The Fred Arbogast Company Corporate History and Advertisements: 1925-1947 (Fred Arbogast, Company, and Company, Incorporated History)

The name Fred Arbogast is synonymous in connection with the infamous fishing lure, the Jitterbug; however, there is more to his name than simple brand recognition. Fred Arbogast was born in Akron, Ohio and grew up there as a youth with his family. At head of the family was Johnson A. Arbogast, a well-known lawyer in the city who grew his wealth and fame from business ventures and from working for Ferdinand Schumacher, better known as the Oatmeal King.Before manufacturing fishing tackle, Fred Arbogast was a young man and started making his own baits when he learned to cast at the age of 12. He loved the outdoors, enjoyed biology, and grew an interest in journalism and sports including baseball and football. He also enjoyed rowing and making his own fishing tackle equipment in lieu of his passion for fishing. Fred Arbogast grew up with fishing and became a tournament caster through hard work and dedication where he earned the rank of national champion with the NASAC in the 1920s. He created his own style fishing lures and fishing rods in his spare time outside of work. In addition, he became skilled in the art of taxidermy. Meanwhile at his employer, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, Fred honed his manufacturing and rubber molding skills.In 1925, Fred Arbogast officially started his own company aptly named Fred Arbogast. He made homemade molded metal fishing lures called the Spintail and Cocktail Kickers selling them in local and national markets. By 1926-1927, he expanded to include a popular Tin Liz family of fishing lures cast in tin metal. This brand of lures quickly expanded, and they were his bread and butter until he and his father invented the Hawaiian Wiggler, a popular spin fishing lure in different models with its rubber attachment, the Hula Skirt. By the late 1930s, he and one of his field testers perfected the Jitterbug. Jitterbug sales soared, and the fishing lure grew in popularity. It has remained a mainstay in tackle boxes throughout the world even through today. In the 1940s, Fred went onto design the first style Hula Popper, an innovative underwater fishing lure called the Hula Dancer, and an expert model Hawaiian Wiggler called the Sputterfuss. Throughout his time as a fisherman, he was extremely successful and knew what it took to overcome obstacles. Eventually Fred Arbogast passed away with his untimely death in 1947. With new leadership, his company continued in operation in Akron until 1997. This book traces the company’s development and provides a behind the scenes look at Fred Arbogast’s enterprise including what made him successful and how the company functioned with its humble beginnings and grew from 1925-1947. It includes rarely read legal documentation which highlights amazing facts on business operations. Included are chapters of advertisements that he and his family put together that made their appearance in local newspapers, regional publications, and nationally read sporting periodicals. I hope you enjoy this look at The Fred Arbogast Company Corporate History and Advertisements: 1925-1947!