Museum Archive: Vintage Hay Tails, 1oz brass/red fishing spoon #20663

Red faceted plastic beads serve as the eyes on this heavy brass spoon, a signature feature of the early production from Hay Manufacturing Company. Sized at 3 1/2" (9 cm) and weighing 1oz (25 g), this "Tails" model reflects a design history rooted in the Fox River Valley, where the company, once based in Racine, Wisconsin, claimed the pattern was shared by Indigenous commercial fishermen. The solid brass construction remains exceptionally clean, presenting in 5/5 condition with its original hardware intact. Unlike later Hay lures like the Fin-Spin which came in plastic boxes, these early Tails lures were originally sold on display cards. The lure features a single large treble hook at the rear and a brass barrel swivel at the head, both secured by robust split rings. Collectors will recognize the distinct fish-shaped profile under product code 20663 as a significant piece of post-war American tackle history.