Lupo danny question

[capesams]

when I talked to Bobby, he told me he worked for Danny when he[bob] was going to high school and when Danny passed away he left the bis. to Bobby. Lupo's slopedhead[being younger] was copied from Danny's slopedhead lure....reason beachmaster's went scarse was do to the epa not letting him use the harsh sealer/paint/clearcoat that he onced used and shut them down till other other finishes could be found that the epa would accept and deemed non-lethel....all these guy's lived close together in the same town, so stories are going to differ when it come's to who did what first....I've talked to the horses mouth and ten other's that worked[helped] out Danny from time to time and you get ten different stories.

[Diamond Tackle]

I am convinced Donny MUSSO invented /designed the Danny plug shape. Dan Pinchney first MARKETED it as his Danny Plug. Thats the way its been explained to me by several OLD timers who knew them both. Pinchney has passed away, so we really cant ask him. But Mr Musso will tell you the whole story including what sparked the idea in the first place. He was tuna fishing and admired the sleek shape of Tuna and how they tuck their pectoral Fins etc, the idea popped in his head for a plug that resembles the body of a tuna. From there he designed and perfected the shape. This is the story ive heard over and over.
There is no Danny patent as far as I am aware, the DANNY name was purchased by Gibbs and they own it to this day. Patents are only good for 17 years anyway, a copyrighted product name is yours until you sell it .

[proflection]

Tinman you are correct.

Originally Posted by Tinman

I am convinced Donny MUSSO invented /designed the Danny plug shape. Dan Pinchney first MARKETED it as his Danny Plug. Thats the way its been explained to me by several OLD timers who knew them both. Pinchney has passed away, so we really cant ask him. But Mr Musso will tell you the whole story including what sparked the idea in the first place. He was tuna fishing and admired the sleek shape of Tuna and how they tuck their pectoral Fins etc, the idea popped in his head for a plug that resembles the body of a tuna. From there he designed and perfected the shape. This is the story ive heard over and over.
There is no Danny patent as far as I am aware, the DANNY name was purchased by Gibbs and they own it to this day. Patents are only good for 17 years anyway, a copyrighted product name is yours until you sell it .

[BigFish]

I heard it from the horses mouth at RISSA this weekend that Gibbs owns the "Danny" name! There is also a name change in BigFish Bait Co.'s future as a result!

[Mike P]

The only registered trademark that I could find for any common plug was "darter"--and that was orignally trademarked by Creek Chub in the 1950s and is now owned by some company in Alabama. It could be what PRADCO was called before it was called PRADCO.

Brad used to put "tm" on the label next to Hawg Hunter Lures, but I can tell you with 99.9% certainty that he never officially registered it

[NIB]

I have talked to Donny also.While I greatly admire him an his fine lure creations. He is also a good fisherman.It seems to me in my conversations with him he speaks with quite a bit of resentment.This leaves a shadow of a doubt on who designed the plug..In my mind..
Does it really matter..???
NS is right as with most beachmasters they are crafted heavy for the current laden waters of LI.Most of em are designed heavy to hold well or fish down..They are proven fish catchers.

[Diamond Tackle]

Its a legal/ethical quagmyre. Use the name as a "style" to pay homage and credit where due, and get accused of financially benefitting from it, dont give credit, get accused of outright copying someones product. (just go to ebay and do searches, u will be shocked who people are comparing their plugs to)
Who really knows who invented what, but I have a lot of respect for all the old timers, esp guys like Donny, who I treasure every minute speaking with. If i were him, i would be bitter too,but then he's done ok for himself, noone can corner the market on everything.Maybe he will start buiding out of wood again, who knows.
Unfortunately I never got to meet the late Stan Gibbs, or Bob Pond, who is like 90 now?, God bless him. I heard he was at the show visiting this weekend in fact. These guys were/are treasures,and a lot of people owe them . A lot of people.
Gibbs does own the "danny"name, they lease it from the widow. Nib as u may recall Tony Spina used "dani" which is the name of his granddaughter?, and there was nothing gibbs could legally do about it. I can make a plug called a "Dane" if I chose to, its my last name and noone can stop me. I try to be respectful and i certainly have much admiration for the old timers, more than they will ever know.