Heddon Dowagiac Minnow #100

Heddon Propeller Stages
	No Name on Propeller (NNOP)   Heddon small propellers were unmarked from 1904 - 1912.
	Name on Propeller (NOP)   Heddon began marking their propeller with the words "Heddon's Dowagiac" in 1912 and continued marking them throughout the years.

Cup Rig Hardware 

• 1904 Dowagiac Minnow #100 had Three belly weights with a Slim wood body.  There was no name on the propeller (NNOP) and it had Brass cup hardware.  The very early minnows had the long sweeping gill marks that went into the cups.  The long sweeping gill marks were gone by c.1905.  This lure was packaged in a wood box.  Heddon packaged their more expensive lures in wood boxes and the less expensive lures in a white box.  It top was marked "The New Dowagiac Minnow".  The top would only slide in one direction and a notation on the top of the box that said "Notice How the Hooks are Hung".

• 1905-1906 Dowagiac Minnow #100 had Two belly weights and a High Forehead nose on the body.  The body length was 2 3/4" long and weighs thirteen pennyweights (pwts).  There was no name on the prop (NNOP) and it had Brass cup hardware.  Note this lure has long sweeping gill marks but they end just below the eyes.  It came in "The New Dowagiac Minnow" wood box and priced by mail it cost 75¢.  It had the same notation on the top of the box as the previous box but the top now slide in both directions. 

1905 - 1906 Dowagiac Minnow #100 (2 3/4" in length)

High Forehead Body

• 1907 Dowagiac Minnow #100 had Two belly weights and a Slim body.  The body length was 2 3/5" long and weighs fourteen pennyweights (pwts).  There was no name on the prop (NNOP) and now the cup hardware was made of Nickel.  This series #100 has hand painted gill marks that ended just under and behind the eyes.  This lure came in a wood box that was marked for the "Dowagiac Minnow" and priced by mail it cost 75¢.

1907 "Slim Body" Dowagiac Minnow #100 (2 3/4" in length)

1907 "Slim Body" Dowagiac Minnow #100 (2 3/5" in length)

• 1908-1909 Dowagiac Minnow #100 only had One belly weight and a Blunt nose body that was 2 3/5" long.  There was no name on the prop (NNOP) and it had Nickel cup hardware.  The box papers now said James Heddon & Sons.  1908 was the first use of "Sons".  This series #100 has hand painted gill marks that ended just under the eyes.  This was the end of the "Dowagiac Minnow" wood boxed lures.  Heddon began using white pasteboard boxes around1909.  These standard boxes had red and blue lettering.

1908 - 1909 "Blunt Nose" Dowagiac Minnow #100  (2 3/5" in length)

Blunt Nose (2 3/4" in length)

• 1910-1911 Dowagiac Minnow #100 had One belly weight and the body style was now a Fat bodied lure.  It was 2 3/5" & 2 3/4" long and weighted 14 pennyweights (pwts).  There was no name on the prop (NNOP) and it had Nickel cup hardware.  The 1911 was also a Fat bodied minnow but was 2 3/4" long and weighted 14 pennyweights (pwts).  There was no name on the prop (NNOP) and it had Nickel cup hardware.  This series #100 has hand painted gill marks that ended just under the eyes.  These lures were packaged in the standard white pasteboard box.  Priced by mail this lure cost 65¢.

C.911 Fat Body with Heddon Round End Props

• 1912-1915 Dowagiac Minnow #100 had One belly weight, Fat body, Nickel cup hardware.  1912 is when Heddon began stamping their name on all of their propellers (NOLP).  In 1913 this lure was priced by mail for 75¢.  The gill marks were still being painted on by hand during this era.  1912 was the beginning of the down leaping bass box.  The first version was a white-bordered sown leaping bass box and the next version was a blue-bordered down leaping bass box.  

1912 - 1915 "Fat Body" Dowagiac Minnow #100 (2 7/8" in length)

L-Rig Hardware 

• 1914-1937 Dowagiac Minnow had the L-rig hook hardware.  Heddon made a gradual transition from cup to L-rig between 1914-1916.  

  The 1916,1921 & 1922 Heddon catalogues illustrated cup hardware for the #100 minnow but this lure was indeed being manufactured with L-rig hook hangers.  L-rig One hump hook hangers are the earliest then the Two hump hook hanger came along.  The L-rig patent was filed May 20, 1920 and it was introduced in the 1916 catalogue.  In the 1921 catalogue it was priced at 95¢ and in 1924 they were priced at $1.00 each.

1915 - 1919 "Fat Body" Dowagiac Minnow #100 (3" in length)

c.1920 "Fat Body" Dowagiac Minnow #100 (3" in length)

Slimmer Body c.1920 Dowagiac Minnow #100 (3" in length)

Slimmer Body c.1922 Dowagiac Minnow #100 (2 7/8" in length)

Slimmer Body c.1922 Dowagiac Minnow #100 (2 7/8" in length)

Two Piece Hardware 

• The below Heddon #100 in red has been repainted but the hardware is all original.  This lure has marked Heddon propellers with "Two Piece Rectangular" hook hardware and is 2 3/4" long.  The Rectangular hardware is the forth and last version of the Two Piece hardware stages.  This version was first used in 1937 and 1939 was the last production of the Heddon #100.  Knowing this we can date this lure between 1937 and 1939.

( Repaint ) 1937 - 1939 Last Two Piece Version "Rectangular" (2 7/8"long)

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