Miller Fishing Lure Co. — American Spoons and Trolling Lures

The Miller Fishing Lure Co. began its journey in Springwater, New York, in 1929. Following a career in electronics manufacturing, Edmund Miller established his tackle business in the Morris and Grover building at the village center. Miller was deeply involved in the technical side of the industry, designing his own patterns and building the master dies and machinery required for their manufacture.

The company incorporated the “Min-Nix” line of spoons early on. This brand name originated with Roy Nixon, a local resident who developed several designs that Miller eventually brought to a wider market. Among the catalog were the Miller 66 wobbler and the Miller Flutter, alongside the Northern Miller and the ITHACA 75 trolling spoon. For those preferring inline spinners, the Miller #3 was a distinct part of their output. One specific wobbler, based on a design by local angler Scott N. Robinson, gained a reputation among pike and muskellunge fishermen.

Distribution of these Springwater-made spoons reached as far as Chicago. This expansion was largely the work of Ethel Miller, who traveled with sample kits to convince storekeepers of the tackle's effectiveness. In 1958, after nearly three decades of operation, Edmund Miller sold the business to Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Strawsburg. The business transitioned into Miller Mfg. Co. Inc., while the Millers continued to provide advisory support during the handover to ensure the continuity of the production standards established in the early 1930s.