Soft body lures

what about the pic Trev ?????
You show us yours and I will too

took some effort but finally found that post Trevor, I'll post my collection here, and maybe Tony can make a Burke section under USA lures???


Clockwise from top right.
Top Dog, Weedless Pop Top, Abu Cello, Bassassin, Pop Top, Weedless Shadoo, Little Dig, Big Dig.
In the middle are a selection of the insects and frogs.

and some background info....
Burke began producing lures in Traverse City, Michigan in 1968, mainly copying CCBC & Heddon lures but in a soft foam material they marketed as 'Flexo Plugs'.
I have a lure in box with paper from the Michigan address and it does not have a ZIP code on it anywhere, which usually indicates printing prior to 1973. It also shows Burke to be a division of McClellan Industries Inc. McClellan are listed as: Manufacturing Business: Sporting and Athletic Goods.
These lures continued to be made up until the late 1980's. 1987 saw the introduction of moulded soft vinyl frogs, insects and fish added to the range. Burke also did a version of the Big Dig and the Popper (the Blue one I have) for Abu in the early 1970's.
according to the web, Burke are still in existence...
Burke Flex-O Products
5401 Kent Drive,
Tyler, TX 75707
Which coincidentally is also the address of Creme Lures, another famous lure company. Nick Creme produced the first commercial 'soft plastic' lures in 1949 with the Creme Worm. Creme was based in Akron, Ohio.Nick Creme died November 29, 1984. Ownership of the company was then passed to his 3 children, and the company continued under the management of his son, Mike Creme.

Knight Manufacturing bought CREME lures from the Creme Family in 1989 after discussing a merger for more than a year. Knight Manufacturing had made a name for itself in the industry after being started as a garage business in 1965 by Wayne Kent, and his wife, Judy. The company went nationwide in 1976 with its introduction of the Tube worm and continued to prosper with a number of different products.
From what I can see on the Creme website, the Flexo Pugs are no longer made, but the insects and frogs are now part of the Creme product range.

Brad

Great selection Brad, and history. You have kept more than I did. I remember that Top Dog. The one you don't seem to have is the one in my pic with the angle face, a bit like a cut plug. I don't know the name, they are usually on the lure, but mine has worn off.

Kalen also did some rubber/soft lures mainly topwater from memory including glow in the dark walk the dog style called a Dorky Pop from memory