Four Tees Bait Co. - Tampa, FL
The Bales Four Tees Bait Co was founded in Tampa in the early 1940's. The 4 T's stood for the "The Topper That's Tops." William R. Bales was originally a Lancaster, OH resident where he was a sales manager for Electrolux natural gas powered Refrigerators. He and his family moved to Florida in 1942. His lures were top water lures and the most popular one was the Dolphin. The smaller version was called the Cuke. Bales registered the name "Four Tees" in Tampa in 1946. Bales and his family moved back to Lancaster, OH in 1949. Bales is considered one of the great Tampa Bay Area makers.
The WILLIAM R. BALES and ROBERT BALES Collection
FOUR TEES DOLPHIN Lures, circa 1945
FOUR TEES CUKE Lures, circa 1945
FOUR TEES DOLPHIN and CUKE Lures
FOUR TEES Lure Box, circa 1945
FOUR TEES DOLPHIN and CUKE Lures with Boxes, circa 1945
The FOUR TEES Dolphin Lure, circa 1945
William R. Bales Photo
William R. Bales Electrolux Ad in 1936 Lancaster, OH Newspaper
FOUR TEES BAIT Ad in 1948 Tampa Times Newspaper