Heddon Dowagiac Minnow #150

Cup Rig 1904 - 1914

• 1904 - 1906 Dowagiac Minnow #150 had a High Forehead and was 3 1/2" long with two or three belly weights. There was no name on the propellers and had brass cup hardware.  This lure had three long sweeping gill marks that extended all the way back to the cup.  The long sweeping gill marks were gone by 1906.  This lure was packaged in a durable wooden box and priced at $1.00 each prepaid by mail.

1905 "High Forehead" Dowagiac Minnow #150

• 1906 - c.1912 Heddon "Chetek" #150 -  This is all Heddon and made in Chetek, Wisconsin.  This Chetek factory made rods and round bodied lures from January of 1906 and left Chetek around 1924. This lure was manufactured in the Heddon, Chetek factory.  This lure is 3 3/4" long with one belly weight.  It has cup hook hardware and no name on the typical pointed end Heddon propellers.

1907 Heddon "Chetek" Minnow

• 1907 - 1908 Dowagiac Minnow #150 with a Blunt Nose had nickel plated cup hardware and no name on the propellers.  It was 3 3/8" long and weighted thirteen pennyweights (pwts) with one belly weight.  The early Blunt Nose model had three hand painted gill marks that extended into the cup area.  The next model still had three hand painted gill marks but they were shorter than the earlier version.  By 1908 the gill marks only extended into the eye area.  This lure was packaged in a durable wooden box and priced at $1.00 each prepaid by mail.

1907 "Blunt Nose" Gill Marks Into Cup Area

1908 "Blunt Nose" Gill Marks Into Eye Area

• 1909/1913  Dowagiac Minnow #150 - This baits are fat bodied lures and measure 3 3/4" long.  They have nickel plated cup hardware and one belly weight.  There is no name (NNOP) on the propellers and lures that have gill marks were hand painted on just under the eye which extended into the cup area.  Heddon started marking their propellers in 1912 and imitation frog color was first introduced in the 1913 Heddon catalogue so this frog color NNOP lure could be a 1912 or 1913. This lure was packaged in a durable wooden box and priced at $1.00 each prepaid by mail.

c.1910 "Fat Body" Dowagiac Minnow

1912/1913 "Fat Body" Dowagiac Minnow

• 1912 - 1914  Dowagiac Minnow #150 - This is one of the first lures with cup hook rigging that had marked propellers (NOP).  In 1912 Heddon began marking their propellers.  This lure is 3 3/4" long and measures 7/8" across the back.  It has cup hook hardware and the name is stamped on the prop.  This lure has three hand painted gill marks that end in the eye area and one belly weight..  This lure weighted eighteen pennyweights (pwts) and was priced at .85 cents each prepaid by mail.

1912 "Fat Body" Dowagiac Minnow

1912 "Fat Body" Dowagiac Minnow

L-Rig 1914 - 1934

• The early 1914 - c.1920 L-rig models were "Fat Bodied Lures" with one belly weight.  This lure was 3 3/4" long and measured 7/8" across the back.  The early L-rig models could also have hand painted gill marks.
• The next 1920's version were "Slim Bodied" lures.  This lure was 3 3/4" and 3 5/8" long.  The body was thinner than the early L-rig fat bodies of 7/8".  The slim body measures 3/4" across the back.  It has their name (NOP) stamped on the prop and has one belly weight.  The lure weighs 3/4 of an ounce and was priced at $1.00 each

Early L-Rig "Fat Body" Dowagiac Minnow

(c.1920)

"Slim Body" Red, Dark Blended Back

"Slim Body" Yellow Perch Scale

"Slim Body" Yellow Perch

"Slim Body" Green Fancy Back - with Blush Chin

• The 1930's later "Slim Body" lure measured 3 5/8" long.  It had their name (NOP) stamped on the prop and painted Blush on the Chin instead of hand painted gill marks.  "Heddon 150 Dowagiac" was also stenciled on the belly of the lure.  The lure weighs 3/4 of an ounce and was priced at $1.00 each

Later "Slim Body" with Blush on the Chin

Two Piece Hardware 1934 - 1948

First Two Piece Version "Toilet Seat"

•   This first version Two Piece hardware is made in two pieces and the toilet seat shape is why it was given this name.  The lure measures 3 3/4 long and weighs 3/4 of an ounce.  It has their name stamped on the prop and the words "Heddon 150 Dowagiac" stenciled on the belly.  It has been only found in this body style.  This lure was priced at $1.00 each. 

Toilet Seat Hardware - Rainbow

Two Piece Hardware 1934 - 1948

Last Two Piece Version "Rectangular"

• This "Two Piece" hardware is known as "Rectangular" hook hardware.  It is the fourth and last version of Two Piece hardware.  This model was 3 3/4" long and measures 3/4" across the back.  It has only been found in this body style.  It has their name stamped on the prop and the words "Heddon 150 Dowagiac" stenciled on the belly.  In 1943 this lure sold for $1.25 each.

Rectangular Hardware - Yellow Perch

One Piece "Surface Rig" 1949 

• The later Surface rig hardware is found on all of the 150 minnows that were manufactured in 1949 and after.  It is a one piece hardware held in place by two screws.  It was an less expensive hardware to manufacture.  It had the words "Heddon 150 Dowagiac" stenciled on the belly.  This lure was priced at $1.50 each.

1949 Surface Rig Hardware

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