1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

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Mike N
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1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Mike N »

Can someone post a photo of an Orvis 1874 First Model reel showing the Orvis name and patent date engraved on the bottom of the foot ?

I own the second, third and fourth models and have seen photos of the 1st model, but have never seen the engraved foot.

Thanks

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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by john elder »



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Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Mike N »

Thanks, John. I’m surprised that Orvis did not stamp the foot rather than engrave it. That tells me the first model was a fairly small production run since a stamp was not made.

How many Orvis First Models with the engraved foot do you think are in collections?


Thanks

Mike N
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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by john elder »

It has to be a very small number! I was an idiot for letting mine go ( came from the Mary Kelly collection); but it was the last one of Jim Brown’s Top Ten fly reels that Terry Ow needed, so I let it go. The fact that Terry was still looking says a lot about production numbers!
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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Richard Lodge »

John - Can you list Jim Brown's 10 reels?
thanks.
R
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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by john elder »

Sure... as Jim posted in the Reel News, 10, 2000, his top 10 fly reels:

1) first model Orvis
2) James J. Ross 1869Patent Fly Reel
3) Malleson’s multiplying fly reel
4) Billinghurst’s Birdcage fly reel
5) fowler’s Gem
6) H. L. Leonard 1877 Patent Bimetal reel
7) Meek No. 44 fly reel ca 1910
8) Talbot Ben Hur fly reel
9) Edward Vom Hofe Perfection fly reel
10) Edward R. hewitt Handmade Trout Reel
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Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Richard Lodge »

Thank you. Now, can you pack them into a box and ship them Priority to my work address?
:bricks:
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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Stef Duma »

Well I for one would like to see the ten reels on the list.
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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Jim Schottenham »

Well I for one would like to see the ten reels on the list.
Ask, and ye shall receive. Since the first on the list is well covered with the photos above, I'll only show the remaining 9. In order:

Ross 1869 Patent
Image
Malleson
Image
Billinghurst (and box)
Image
Fowler Gem
Image
Leonard Bi-Metal
Image
Meek 44 (and box)
Image
Ben Hur
Image
EVH Perfection
Image
Hewitt
Image

OK, folks - what's in your own Top Ten?
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Mike N
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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Mike N »

Thanks, Jim.

Now let’s see some production dates and numbers for each reel.

How many Meek 44 fly reels do you think were made, and over what time frame?

Meek 44 1st Model .......1899-?.....number made________________
Meek 44 2d Model..........1900-?
Meek 44 3d Model..........1911*-

* Per luresnreels.com website (thanks, Ron)

Thanks,

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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Steve »

I think Jim B. first published that list in 1987, and I still don't know what "top" means: Prettiest? Oldest? Most expensive? Best for fly-fishing? Most popular with collectors? Playing the music of the reel pianissimo? Sigh...

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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by RonG »

Hey Mike,

Dennis Buranek in CA has complied a very good list of the three Meek 44 reel models and their serial numbers. The dates are something else.
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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Mike N »

Steve wrote:I think Jim B. first published that list in 1987, and I still don't know what "top" means...
As we all know, the word “top” can be used as noun (the top on a box) or as an adjective, as it used is here, where top indicates the uppermost or highest ranked. What is unclear is not the definition of top, but the selection criteria for a reel to be denominated a top vintage or antique fly reel.

Jim Brown is generally considered the “top” expert on antique fly reels in this country due to his (now, here are my criteria) early, prolific, scholarly publications on the subject, including the seminal A Treasury of Reels for the AMFF.

I have not seen any original explanatory text that accompanied Jim’s rankings. However, a look at the reels on the list above and the audience it was meant for, leads me to believe Jim’s ultimate criteria was “most desirable to have in one’s antique fly reel collection,” clearly a subjective ranking, likely based upon historical significance, aesthetics, rarity, salient collector interest indicated by past auction results and Jim’s personal preferences, etc.

The list has so-called collector “street cred” because of who compiled it, and therefore is the benchmark until another such list viewed as more credible by collectors comes along.

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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by john elder »

You forgot my favorite usage, applicable to this AM for me: “ he topped his tee shot”.
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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Steve »

“most desirable to have in one’s antique fly reel collection,”
Mike, you IDed the top criterion.

Steve Vernon
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Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
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Kopf reels
Hendrick reels

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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Low Profile »

This post is great!! While i certainly would not argue with any of the top ten (American Made), times appear to be changing with regards to collector desirability. Recent prices paid for JVH perforated rim reels and Kosmic may require an adjustment to the list. Having said this I may be missing the boat on this in that some of the top ten are so rare. My personal top ten list of fly reels would also include several British reels but I think that's for another discussion. I've always had a rule of thumb with my collecting criteria (fly/spin/conventional) and it is that any reel must be both functional and durable regardless of it's collector value. Fly reels in particular are simple enough and should be able to be lined up, taken fishing and perform. I've owned a whole lot of "Collectible" reels in all styles that simply couldn't get it done. I cherish and take care of my gear but there aren't any closet queens in my collection. I know I may go against the grain here and I'd like to know how other feel about this.

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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Mike N »

LP- glad you liked the thread.

Per Jim’s invitation to add a reel or two to the list, I would nominate the Philbrook & Paine (c. 1877) marbelized trout and salmon sized fly reels. In fact, these would be #1 and 1a on my list. The aesthetics alone are unmatched in my opinion. The H.L. Leonard Bi-metal deserves to be on the list, but it isn’t even close to these earlier Maine siblings.



[Photo of the trout size version found on Dean Smith’s vintageflytackle.com website]

Also, somewhere in my top 10 would be George Gayle’s “handmade” fly reel c. 1935.



[Photo appears on Ron Gast’s luresnreels.com website]

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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by reelsmith. »

Nice additions, Mike.

I like Jim's list and imagine it is a combination of his personal favorites and reels that he thinks are important. Yes, important ...yet another ambiguous term.

My list would be a bit different and is based solely on my personal preference for aesthetics.

1. Edward vom Hofe "Perfection", #3 size preferred.
2. Talbot "Ben Hur", aluminum preferred.
3. Meek "44", first or second model preferred.
4. Gayle, hard rubber and nickel silver ...dream on.
5. Philbrook & Paine, smallest preferred.
6. Leonard Bi-Metal, 3" version with full handle.
7. Clinton, nickel silver.
8. Julius vom Hofe "Lightweight" (perforated), nickel silver and hard rubber, #3 size preferred.
9. Julius vom Hofe "Wells".
10. Mills "Planetary Gear", smallest size preferred.

I've got three of my top ten ...just seven reels and tens of thousands of dollars to go !! :roll:

Image

Image

Image

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Re: 1st Model Orvis 1874 fly reel

Post by Eric J »

That hand-signed 1st Model 1874 is amazing!
Here’s my list of top fly reels, more modern, and not in any particular order:
-Orvis CFO III screwback/with inverted writing
-ROSS No.1 Daisy spool
-Sage 505
-Orvis Ltd Ed CFO Gold or Silver
-HARDY ST GEORGE large arbor
-Shakespeare AUTO level wind GK
-Bogdan Trout
-Shakespeare President II
-Walker TR3
-Farlow’s Lee Wulff Ultimate
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