent, he closed down the business.

It's in the link on my first post.

I didn't get it quite right. He apparently gave up after the government went after him.

[GrundleLove]

That sucks, I also just found this is you wanted to take a cheap stroll down memory lane

http://cgi.ebay.com/1955-HERTERS-CATALOG-VINTAGE-FISHING-LURES-REEL-ETC-/220826780341?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336a4d42b5

[SDoolittle]

I was getting a Herter's catalog every year back in the '90s. It was almost entirely waterfowl hunting gear to include their own line of decoys. Is this the same one you're talking about?

[Fishing Rhino]

I don't know. Could be. I got the big, everything catalog in the late 50s, early 60s.

Those catalogs had the family crest/shield of Herter prominently displayed. I'm only surmising that if he kept at it with the hunting gear, he'd have maintained the family coat of arms prominently displayed.

[slonezp]

I misread the post. I thought it said Hooters Calendar.

[detroit1]

I never had their catalog, but a guy in my school had one (circa 1970ish). As i remember it, it did cover most all things outdoors. (fishing, hunting, camping) Don't forget the adds for Sports Liquidators in F&S, Outdoor Life, etc. I bought the 25 lures for 14.95 and still have a few today. They were knock-offs of popular baits of the day...

[Blue Streak]

That was a great catalog and a one stop source for everything, there has never been another like it.

[shootermcbob]

Back in the mid 70's, my Dad bought a "kit" from herters and finished his own bow. We made our own everything from arrows, to bowstrings, to arm protectors. I do not know what happened to his bow, I got older and went into football, basketball, and girls.

I do still have his Herter's hunting knife, which must be 35+ years old now.

I also remember their catalogs. Dad and I used to look through the archery pages and ooh and aah over all the stuff we were gonna buy. Good memories.

[flippin and pitchin]

I bought fly tying materials and poppers from Herters when I was in junior high. What a memory. Do you remember 10 ounce bottles of Nesbitts in a dispenser that was a chilled water bather with rails. A nickle and slide the bottle out and pop the cap on the opener attched to the side of the unit. Sweet times man.

[Fishing Rhino]

I bought fly tying materials and poppers from Herters when I was in junior high. What a memory. Do you remember 10 ounce bottles of Nesbitts in a dispenser that was a chilled water bather with rails. A nickle and slide the bottle out and pop the cap on the opener attched to the side of the unit. Sweet times man.

I remember Nesbitts, and Nehi, and Royal Crown Cola.