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Hicky-Do Bait Co.
R.E. Warren Cedarville, Mass. *** Hicky-Do Plug Co. Cedarville, Mass. *** Hicky-Do
Bait Co. West Barnstable Cape Cod, Mass. ***
Hicky-Do lures were first manufactured by Rey E. Warren, sometime around 1946; his shop was located along side of
Great Herring Pond, Cedarville, Mass. Probably the most fascinating thing about their production is the fact Rey used
an old foot peddle lathe to turn his plugs! The company boxes had three addresses on them that I am aware of over
the years. [ shown above ] Rey produced many different models of lures with names such as the Beachcomber/Slow Swimmer,
Bullet, Stubby, and Swimmer [ Pug-Nosed ]. It seems Rey also produced knock-offs of other companies lures such as the Atom
and a few different style poppers; one was a close copy of Stan Gibb's, Cast-A-Lure; his was called a Cast-A-Plug ; needless
to say Stan asked him to change the name. If you are a collector you just have to love the slogans on the early Hicky-Do boxes:
*** "Heavy 'Nuff To Reach Out There"
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It'll Swim And Pop And Act Alive And It's Only One Buck Ninety Five. *** The company disappeared by
the early 1950's and Rey later retired to Florida where he passed away in 1964. While on a lure collecting / fishing
trip to Massachusetts in October 2009; friend and fellow lure collector Eric Carlson [ aka: Hicky-Do Eric ] took
me on a little side trip to see Rey Warren's, "Hicky-Do" workshop [ pictured below ] While originally
located on Great Herring Pond, the shop had been moved approx. a half mile up the hill to a private residence where the new
owner used it to build and store lobster pots. While no longer in it's former glory; it was still a sight to behold;
according to Eric the old foot peddle lathe Rey used sat in the rear left hand corner of the shop. While we stood there talking
and taking pictures; I could have sworn I heard the sound of that old lathe turning; a cool fall breeze had the smell of cedar
filling my senses. It is a day that will not be soon forgotten.
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| Hicky-Do Plug Co., "Workshop" |
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| Hicky-Do [ Beachcomer ] Photo Courtesy Of Eric Carlson |
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| Hicky-Do [ Beachcomer ] Photo Courtesy Of Eric Carlson |
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| Photo Courtesy Of Eric Carlson |
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| Photo Courtesy Of Eric Carlson |
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| Folk Art ? or Hicky-Do ? The only differance between this lure and a Hicky-Do is the tail taper. |
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