Museum Archive: Vintage Eppinger Dardevle (1950s) Detroit, 1oz Black / White / Nickel fishing spoon #3494

A crisp "DARDEVLE DETROIT U.S.A." stamp on the polished nickel reverse dates this specimen to the pre-1959 era, before Lou Eppinger shifted production from Detroit to Dearborn. This heavyweight caster tips the scales at 1 oz (28 g) and measures 3 1/2" (9 cm), making it a substantial tool for distance casting or trolling. The front face displays a high-contrast black and white striped pattern, uniquely accented with grey-black speckling across the center white band. Its characteristic concave spoon shape is the result of Eppinger’s proprietary USA manufacturing dies, a design that has remained a tackle box staple for over a century. The lure is rigged with a robust metal split ring and its original brass-toned treble hook. The finish shows honest character through paint loss along the edges and scattered surface marks, resulting in a 3/5 condition rating for this vintage piece. This particular color scheme, combined with the reflective nickel finish on the back, was a traditional choice for anglers requiring high visibility, as noted in the records for Product Code 3494.