AL&W Tackle — Vintage Canadian Lures and Equipment

Tracing its origins back to 1854 in Toronto, Allcock, Laight & Westwood (AL&W) began as a partnership between Samuel Allcock and Charles Laight. Benjamin Westwood joined the firm in 1868, leading to the formalized name of Allcock, Laight and Westwood. Throughout its history, which spanned until 1977, the company maintained an extensive catalog that included fishing rods, reels, and lines, alongside camping equipment and ammunition.

The company’s involvement in lure production is marked by both original designs and notable international partnerships. In 1927, AL&W established an agreement with the American-based Creek Chub Bait Company. This allowed the Toronto firm to manufacture their own versions of Creek Chub wobblers, such as the Pikie. These Canadian-produced lures are recognized by collectors for their distinct color patterns and specific hardware variations that differed from the original American counterparts.

Beyond these collaborations, AL&W’s inventory featured several proprietary lures and distributed series. Among the items available were the Lazy Loon and the Fishrite series of spoons, which included the Fishrite Devil Eye. The company’s operations as a manufacturer and distributor continued for over a century until 1977, when the business was acquired by Bill Edgar, owner of Lucky Strike Lures, who incorporated the AL&W brand into his company.