The history of Do-It?

[Fishermanbt]

Anyone know of any literature out there that maps out the history of Do-It? 
While at physical therapy today I got to thinking about the history behind Do-It (rather than this really hurts). I’ve been seeing some vintage lead molds up for sale recently here and there. The most recent vintage mold I found was marked “sportsman model j650 east coast” and calls for Wright and McGill hooks. It has what appears to be info tags in the casting listing the hook sizes and weights. Not the embedded info that we see today. Another I have seen was marked as toledo twin spin, a tandem spinner bait.  Nifty little critter.
I would love to see a catalog/webpage of all the molds ever made, their years of production and what not. And why the different color handles? It’s easy to browse the website and/or catalog wishing or lusting for that new shiny mold that will be the sure fire go to fish catching bait, but how did we get here?  Just thinking out loud I guess.

[21xdc]

Todays molds are superior to the old... Details in the product are great now.... 

[ctom]

The original Do-It molds were made in a garage in Iowa....Waterloo maybe? Cedar Falls? I have several of the red handled molds, all but one in storage. Wright-McGill should be a give away to age as the company has been Eagle Claw for many many, years. I have two of the red handled "sportsmans" molds.

I've been thru the existing complex maybe five times and it never ceases to intrigue the heck out of me, especially the sand that's used for making the molds to cast the molds. The first time I was walked thru the foundry area where the sand molds are made and filled with molten aluminum, the sand used to make those molds was in huge piles and was mixed with roto-tillers. That all changed a year later, but certainly lost none of the fascination I enjoys when I get to re-visit the plant.

I'm not entirely positive but I think one or two current employees came to the current plant location from the garage where the molds were first made.

[efishnc]

If the big lumps in my noggin are accurate, the company was founded in 1959 and started in Melvin's (I think that was his name) garage on Logan Avenue in Waterloo... I think there was an intermediate location, between the garage and the current facility, but not 100% sure of dates or location.

Besides the nice colored handle offerings (red, blue, orange, and black), I have a fairly porous mold (passed on from Dad's collection) with original stained walnut handles... Lloyd said it is from pre-1973 but couldn't get anymore accurate than that because they did not start putting dates on the molds until that time (which would seem as if it should be a facility/location change as well).

[Fishermanbt]

Ctom I’m with you on the Wight and McGill name stamped on the mold. I saw that and thought that has a bit of age to it.
I am fascinated how many big businesses actually began in a garage and then went big time. Dang it, I’m still holding out hope!