For your consideration is this hand crafted, A.E. Nelson Leather Company fishing creel made in Salem, Oregon from the 1940s. The A.E. Nelson Leather Company, founded in 1938, is a third-generation family-owned firm that began in Salem, Oregon, and then moved to Scio, Oregon. A.E. Nelson, known for their high-quality leather goods, began manufacturing fishing creels in the mid-1940s, broadening their product line beyond traditional leather items. A.E. Nelson Leather Co. added fishing creels to their product line, using imported split-willow baskets from Japan and complementing them with their own expertly tanned leather. The company's creels were famous for their reinforced corners, edges, and bases, which increased the strength of the split-willow baskets. They had distinctive snap latches to secure the lids and frequently included a leather pocket on the front for extra storage. This creel shows a split willow weave and lighter colored leather construction. This model is the non-pocketed edition. It shows a small hole on top of the lid to put fish in and features a handle on the back for carrying. The top of the back is stamped in the leather reading, "A.E. Nelson Leather Co. Salem, Oregon". It shows the same stamp on the tooled leather strap. The lid is secured by a snap closure, which was featured on almost every style of their creels. It shows good condition overall with wear present from its age and use over the years, but no signs of obvious damage is noted. It measures 6 3/4" L x 15 1/2" W x 9" H and weighs 2 pounds and 8 ounces.