Joe's Old Lures - Antique Florida Lures

Ben Smith Lures, Inc.
St. Augustine, Florida

In the 1940's and 1950's, a jointed shrimp of hard plastic was being made in St. Augustine, Florida. It was manufactured alternately by Ben Smith Lures, Inc. and the Norwich Corporation. (see the page about Norwich) The lure was made in two different colors and is shown here in a two piece cardboard box as sold by Ben Smith Lures. The paperwork in the box says that the "lure has been thoroughly tested and approved for action by our research department." My guess is that the research "department" was Ben Smith himself.
The Ben Smith shrimp was later packaged in a plastic top cardboard box that was very similar to the box used by Norwich.
Ben Smith filed a patent application for this swimming minnow type lure in 1945. The patent was granted in 1951.