Heddon research boxes

Field Test Kit Offer

Occasionally Heddon lure boxes turn up marked research. I have always wondered what role they played in Heddon history.  
 Would Heddon go through the trouble of specially labeling boxes for in house research test baits? 
Who were the people doing the research testing?  If they weren't Heddon employees, then who?  Special V.I.P.'s?
How did they get these special baits?
Finally a couple answers.

 









 It turns out that these research baits were offered to only those who had ordered a Heddon Deluxe catalog. These introductory baits were offered at a discounted price  ( a few pennies over 1/2 the normal retail cost) by  Heddon's progressive Research Department and Field Test Director Jim Heddon. Although Heddon called them introductory baits , it seems baits that had been out on the market for years were still offered as research baits.
Heddon asked those who purchased these research baits to send in their feedback along with a picture of themselves and their catch .

 
These research baits were available as an individually boxed single bait or in a multi-lure research kit.

    

A few baits offered for Heddon's research

 

 

This was a great way to promote their baits and do field testing research. I am unsure how many years  Heddon offered these research baits in  several styles of marked boxes. I have only seen a few two piece cardboard research boxes. It is a plain generic looking  box.  ( See following images, Courtesy of Don Grimm and Steve Clegg). I am unsure of the date of these plain boxes. Other research boxes I have seen are the mid 1950's Blue stripe boxes. Heddon also offered a variety of research lure kits in a plastic multi-lure  snap top boxes. The latest boxes I've seen marked research are the  James Heddon's Sons/ Victor Comptometer  boxes of the 1970's.  My guess is that these research baits were offered for about a twenty year period. This would mean there are a good variety of baits to be found in these research boxes. I have seen Punkinseeds, Crazy Crawlers,  all forms of Sonics, Zara & Baby Zara Spooks, Hi Tails, Tadpolly's. Lucky 13's, Sonars and Crackleback lures in individually marked research boxes. I have yet to see any wood baits found in a Heddon research box. I'd be interested in any other info. on Heddon's research baits & boxes.

Photo Courtesy of Don Grimm

Photo courtesy of Steve Clegg