Yuku free message boards

I met Bob Lang in 1982 at the very first North East Antique Anglers Show in Marlborough, Massachusetts. This was years prior to his association with Oliver's …in fact, it was before Oliver even had a tackle auction.

I had been closet-collecting for a few years, was not aware of how organized the hobby actually was and was thrilled to hear about and go to a tackle show. When I walked in, carrying my bag full of tackle and looking like a greenhorn, I was immediately besieged by folks anxious to see what I had brought …and to find out how little I knew about what I had brought.

Bob's table was right by the front door and he motioned for me to come over behind his table. It looked like a safe haven, so I walked around the back of his table and introduced myself. Bob asked if I had brought things to sell or trade and if I needed help placing values on any of the items. I was clueless as to what I had and his assistance was most welcome.

I was collecting reels at the time and had brought mostly lures with me, in hopes of trading them for reels. Several of the lures were worth far more than I had imagined and Bob told me to hold out for excellent reels when trading them. He said he was interested in a few of them but understood if I wanted to test the waters before making a deal with the first person I talked to.

So, I put the lures back in my bag and made my way around the room where I found a few reels I liked and entertained several different trade offers. Once I had made it all the way around the room and was back at Bob's table I asked him if I could see a few of his reels. I was collecting fly reels and asked to see a Leonard Model 50, a raised pillar #3 Julius vom Hofe in all aluminum and a beautiful German-silver and hard-rubber reel with raised pillars marked "EC Koenig, Newark, NJ."

I liked them all …and wanted them all …but the total cost of the three reels was greater than the value of the lures I had and I couldn't afford to make up the difference in cash. Bob saw the look on my face and knew how badly I wanted those three reels …so he traded me even and said we'd make up the difference next time ...and there were many, many more next times.

That was the first of dozens upon dozens of deals I did with Bob over the years …each of which I look back on fondly. Bob was always a pleasure to deal with and to be around.

Dean.