NY Ball-handle reels list now available to Members

[kyreels]

A new feature for ORCA members is now available in the Members Only Area of orcaonline.org. This is the results of the NY style Ball-Handle Reel project. This project was led by Jason Dennis and Steve Vernon and many volunteers that contributed detailed information. This new resource is a searchable and filterable list on over 127 different reel makers showing the detailed characteristics of each reel. NY-style ball-handle reels originated in New York in the 1830’s and were produced through the 1890’s. You can click on the reel number and view photographs of the external and internal views for each reel. There are 5 photos for each reel, a total of 635 photos.

Let us know if you find this useful and have any questions. The goal of the project is to catalog every reel we can in the future years. Please contact the project authors if you want to contribute to this ongoing resource.

[Brian F.]

Fantastic job! Thank you Jason and Steve, everyone with assists and the ORCA Web team!

[RonG]

I enjoyed scanning all the photo of the reels. It amazed me how many different markers/suppliers there were. Steve and Jason have done a great job in organizing this list. Matt, thanks for posting it on the ORCA website. I do have one recommendation. It would be nice to have a closeup photo of the name marking on the reel. There are subtle differences in the name markings for many of the makers/suppliers.

[Steve]

It would be nice to have a closeup photo of the name marking on the reel. There are subtle differences in the name markings for many of the makers/suppliers.

While it would be nice to be able to show whatever subtle differences referred to, it verges on being impractical. Note that most of the photo composites consist of five photos taken from similar angles that show virtually all the important features of each reel. For example: https://orcapublic.s3.us-east-2.amazona ... Silver.jpg. Sometimes, unusual features are shown in additional photos. Adding marking closeups for every reel would be cumbersome. Furthermore, when you are depending on the generous contributions of time, photos, and measurements from so many different donors, you can not be sure that everyone has a camera with the macro capability, lighting, etc., necessary for well-focused closeup shots. It's asking a bit much, IMHO. It's tough enough convincing collectors just to remove the headcaps so we can see the important "guts."

As to "makers/suppliers," the project is meant to show reels made by those whose names are marked on the reels. As you know, attribution of manufacture of these early reels is difficult and often arguable. Jason and I removed a couple of reels from the collection after agreeing that the marked names had merely sold, not made, the reels. There may be others that don't belong, but keep in mind that the collection is meant to include reels marked with the name of their manufacturers, not suppliers who did not manufacture the reels.

[RonG]

I was thinking more along the lines of what a new collector might be interested in seeing. They may not know what a "Conroy" marking looks like.