Anyone Recognize This Box ? ....

[reelsmith.]

Who was W.F. Hardware ?

Any idea what went in this box ?

"Steel Pivots" sounds like a Montague reel ..but "Round Disk" ???

Thanks.

Dean.

[RonG]

Wow - That's a cool looking box!

[Mike N]

Dean, that is a great box. Of course, a Neptune reel was made Meisselbach Bros., but I’m not sure if it’s the same reel.

I searched some old hardware directories and found a “W.F. Hardware” in Grand Junction, Colorado (I believe around 1911.)

[1badf350]

I remember posing for that picture. The artists was like "man youre gonna have to cover that thing." So i had to hold my junk for like 8 hours. Couldnt switch hands. My arm was sore for days.

[reelsmith.]

Thanks guys.

The box is tiny with inside measurements of 3" deep by 2.25" by 2.5" ...so way too small for a Meisselbach "Neptune" reel.

I wonder what the "W.F." stood for ??



Dean.

[wrong99]

Possibly Wm. Frankfurth Hardware in Milwaukee? I've seen it abbreviated several different ways.
Mark

[Teal]

100% William Frankfurth Hardware Co. See Reel News article for history and background. Drop me a note Dean if it's for sale.

-- Dr. Todd

[colby sorrells]

Yep, William Frankfurth Hardware Company, Milwaukee, WI

Covered by trademark 106592

Colby

[Mike N]

It seems our Milwaukee hardware store owner was also a famous “free thinker.”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Frankfurth

[reelsmith.]

Thanks everyone !

I'm thinking the reel for the box may have been a JVH ...like this ...



Dean.

[Alan Baracco]

Folks,

Here's what Colby's talkin'. "Used in the business for the past twenty years" from 1915 Trademark date.

Alan

[Jim Schottenham]

Dean,

I'm thinking Hendryx is closer.....

[Mike N]

Folks,

Here's what Colby's talkin'. "Used in the business for the past twenty years" from 1915 Trademark date.

Alan

According to William’s bio link above, Lorenz (the patent endorser and vice-president of the company) was the second of 4 children and passed away in 1933.

[reelsmith.]

Dean,

I'm thinking Hendryx is closer.....

So "Round Disc" would be the click switch ?

Seems a better guess than mine.

Thanks Jim.

Dean.

[Jim Schottenham]

Dean,
I think the "round disk" is representative of the frame, vs. raised pillar:

[Brian F.]

If you ask the "round disc" collector, Bill Hoeter, that means reels with metal discs set into hard rubber plates. Pflueger Oceanics, Everlasters and many Montague models like the Atlantic and Pacific Surfcasting reels are examples of the design.

[Paul M]

The Neptune box specifies ”brass reel”. What a great box!

[reelsmith.]

The Neptune box specifies ”brass reel”. What a great box!

It does ...but also says "Nickel Plated".

I think Jim may be on the right track with the reel being round rather than raised pillar ...although "round disk" seems an odd way to describe it.

My first thought, like Brian's, was of JVH's metal disc reels ...perhaps due to Bill Hoerter's influence.

However, there is no mention of hard rubber on the label.

...and Jim picked up on the "Patent Adjustable Slide Drag.

Thanks for all of the help. I appreciate it.

The box is plenty cool empty ...so I may or may not worry about filling it.

Dean.

[reeltackle]

Very cool box Dean, great find!

[kyreels]

Thinking of changing my signature line to "collector of round fishing reels", except that I do have a raised pillar and a Gayle Potato masher throw reel.

Gotta say the round Montague proposed by Jim seems like the right reel...

[Jim Schottenham]

Gotta say the round Montague proposed by Jim seems like the right reel...

Matt,

The reel with that box is a Hendryx.



From a 1904 Hendryx catalog, though the reel in this cut features end caps:

[kyreels]

Ooops. Hendryx it is.

[BILL HOERTER]

The Metal Disc Front Reels that I collect do have a round metal disc on the front plate surrounded by hard rubber or bakelite. In my searching of old fishing tackle catalogs for the wording they used in describing the MDF reel I never found any mention of round reel except for some early Pflueger hard rubber saltwater reels & one hard rubber reel with a small metal disc around the crank shaft on the front plate & they called that reel an Improved Round Reel. I assume the small metal disc improved the strength of the front plate around the heavily used handle just like Julius' larger metal disc on his MDF reel Pat' in 1885.Thanks - Bill

ON the neat box I remember bidding on one a couple of years ago on EBAY & it went way out of sight & I would say it would go for even more now.

[reelsmith.]

ON the neat box I remember bidding on one a couple of years ago on EBAY & it went way out of sight & I would say it would go for even more now.

I bid on it too ...but didn't get it.

But I have it now.

Funny how things work out sometimes.

Dean.

[wrong99]

Thanks everyone !

I'm thinking the reel for the box may have been a JVH ...like this ...



Dean.

Wouldn't this be considered a "round disc" reel, then?
Mark