September 2010
Multi-Wobbler
Winchester Repeating Arms Company
New Haven, CT
1921
As we are approaching the hunting season in Minnesota, the “Lure of the Month” for September is one that was manufactured by the well-known gun maker…Winchester Repeating Arms Co.
And, this lure also comes with a lesson. That lesson is, rubber worms and lures do not mix…especially painted wooden lures.
This lure is heavily damaged, and it is because the lure was stored (not by me) with rubber worms in a tackle box. The worms melted when against the lure, and heavily damaged it. There is no repair or fix for this unless you sand and repaint the entire lure…which would be a big mistake as the value would plummet even more than its current condition. Collectors like original lures, not repainted ones.
Even though it is damaged, the Multi-Wobbler is a great lure with a lot of history. Winchester got into the lure business in the year 1919...and got out in 1931. Winchester did not offer many types of lures, and this bait was one of the most unique ones. It features two double-barbed hooks and a “pull-from behind” design. The double-bladed metal lip (or tail) causes the lure to dive and wobble when retrieved.
If you are interested in collecting a lure made by Winchester, be careful. Someone has bought the right to manufacture the Winchester Minnows (not the Wobblers) so many new ones are still being made. Being I collect lures for the history, the newer manufactured minnows do not appeal to me. I would rather have this real and old lure, even in its bad condition, over any of the newer lures that are not actually manufactured by Winchester. This new manufacturer even copied the old box design the original lures were sold in and the blades of the lure can say “Winchester”. They are wooden and very well-made and are appealing to some collectors, but not to me.
