Documenting a Lauby lure

Give each object its own record

The current archive identifiers describe photographs and documents. A photograph showing three lures is not an inventory of three inspected objects. Assign a physical-object identifier only when the owner can distinguish and document the individual object.

A repeatable photograph set

1. Take a top, underside, left-side and right-side view in even light.
2. Photograph line ties, straps, hooks, screws and every marking closely enough to read.
3. Include a ruler beside the body in a separate image, on the same plane.
4. Photograph boxes separately: all sides, both ends, labels and any handwritten notes.
5. Keep original image files. Record who took each photograph and when.

Measure and describe

Record body length, maximum width and depth in millimeters, plus overall length including hardware. State exactly what was measured. Note paint loss, corrosion, cracks and possible repairs. Do not infer an original finish or manufacturing date from appearance alone.

Record provenance without exposing private details

Keep acquisition documents and the owner’s contact information in a private collection file. Publish only permission-cleared history, such as “family collection” or a documented auction reference. Record which parts of the history are documented and which were recalled.

Three starting records

Download the recording sheet. It contains three photographic starting points: Wonder Spoon, Weedless Wonder Spoon and Surface Lure. Blank measurement and ownership fields are intentional. Complete one row per physical object; duplicate the Wonder Spoon row for each separately inspected example.

Original documents and oral history

Scan a complete document, including covers, reverse sides, marginal notes and blank pages relevant to its structure. Keep the original file and a separate transcription. Mark illegible text as [illegible] and uncertain readings as [uncertain: …]. For recollections, obtain permission to record and publish, identify the speaker as they wish to be credited, and preserve the date, questions and original recording.

Use the contribution page to share material and specify what may be published. Contributing material does not automatically grant republication rights.