First, allow me to introduce our participants -
Eyes
For me personally - The first thing that gives away if a bait is wooden or not - is the eye or body style. On wooden Jitterbugs - the eye is flat - and on plastic baits - the eye is sort of carved out. The exception to this is on newer plastic baits - where the eye is flat - much like its earlier family members - but just by looking at the baits you can tell it is obviously plastic. Also wooden baits lacked the name JITTERBUG on back.
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Early Wooden
Jitterbug
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Early Plastic
Jitterbug
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Newer Plastic
Jitterbug
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As you can see - on the wooden Jitterbug the eyes are less pronounced than on the plastic eyes. The plastic bait in the middle has more "Bug Like" eyes. It is from the early 1940's - but Post Wooden Bait Era.
Hardware
Wooden Jitterbugs will have either a half bowl looking hardware (Bait furthest right) or "2nd Style" Hardware. That is the style shown on the 2nd and 3rd baits - Although - The 3rd bait is plastic - As early Plastic Baits (Pre WW2 and Post WW2 - and even some during WW2) used Style 2 Hardware. Newer plastic baits have surface style hardware.
Hopefully I have been able to help clear up on how to tell the difference between wood and plastic. Although - at this time I think its safe to tell you that in the 1980's - Arbogast REINTRODUCED a wooden jitterbug - for a limited time. You will be able to tell by the hardware used as well as body style whether or not your wooden Jitterbug is new or old. If you have any questions - don't hesitate to email me!
Website Last Updated: February 9, 2004
All pictures on this website are copyright of Kevin Fiedler.