Meek Horton Foot Stampings

[wrong99]

Does anyone know the significance, if any, of the letters stamped underneath the feet of Meek or Meek/Horton reels? Thanks in advance.
Mark

[Mike N]

Does anyone know the significance, if any, of the letters stamped underneath the feet of Meek or Meek/Horton reels? Thanks in advance.
Mark

Mark— could you post a photo or two of these alphabetical stampings? Besides the serial numbers on the foot, I’m not sure I’ve seen any stamped lettering on the Meek/Hortons in my collection. I assume such markings would be some type of a parts sorting code.

Thanks

Mike N

[wrong99]

Might just be on Horton Mfg. reels, like this one:

[oc1]

a Simplex


-steve

[Mike N]

Thanks for the photos. Now I’m curious about those letters, too.

Mike N

[Mike N]

So, I dug through my reels and came up with this tournament modified “No. 25 Blue Grass Simplex” by Horton Mfg. of Bristol, CT with a “J” stamped on the foot.




Because this “J” on the screw-secured foot is a different letter than the other two photos of stamped, riveted reel feet shown above (a “D” and a “G”) it leads me to believe that the capital letter marking on the Simplex reel foot could possibly be a parts model identifier or date/year stamping code. I would like to see more examples from other ORCA members.

In any event, I will defer to others who specialize in these Meek Horton reels. Here is a 2006 discussion with Bill Muth and others:

viewtopic.php?t=4095

[Note that the photo posted by Ron Mc. on the link has a number “7” stamped on the foot and not a capital letter.] Hmmmmmm....the mystery deepens.

Mike N.

[wrong99]

A #34 Simplex.

[wrong99]

Speaking of numbers, a #33 Meek & Sons Blue Grass.

[wrong99]

And another...

[john elder]

Here are 5 i found wandering around the tackle room. I know we have had this discussion in the past and i will see if i can dig it out of the archives, but i don’t recall a conclusion was reached. Then again, Bill’s absence from the thread implies he is tired of answering this question

The non-Horton Meeks (bluegrass) have a number instead of letter. Perhaps the difference in font sryle and size relates to vintage?

[john elder]

Here’s that additional link i mentioned, but as i thought, no conclusion reached:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14570&hilit=Foot+letter

[Mike N]

I have not seen many No.38s over the years, John. That’s a great sampling.

Let’s hope we arrive a likely theory about these stampings this time. I think we need more examples and maybe a catalog description to work through this logically.

Mike N

[Bill Muth]

I'm a little late to the party, but won't be able to add much other than to confirm that this question will probably not be definitively answered. They are likely just batch or production line indicators. Here is what I know:

1. Those letters make no reference to manufacture date or mechanical differences. Tear those reels apart and the are all the same inside.

2. Unlike the serial numbers on the foot of the other Meek and Blue Grass reel models, which can be used to match the reel to its original box and guarantee paper, the letters (or numbers) on the bottom of the Simplex reels serve no such purpose. As an aside, the serial numbers on the bottom of the other Meek and Blue Grass reels are not an exact reference in dating or sequencing when the reels were produced. I have seen low serial numbers in later boxes and higher serial numbers in earlier boxes.

3. I once owned - and may still own - a 33 or 34 that had two letters stamped on the foot (I think it was H and I). I did not get excited about it other than to think, "Hmmm, that's weird."

4. I own every catalog Horton published between 1915 and 1951. They will not help in this inquiry.

5. As I am typing this, I just remembered that I have had a B.F. Meek & Sons No. 33 in the freezer for over a month trying to get the back plate to come loose (see a previous thread).

It would be awesome if we could crack the code on these, but I have my doubts that it will happen.

[RonG]

Could these letters be a puzzle to be solved like on "Wheel of Fortune"?

[Mike N]

Could these letters be a puzzle to be solved like on "Wheel of Fortune"?

I like the way you think, Ron, but we need more vowels. Here’s what we have so far (note: a “/“ separates words in this sentence)....

_PEN / F_ _E / _EE_ / _ _ _ _E_ _ _ _ S / J_ _ _ / D_ _ ‘ _ / D_G / _ _


Mike N

(Answer tomorrow)

[wrong99]

"OPEN FACE REEL"....

[Mike N]

"OPEN FACE REEL"....

Verified as correct. I’ll give the board the O, A, C , R, and L from the words that Mark picked correctly, but I’m taking back the S because it was not in the original reel letters (it was in right spot, but there is also a second one.)


Now
OPEN / FACE / REEL / COLLEC_OR_ / J_ _ _ / DO _ ‘ _ / D_G / _ _

[Midway Tommy D]

DON'T DIG what?

[Mike N]

DON'T DIG what?

OPEN / FACE / REEL / COLLEC_OR_ / J_ _ _ / DO _ ‘ _ / D_G / _ _

OPEN FACE REEL COLLECTORS JUST DON’T DIG US (baitcasters)

Lol. It was the best I could do starting with those letters.

Mike N