Joe Pepper Bait Company
233 1/2 - 235 1/2 James Street, Rome NY
Background
Jack has been collecting fishing lures for 25 years and Peppers for 10 years. This web site is the culmination of his work, researching and collecting Pepper lures. If you have any questions, new information or a lure he might need contact him thru email:
History
In 1879 John McHarg, James Hook & John Pepper Sr. formed Hook, Pepper & Company, producing fishing rods & flies.
In 1891 John Pepper Sr broke off, creating John Pepper & Sons, continuing to produce rods and flies.
In 1896 Joe Pepper Sr. split off from his fathers business, John Pepper & Sons Co. to form the Joe Pepper Bait Company. The company was then located in the second floor of the John Pepper and Sons facility. John Jr. started a net company.
Little is known about the staff of this company, but its assumed that Joes Wife Lois, his son Joe Jr, born in 1902, and daughter Margaret participated in the operations.
The earliest fishing lure reference is the patent for the "Bat Wing Spinner", dated May 2, 1893 (The patent was applied for in 1892).
The 1904 catalog shows Pepper was producing at least one wooden lure, the 20th Century Wonder Wooden Fish Spinner, and approximately 20 metal lures. He also marketed flies, snell hooks, gut, wire leaders and rods. It seems reasonable that not all of these items were produced by Pepper and the rods were produced downstairs by his fathers business.
Production of wood baits probably ended around 1925, but any information to the contrary would be appreciated.
Joe Sr. died on June 20, 1936, at that point his wife Lois became president and Joe Jr. became the general manager of the company. Production continued until 1961 under Joe Jr.s direction. Composite lures were produced until the 1940s, metal lures until 1961.
Two brand names were used by the Joe Pepper Bait Company. " Roamer Brand" which was used on snell hooks and the "Peppy Brand" was used on some metal lures.
W. Fred Pepper sold the family business and building in 1945, Joe Jr. moved the bait company to 104 W. Park St., Rome, where it remained unit the business closed in 1961. Joe Jr. continued to work at a pharmacy after the tackle business ended.
Jack is still trying to fill some voids in his collection:
