April 2013
Dummy Double
James Heddon and Sons
Dowagiac, MI
1913

James Heddon was a lure pioneer and arguably the most famous manufacturer’s name when it comes to tackle collectors. 

James ran his business primarily with his two sons.  The company grew from making lures in their home’s kitchen numbering a few thousand a year to a huge factory that manufactured several thousand  every hour.

As his company grew and competition became more fierce in the relatively new business of making wooden fishing lures, James Heddon had to keep up with new innovations in tackle.  To compete, besides designing his own lures, Heddon would “copy” other lure manufacture’s designs and even buyout other companies patents to stay on top…while in turn defending his lure patents to the best of his ability.

Quite possibly James Heddon’s last lure invention before his passing in 1911 were the hooks and attachment that he used on his minnow, called the “Dummy Double”.  This lure was first listed in the 1913 Heddon Catalog.

This lure was designed with a new hook attachment on the side and only featured one barbed hook.  This was an attempt to come up with a way where the hooks would not scratch the lure.  The curved “non-hook” hung to the inside when retrieved, thus preventing the sharp hook from contacting the lure.  These hooks were also removable by design.

The “Dummy Double” had a front and rear spinner which are clearly marked with “Heddon Dowagiac” and the lure also featured real glass eyes.

This “Dummy Double” is in the beautiful color of “Strawberry”.  Even after 100 years, the paint is still eye-catching to the fisherman…but did it attract the fish?  Well, who cares as long as it caught the fisherman who had to purcahse it.  As the following customer confession said in an early Heddon Catalog:

“That bait is so perfect and beautiful I could bite it myself.”

As far as value, not many of these Dummy Doubles were made in its three or so years of production, so they are quite rare.  Due to this and the fact that it is a Heddon lure and there are lots of Heddon collectors out there, the retail price of these lures…even in only fair shape…is at least $200.  I have seen some in excellent shape and a box sell for over $1500.