Sam W. Ellis & Sons - Maple Leaf Bait Company
Havelock, Ontario

      Not a great deal is known about this company, but there is some research and documentation to provide a very simple background of Sam Ellis.  It appears that Sam Ellis and his family were operating a very small tackle operation in Havelock, Ontario called Maple Leaf Bait Company where they produced wooden baits (with and without glass eyes as shown below), and a range of metal tackle as well.  The company was only in production for a short while, when a larger firm by the name of Canadian Needle and Fishing Tackle (C.N.F.T.) was looking to branch out in a new location to carry their line of tackle and needles.  C.N.F.T. bought Sam Ellis out, and a new manager was sent from Toronto to run the Havelock operation.  Under the new management of Mr. A.J. Crook, an addition was built so that a plating section could accommodate this need in the production of spoons.  It is not known how long Sam Ellis stayed with C.N.F.T. as an employee, or if he left the company at this point.  However, soon after Sam Ellis left, he joined the large tackle firm called Hex Baits out of Brockville, Ontario, and not only worked under Hector Maclean, but also sold some of his tackle equipment and branding (Maple Leaf) to their company (Much of this is speculation...please shoot me an email with information as it arises).

     There are many lure styles not shown below including a glass eye river runt style lure with glass eyes, and another river runt style lure with yellow plastic eyes and a black bead for the pupil. 

Photo courtesy of Jason Halliday	S.W. Ellis Pikie Lures 2 different styles of S.W. Ellis pikie lures.  The top lure has glass eyes, and the bottom has painted eyes.  Both of the lures have stamped lips with the S.W. Ellis maple leaf logo.
	A Side Look at an S.W. Ellis Spinner Bait
	A Close-up of the Ellis Stamp