Sid Boland BarraFrog |
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Seaweed
LureLovers.com Fanatic née Capt.Seaweed Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Location: Darwin N.T. Status: Offline Points: 3124 |
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Posted: 13 Apr 2013 at 11:20am |
Recently I was given this BarraFrog by a very generous member here during a trade, this rubber frog is the larger size of 6", was made in about 1970 and it's in mint condition. Vic McCristal in his 1971 book, 'Great Fishing With Lures', devotes a whole chapter (#30), to Sid and the story behind the Frog's history.
Curious to know if anyone else here has one, Sid was from Ingham FNQ and when Vic interviewed him he would have been an oldman, as he started making in the depression years. Seaweed.
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"Always Merry and Bright"
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conquip
Beginner Member Joined: 05 May 2015 Location: Gladstone Qld Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Capt.Seaweed,
How are you? I was doing a bit of research on my grandfather, Sid Boland, and your quest for one of his frogs came up, albeit a couple of years old. I trust you are still active on this forum. I know a bit about his barra frog. I used to make them with him back in the 1960s. I think it was an aluminium mould, and he used to cook the rubber (mould) on a kerosene primus cooker in the kitchen. All temperature control was by touch/feel. The most critical part of his barra frog were the small fins on the end of the legs. It took many models before he got the angle and size correct to give the frog the correct leg vibration / pulsation/ flapping,(whatever the correct word is), to imitate the real frog. I think the barra could sense/hear the pulsations of the legs which is why they were a successful lure. Most of the lures pictured on this forum are copies. Easy to tell by the fins on the legs. As grandad said, "the Japanese have copied it but the copy doesn't work properly because the fins are wrong". The rubber stiffness was also wrong with the copies. I'm going to see mum on mother's day and will check the shed and fishing gear. May still be one hanging on the wall somewhere. I suspect that the moulds are with one of my uncles, or otherwise scrapped when grandad died. The book 'Anglers' Omnibus' somewhere about edition 12, has a photo of grandad's lure. It's the real one. I can't see enough detail on your photo to be certain if it's one of Grandad's lures, (but it looks better than the other photos of frogs). Anyway I'll pursue this to see what I can find. Cheers mate Alan Nichols. |
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Screamingreel
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 19 Oct 2010 Location: Adaminaby, NSW Status: Offline Points: 6127 |
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I have something similar Tony white belly, underneath with provision to hold a hook through the eye on the nob on the belly.
regards John
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Seaweed
LureLovers.com Fanatic née Capt.Seaweed Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Location: Darwin N.T. Status: Offline Points: 3124 |
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Looks like you have one John, this also pale cream belly, has the knob to anchor the eye of a large treble. I think the way it was rigged, was for a running wire trace through nose to large treble sitting in the leg gape. When fish struck, treble would pull-off of the rubber knob, frog would slide up line out of way during fight, additional weight could be added running ahead of treble if needed for extra distance, tell me if you think I've got it wrong.
Seaweed.
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"Always Merry and Bright"
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Screamingreel
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 19 Oct 2010 Location: Adaminaby, NSW Status: Offline Points: 6127 |
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Hi Seaweed I will track mine down it is already rigged and put a picture up.
Regards John
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Screamingreel
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 19 Oct 2010 Location: Adaminaby, NSW Status: Offline Points: 6127 |
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Tony, mine came already rigged 6 1/2 inches long two toned
Sun disappeared due for some more rain. regards John |
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Seaweed
LureLovers.com Fanatic née Capt.Seaweed Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Location: Darwin N.T. Status: Offline Points: 3124 |
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John, not so sure of yours, mine's got the large knob plus two smaller, not sure of their purpose. The ends of frogs legs are also different, take a look at my pic again and also the underside shot in Vic's book.
Could be a later copy, apparently the originals worked so well, they were copied quite a bit. Seaweed.
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"Always Merry and Bright"
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Strangalures
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 08 Jun 2012 Location: Zeehan Tasmania Status: Offline Points: 2080 |
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Would the knob on the belly hold the eyelet of the hook to keep the hook close to the body ?
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Fish Choking Lures :)
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Screamingreel
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 19 Oct 2010 Location: Adaminaby, NSW Status: Offline Points: 6127 |
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That what I think to Ricki, but probably needs a rubber band wrapped around it for it to continue to hold onto the lure. Mine fits in nicely.
Regards John
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conquip
Beginner Member Joined: 05 May 2015 Location: Gladstone Qld Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Capt.Seaweed,
How are you? I was doing a bit of research on my grandfather, Sid Boland, and your quest for one of his frogs came up, albeit a couple of years old. I trust you are still active on this forum. I know a bit about his barra frog. I used to make them with him back in the 1960s. I think it was an aluminium mould, and he used to cook the rubber (mould) on a kerosene primus cooker in the kitchen. All temperature control was by touch/feel. The most critical part of his barra frog were the small fins on the end of the legs. It took many models before he got the angle and size correct to give the frog the correct leg vibration / pulsation/ flapping,(whatever the correct word is), to imitate the real frog. I think the barra could sense/hear the pulsations of the legs which is why they were a successful lure. Most of the lures pictured on this forum are copies. Easy to tell by the fins on the legs. As grandad said, "the Japanese have copied it but the copy doesn't work properly because the fins are wrong". The rubber stiffness was also wrong with the copies. I'm going to see mum on mother's day and will check the shed and fishing gear. May still be one hanging on the wall somewhere. I suspect that the moulds are with one of my uncles, or otherwise scrapped when grandad died. The book 'Anglers' Omnibus' somewhere about edition 12, has a photo of grandad's lure. It's the real one. I can't see enough detail on your photo to be certain if it's one of Grandad's lures, (but it looks better than the other photos of frogs). Anyway I'll pursue this to see what I can find. Cheers mate Alan Nichols. |
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Seaweed
LureLovers.com Fanatic née Capt.Seaweed Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Location: Darwin N.T. Status: Offline Points: 3124 |
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Alan, nice to hear from you, yes mine is the real deal, as the person who gave me it remembers his father ordering a few from your Pop back in the 70's, this being one of several they used. They lived up on the Atherton Tablelands at the time, but he's since moved to Brisbane after leaving home.
Would be very interested in what you find in the shed, as I think all LL members would be.
Regards, Tony.
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"Always Merry and Bright"
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handbrake
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 20 Jul 2011 Location: Glenlyon Dam Status: Offline Points: 2387 |
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Wow. It was a lucky day for Lurelovers that you tuned in Alan. I for one have been researching your Grandfather and the Barra Frog. I would love photos of the moulds with the original frog. Contact me if that is at all possible. DebbieD 0447058486.
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handbrake
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 20 Jul 2011 Location: Glenlyon Dam Status: Offline Points: 2387 |
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Does anyone know whether the design was registered? DebbieD
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handbrake
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 20 Jul 2011 Location: Glenlyon Dam Status: Offline Points: 2387 |
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Mine has a registered number on it. Is this a copy or fake of the Barra Frog? Does anyone know?
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Seaweed
LureLovers.com Fanatic née Capt.Seaweed Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Location: Darwin N.T. Status: Offline Points: 3124 |
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I'll dig mine out and see if there are any numbers embossed Deb, don't remember seeing any, but my eyes aren't what they were .
Alan has gone quiet since his one and only post, might be best to drop him a PM.
Regards, Tony.
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"Always Merry and Bright"
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handbrake
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 20 Jul 2011 Location: Glenlyon Dam Status: Offline Points: 2387 |
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Tony I left a PM for Alan and hopefully he'll check in and lend his knowledge to the subject. This one is pretty brittle but definitely moulded because of the registered numbers raised in the mould. Cream belly and it has thin sideways flippers.
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Seaweed
LureLovers.com Fanatic née Capt.Seaweed Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Location: Darwin N.T. Status: Offline Points: 3124 |
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I'll post a couple more shots of mine re our PM.
Seaweed.
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"Always Merry and Bright"
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Toppy
Member Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Location: Currumbin Water Status: Offline Points: 81 |
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Interesting stuff, thanks for posting this Tony
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"lures are for fishing with" Apparently!
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Seaweed
LureLovers.com Fanatic née Capt.Seaweed Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Location: Darwin N.T. Status: Offline Points: 3124 |
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OK Deb and anyone else interested, here are a couple of shots of the underside of my frog. Excuse the blurry images, I'm no Lord Litchfield .
You'll notice the tips of the legs have small swim fins about 1" long, these are perpendicular to the lay of the body. They're quite small and the legs have ridge like dimples molded in along their length, hope this helps with your ID.
Seaweed.
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"Always Merry and Bright"
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handbrake
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 20 Jul 2011 Location: Glenlyon Dam Status: Offline Points: 2387 |
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I was wading through old posts and found 2 on Barra Frogs.
Australian Lures> Aussie Lures> General Discussion page 11 Barra Frogs Revisited 17/5/10 Barra Frog from the 70's 15/2/10 |
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handbrake
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 20 Jul 2011 Location: Glenlyon Dam Status: Offline Points: 2387 |
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Info- Ref Encyclopedia of Australian Fishing Page 1071-2, no photo, Vic McC state Sid Boland made them in 1930s. The blue folder was a weekly addition by Bay Books in the late 1970s.
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francisj1
Unverified New Member Joined: 04 Jun 2013 Location: Sale, Australia Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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G'day Guys, I have an original Sid Boland Barra Frog in its original cardboard box with the yellow label attached. The Design is copyright by: Barra Products LTD - Rockhampton
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Seaweed
LureLovers.com Fanatic née Capt.Seaweed Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Location: Darwin N.T. Status: Offline Points: 3124 |
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Gee Francis, joined June2013 and your first post?
Don't be shy,would be interested in seeing a shot of the frog in the packaging, I'm sure Deb (Handbrake), would be too.
Regards, Tony.
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"Always Merry and Bright"
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handbrake
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 20 Jul 2011 Location: Glenlyon Dam Status: Offline Points: 2387 |
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I would love to see the in package barra frog. Any idea on the date it was bought.
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horrorhead
LureLovers.com Fanatic LureLover of the Year 2020 Joined: 14 Jun 2011 Location: Cooktown qld Status: Offline Points: 14008 |
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That would be good to see
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Martin-
you don't havta be pretty to fish |
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francisj1
Unverified New Member Joined: 04 Jun 2013 Location: Sale, Australia Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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G'day Guys, its just part of what I've been collecting for many years (mainly fly fishing gear)
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francisj1
Unverified New Member Joined: 04 Jun 2013 Location: Sale, Australia Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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The full label:
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francisj1
Unverified New Member Joined: 04 Jun 2013 Location: Sale, Australia Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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And the Frog :-)
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francisj1
Unverified New Member Joined: 04 Jun 2013 Location: Sale, Australia Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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top view
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francisj1
Unverified New Member Joined: 04 Jun 2013 Location: Sale, Australia Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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This is one wall of my shed. Not sure how to turn the photos the right way up. :-)
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Seaweed
LureLovers.com Fanatic née Capt.Seaweed Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Location: Darwin N.T. Status: Offline Points: 3124 |
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G'day Francis, not convinced that this is a Sid Boland original, could this be a later copy? Sid was from Ingham not Rockhampton, however, having said this, they may have purchased the rights later? Look at my original frog in previous posts, you'll notice subtle differences ie. in yours no two smaller molding nodes on underside, ripples missing along the legs of yours. Would be great if Alan, (Sid's grandson) sees this post, he could maybe shed some light.
Great picture of your collection by the way.
Regards, Seaweed.
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"Always Merry and Bright"
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francisj1
Unverified New Member Joined: 04 Jun 2013 Location: Sale, Australia Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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Could very easily be a later copy although P.O. Box 12 at Rockhampton would suggest a very early era.
That picture is just of the wall above the display cabinet. There is also a compactus filled with fishing related items, the other three walls and rafters :-) |
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hooknose
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nice collection Francis
congrats Cheers Steve r |
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MAN I LOVE FISHING ! ! !
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francisj1
Unverified New Member Joined: 04 Jun 2013 Location: Sale, Australia Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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I probably shouldn't state this on a lure collecting folder but I don't collect lures, they are just a by product of my fly fishing purchases and look pretty on the wall and in the cabinet.
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horrorhead
LureLovers.com Fanatic LureLover of the Year 2020 Joined: 14 Jun 2011 Location: Cooktown qld Status: Offline Points: 14008 |
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Not to worry mate, many of us on site don't collect lures
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Martin-
you don't havta be pretty to fish |
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Seaweed
LureLovers.com Fanatic née Capt.Seaweed Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Location: Darwin N.T. Status: Offline Points: 3124 |
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Debbie, did you ever track down an original Barra Frog by Sid Boland for your collection?
Regards, Tony. |
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"Always Merry and Bright"
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