Bernie Schultz Fishing - Old Hickory Tackle Company

Herbert Kinney's most impressive creation was, undoubtedly, the Kinney Bird. His unique wooden bird lures were crudely carved and featured abstract, hand-painted finishes with beautiful glass eyes.

As demand for his bird lures grew, Kinney sought out manufacturing giant, James Heddon & Sons, to assist with production. At that point the birds were no longer hand-painted. Instead, Heddon's highly skilled craftsman sanded and airbrushed them to a more refined finish. Some, in fact, were offered in Heddon catalog color patterns.

Early hand-painted Kinney Bird with rare Tampa box and paperwork.

The redwing blackbird pictured below was found in Uz Pemberton's personal tackle box, recovered from his home just prior to demolition. It has white glass eyes and is painted with lacquer, rather than enamels typical of other Kinney Birds. Also recovered from Pemberton's estate were paint samples for the Egyptian Lacquer Company of New York. The red pigment on the bird matches one of the paint samples precisely. These same pigments also appear in other lures produced by Pemberton. Therefore, it is believed he painted this Kinney Bird.

Was there a connection between the two lure makers? Who's to say for sure? One thing is certain: they were both making lures during the same period within 30 miles of each other… …

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