Museum Archive: Vintage Mepps Aglia 1, 1/8oz spinning lure #0131

Tipping the scales at a light 1/8 oz (3.5 g), this classic inline spinner represents the foundational design of modern sport fishing. The gold-toned blade, measuring 2" (5 cm), features the iconic stamping "MEPPS AGLIA 1 BRITISH FRENCH PAT," a detail that reflects the brand's international heritage dating back to Andre Meulnart’s 1938 French invention and subsequent American distribution by Todd Sheldon. This specific specimen, cataloged under product code 0131, showcases a weighted brass body composed of stacked beads and a central cone designed for fluid rotation. A distinctive red plastic tubing is fitted over the shank of the treble hook, providing a focused visual strike point against the metallic sheen. In a well-preserved 4/5 condition, the hardware remains bright and the structural components are sound. The wide-profile blade is engineered to engage immediately during the retrieve, generating consistent pressure and underwater vibrations. The precision-clevis system ensures the blade maintains a steady spin through various water currents, a hallmark of the genuine Mepps construction found on this vintage piece.