Ball Handle Reel ID
Ball Handle Reel ID
Picked up a nice reel in a style I don’t usually see here in the Midwest. Just looking for info on the maker. Only marking is 3 1/2 on the foot. The rim mounted pull button brake seems to appear on a few different models, did not see it in a quick scan through Mr. Vernon’s book.
Wanted: Horton, Bristol & Meek reels, reel boxes, and catalogs!!!!
Re: Ball Handle Reel ID
Bill, it's very JVH looking. With these things, it's always helpful to see the foot/crossbridge intersection and, of course, the inside.
Ball-handle intersection variations:
Couple of JVH ball-handle details:
Ball-handle intersection variations:
Couple of JVH ball-handle details:
Steve Vernon
ORCA Honorary member
Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
Websites:
Antique Fishing Reels
Kopf reels
Hendrick reels
"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
Re: Ball Handle Reel ID
Wanted: Horton, Bristol & Meek reels, reel boxes, and catalogs!!!!
Re: Ball Handle Reel ID
Bill, that’s a great find. There is just something classic and workmanlike about a nice German silver or brass ball-handle reel. Just the idea that the counterbalance was a metallic “ball” rather than a wasted grasp with turned wood is so turn-of-the-century Americana. Thanks for posting that beauty.
Mike N
Mike N
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
Re: Ball Handle Reel ID
Just to avoid any confusion:...the counterbalance was a metallic “ball” rather than a wasted grasp with turned wood...
Steve Vernon
ORCA Honorary member
Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
Websites:
Antique Fishing Reels
Kopf reels
Hendrick reels
"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
Re: Ball Handle Reel ID
The point was that a ball handle counterbalance is more efficient than a dual wooden grasp, since you can only grasp one handle at a time. Get it?
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
Re: Ball Handle Reel ID
Now that you've changed "wasted" to "dual," everyone can "get it." And I don't think "efficiency" has much to do with the design. Dual grasps are counterbalanced, and the excited angler doesn't have to grab blindly at the wrong end of the crank.The point was...
The big argument during the 19th century was over counterbalanced vs. unbalanced cranks. Counterbalances were considered by many as just additional line tanglers. Dual grasps during the 19th century were used mostly on narrow-spool single-action reels. It was later that mfrs. decided that dual grasps would be handy on baitcasters.
Steve Vernon
ORCA Honorary member
Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
Websites:
Antique Fishing Reels
Kopf reels
Hendrick reels
"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
Re: Ball Handle Reel ID
Hmmm, one envisages a scene reminiscent of what Washington Irving described in 1820, but I never thought to blame the single crank, ball-handle reel:
“I hooked myself instead of the fish; tangled my line in every tree; lost my bait; broke my rod; until I gave up the attempt in despair, and passed the day under the trees, reading old Izaak.”
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
Re: Ball Handle Reel ID
And old Wash felt a lot better when he read Izaak's observation: “As no man is born an artist, so no man is born an angler.”
Steve Vernon
ORCA Honorary member
Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
Websites:
Antique Fishing Reels
Kopf reels
Hendrick reels
"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
- m3040c
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Re: Ball Handle Reel ID
Interesting about the line getting tangled in the handle second grasp. I would think that the line could also get tangled in the counterweight or ball. Maybe that is the reason for this style.
mike cass,,, if you can't collect it, it must be food