Here is a 9/0 size reel made by Montague and marked "Abercrombie & Fitch Co, New York". The reel is built in the style of the very early Montague "Imperial" reels only in a larger 9/0 size measuring 5 inches in diameter and 3 inches across the spool. The reel is made of hard rubber and German silver and has a round "Star Drag" style drag adjuster, a freespool lever, and a pop-out anti-reverse button on its sculpted front side-plate. The rear side-plate is sculptured and has a sliding click button. This is the only example of a 9/0 Montague I have ever seen ... or ... that I can remember seeing. Has anyone else come across one or know if they were ever cataloged?
....That’s the same reel I sold to Rufus about 20* years ago! Where’s the original purple box l sold it in? It came out of an estate in Connecticut....
Wanted Ultra rare salt water reels including big game as well as unknown rare surf reels!
Oops I’ve also owned/sold a 12-0 size tuna/tarpon reel that’s pretty much a plain/Jane style reel made by Montaque! Fortunately it went back to where it belongs among a serious Montaque collection!
Wanted Ultra rare salt water reels including big game as well as unknown rare surf reels!
Yes, Ed I have one and it was in my Montague Tarpon and Tuna reel with drag handles display at the FATC St Agustine show. You must not have seen my display? When I found this reel I thought how ironic it was that Montague had been making their Tarpon and Tuna reels for 25 years without a drag other than the leather thumber and they finally made a drag handle after all those years.
I have seen a couple more of these reels, Tony Florida had one at the FATC Daytona show about 5 years ago. The drag handle works like a Rabbeth handle but a lot more complicated based on John Elder's observations when working on my reel years ago. Years before finding my reel I saw this reel in an A&F catalog it was not in the reel section but it was on the last page in the catalog. I thought I made a copy but I can't find it. Getting old keeps getting in the way.
Cghost - I imagine the reel either had a leather thumb drag or the angler wore gloves.
Nick - Same reel. Looking for the box..............
Bill - I saw your reel in St. Augustine only it was smaller. I have seen them in the 4/0 and the 6/0 size but this is the only 9/0 size I have ever encountered. I believe the next step for Montague was to put a drag on this reel and call it the Imperial.
