Ben Smith Lures were early plastic lures. His first lure was the Swimming Minnow with a realistic scale pattern made in the 1940’s and 1950’s. He received a patent for the lure design on November 13, 1951. They are engraved along the top center of the lure “A Ben Smith Lure” on one side and “St. Augustine, Fla” on the other. He later sold a hinged shrimp lure in 1950 when he bought the design and rights to the Norwich shrimp. Ben Smith is considered one of the great Northern Florida lure makers.
The BEN SMITH Lure, circa 1940
The BEN SMITH Shrimp, circa 1950
The BEN SMITH Shrimp, circa 1950
The BEN SMITH 1951 Lure Patent