Antique reel

Donboss · Post by **Donboss** » Wed May 12, 2010 7:03 pm

I have an antique reel with only a patent number which I looked up. The patent says for a Conbined reel for a fishing pole and locking means therefor. The inventor was kenneth M. Fritts of Erie ,Pa. There is no name on the reel just the patent number 1827488. Any help would be appreciated.[/img]

David M · Post by **David M** » Wed May 12, 2010 7:46 pm

Hello Don, and welcome, could it possibly be this instead?

David

orourke · Post by **orourke** » Wed May 12, 2010 7:55 pm

David:

Isn't that a cane pole reel? Sold by Wolverine ReeL Company Bronson, Michigan.

Dave "O"

Donboss · Post by **Donboss** » Wed May 12, 2010 8:21 pm

orourke wrote:David:

Isn't that a cane pole reel? Sold by Wolverine ReeL Company Bronson, Michigan.

Dave "O"

I think that is it exactly. it is on a cane pole or telescopic pole. thanks

Donboss · Post by **Donboss** » Wed May 12, 2010 8:35 pm

David M wrote:Hello Don, and welcome, could it possibly be this instead?

David

David,that is the one. I have the cane pole or telescopic pole with it. If you will e-mail me at I will send a picture of it.

David M · Post by **David M** » Wed May 12, 2010 8:59 pm

Hey Dave -- A Wolverine (Sportsman Reel) should have a patent # of 2582289. They do look a lot alike though.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=XpZhAA ... &q&f=false

David

David M · Post by **David M** » Thu May 13, 2010 3:58 am

Here's Donboss's reel photo's.

<--- PAT. NO. 1827488

Dave, it does look exactly like a "Sportsman Reel". If you look at the length of time between B. U. Roach's reel patent issue date (Oct. 13, 1931), and C. A. Smith's reel patent filing date (July 5, 1947), it's almost the 17 year patent protection length period. Could it be that while Smith was waiting for the lengthy patent approval process for his slightly improved "Roach like"version, he went ahead and produced his new reel with the old 1827488 patent number stamped on it once it had expired, kind of like a patent pending, just to keep the copycats at bay. Once approved the old number would be removed, and the new number of 2582289 would be used. I could be way off base here, if so, someone please correct me. It's just the only plausible explanation I can come up with for two similar reels by two different inventors, with one reel having the patent number of the other.

Here's Jerry J's 2007 post about the Sportsman reel. Notice there's no Roach patent # on the top of Jerry's reel, but there is a Smith patent # on the card.
http://reeltalk.orcaonline.org/viewtopi ... =wolverine

David

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Thu May 13, 2010 8:38 am

There was an article about the Roach Reel in the Reel News, March 2004, pg 14.

Don Champion · Post by **Don Champion** » Thu May 13, 2010 8:50 am

I had one of those once. I thought they might have been used on ice tip-ups.