Heddon Lure Factory

 

Here in this Heddon Gallery we get to step back in time to se just what it looked like inside the Factory of the James Heddon lure Company. There is not set time frame all the pictures adhere to. However one can use the clues in the Heddon photos to put a general time frame around 1924. This was a peak time in retrospect prior to the great depression of the 30s and the War efforts of the 40s.

Inside the photos you will witness employees of the James Heddon lure company assembling lures, putting in eyes in Vamps and Basser lures. Drying Heddon's Dowagiac Minnows on trays, to assembling reels, and rods.

There also are a few specific pictures of members of the Heddon family as cited. And, even a picture of one of the testament scenes from out of a Heddon Catalog. You will see photos of James Heddon's home in Dowagiac Michigan as well as views of the factory at different time frames.

Looking at these photos whether it be the wooden minnows, the bamboo rods or the Heddon reels one cant help but be drawn to the faces whom helped make possible this great hobby of Lure collecting. The employees with their devotion, attention to detail and pride which coined the James Heddon Lure Company slogan; Heddon Made, Well made".


 


Photo from inside the Heddon Factory an Employee inserting lure eyes.
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
Heddon employee inserting eyes into what look s to be a Heddon Basser ,We also see in front of here a series of completed Heddon Vamps.

Inside the Heddon Factory Employees filling fisihng lure boxes.
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour    
In this photo we have a view from inside the Heddon Factory first floor, where women are inserting Heddon 100 series minnows from drying treys. Notice the multitude of ink stamps on the walls.


Heddon Factory Employees attaching feathers.
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour  
Presumably in this photo we have a group of Heddon employees hand tying Heddon Fly rod lures or adding feathers to lures as evident by the feathers all over the floor.
Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour   
A group of men Heddon Employees assembling Bamboo Rods.

Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour   
A group of Women sewing the wraps on the Bamboo rods.

Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour  
A peak into the offices of the James Heddon lure Factory.
Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
  Heddon Employees painting on color patterns of lures. Boy wouldn't OSHA have a field day here.

Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
Another view of the Heddon lure factory offices.

Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour  
An Ariel view of the Heddon lure Factory.
Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
Outside the Heddon Factory 1922.

Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
Another view from outside the factory. Presumably older based on the construction of the building.

Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
Heddon workers assembling fishing reels. I would take a guess as the poster on the back of the wall resembles that of a 1924 the Science of catching fish catalog.
Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour   
Heddon Employees assembling lures.

Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
An Ariel view of the Heddon lure Factory


Heddon Lure Employees
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
Heddon employees in a group photo.
Heddon Lure Zig Wag Delivery Truck
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
Heddon truck painted to match the advertising of the Zig Wag fishing lure.

Heddon Factory Tour
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour  
Presumably  a photo of Heddon employees.

Dowagiac Michigan Mill Pond
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour  
Dowagiac Michigan, Old Mill Pond.
Heddon Lure Factory
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
Heddon testing for quality in the bamboo Rods.

Heddon Factory Tour
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour  
Article from a newspaper showing the Heddon Jenny Airplane and its pilots.


Heddon Factory Tour
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour   
A photo of Laura Heddon,  doing what she loved to do, fish. From the early teens to this photo in 1954 Laura Heddon was an instrumental part of the James Heddon fishing lure legacy.
Heddon Factory Tour
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
Photo of Jim Heddon 1923, Minneola Florida, holding up a 14 1/4 lb. bass caught on the Heddon Deep Diving Wiggler, by Bruce Hunt.

Heddon Factory Tour
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour   
Photo of the Heddon Summer Cottage  in Park Rapids, Minnesota from 1922-1956.

Heddon Factory Tour
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour   
A photo of Will and Jim Heddon from the mid 1920's.
Heddon Factory Tour
Heddon Fishing Lure Factory Tour 
  And finally the residence of the Heddon family at 303 Green Street. Dowagiac Michigan.



Heddon Lure Resources