A Brief History Connected With Rapala Fishing Lures
There are numerous manufacturers of fishing equipment, and they produce everything you can think of in the branch from lures, hooks, and rods to beginner fly fishing rods. Heddon and Rapala are two names with tradition in this business. And the history of the Rapala company is told by some of the oldest items they produce such as the Rapala fishing lures. The company started the lures production some 60 years ago. The products are clearly crafted from experience and the company’s track record and current unique distribution network, brand portfolio and manufacturing brand gives it a great position for further growth.
Rapala fishing lures came from Finland, originally. Fishing and farming was the occupation of the man, Lauri Rapala, who founded the company in his native country Finland. As the saying goes ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’, so did Rapala decide to improve his fishing productivity, by developing a better lure. In 1936 Lauri Rapala finally created a carved rough-looking lure which would produce an off-center and entice wobbling action. This initial model is still the basis for a lot of the Rapala fishing lures.
Rapala company won most of its fame after the Second World War. After the war Rapala revived his small lure making enterprise. Lauri Rapala made the fishing lures himself at first, but in time, the craft was also learned by some other family members. Lauri always wanted to test each and every lure to make sure it worked properly. Even at present all Rapala fishing lures are first tested and only afterwards packed.
After the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952, foreign visitors were among the first who took Rapala fishing lures beyond the country’s borders to other countries. Exports began soon afterwards, first toNorway and Sweden and then to the USA. In 1957 the business changed its official name into Rapala and Sons or Rapala-Uistin. In 1962, Life Magazine published a long article about Rapala products. It was perhaps because the same magazine issue wrote about Marlyn Monroe’s death that Rapala fishing lures increased their popularity in America, even if the quality of the products contributed most to the market impression.
After the success in the States, Rapala went international, copies having been made after their products. Legal actions have been taken against unauthorized copying, yet, forged versions still exist; yet, the quality provided by Rapala still remains a good criterion of appreciation that is surely unsurpassed.
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