Antique Lures

Pflueger Neverfail fishing lure minnows, colors, and boxes

Gabby Talkington

Neverfail underwater minnows are the later and more common underwater minnows made by Pflueger. My main interest is in three and five hook models which would have been found in Four Brothers boxes, red bulldog boxes, or the early medallion (target) type box. Examples: Neverfail underwater minnows, Four Brothers, Metalized minnows, Target , and Medallion minnows

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"Four Brothers" box with unusual red back white belly Neverfail minnow
"Four Brothers" box with a mint red five hook Neverfail.
A typical "Four Brothers" box with a five hook Neverfail underwater minnow in Green.
A "Metalized" nickel plated underwater minnow with the correct "Metalized Minnow" box c. 1919-1924.
A typical "Four Brothers" box, which was a forerunner of the Pflueger company, with a 3 hook underwater minnow in green crackleback and Neverfail hardware.
Early "Target" or "Medallion" label model box with three hook Neverfail underwater minnow in aluminum or silver color.

Below left and from the top are four 3 hook Neverfails underwater minnows: in all white, frog scale, red head and white body, and in frog spot. On the right are two 5 hook underwater minnows, the top in a blended green with white sides, and a white with red and green decorations or spots. Illustrated with catalog color illustration of Neverfail minnows from the c.1916-19 era.

A pair of mint c. 1920 Neverfail minnows in Green Crackleback and Chub Scale

Box sequences for Pflueger (cardboard and wood) boxes.

For Pflueger contract wood boxes ( by Senate, Ketchem, etc.) Click here.

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Wood boxes for Pre-1910 Monarch's are rare and should contain a see-thru hardware model lure. The top of the box is imprinted rather than having a paper label.
A c. 1907-1912 Paper label Neverfail wood box from the Enterprise Manufacturing Company, which preceeded Pflueger and Four Brothers.
This is the "Target" or "Medallion" version cardboard box label. The box should be maroon. Note the 's and " "' used in the type. Used in the 1911 to 1916 era.
A variation of the "Target" or "Medallion" cardboard box. This one does not have the " " around the NEVERFAIL.
This is a later version of the Neverfail maroon box paper label. Note the addition of the words "Under Water" and there is no 's. (No example available)
The most common Four Brothers label.
Second version of the Four Brothers label, but from the same era.
The Suprise Minnow box
Less common "Red Bull Dog" Monarch box label. Note the addition of the hyphenated name. This is the earlier box of the two.
A "Red Bull Dog" Monarch cardboard box paper label. This is the more common type. Used in the 1914-1924 range.
A "Red Bull Dog" Phantom maroon box. c. 1912.

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