Not All B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels Are The Same

Use this forum to share your stuff so round up your favorite reels! Questions can still go to the Reel Talk - General Forum
Post Reply
User avatar
RonG
Super Board Poster
Posts: 1468
Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2003 8:49 pm
Location: Frostproof, FL
Contact:

Not All B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels Are The Same

Post by RonG »

One of the problems with reel collecting is that sometimes you like a reel so much that you can justify buying the same reel again because it is slightly different than the one you already have. I know a person that once told me about a collector that bought a large expensive reel that was identical to the one he already had. And when asked why he bought the same reel again, he said "It has a different serial number." Well, this may be an extreme, but it emphasizes my point. I had a B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 and when given the opportunity to buy a left hand version, of course I had to buy it. And then, when given the opportunity to buy one with a front plate sliding drag button rather than the rim mounted thumb wheel, of course I had to buy it. Oh well, here's hoping I get more opportunities to buy more of the same reel again. I'm sure I can find some difference in the reel that would justify it.

Below are photos of the three reels I've described above. As a bit of background information, the B.F. Meek & Sons No.11 was introduced in their 1901 catalog along with their other reels. After 1905, I could not find the B.F. Meek & Sons hard rubber and German silver reels in catalogs or advertised. If someone has a later catalog or ad of one, please let me know.

B.F. Meek & Sons 1901 Catalog page excerpt


B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels



Last edited by RonG on Wed Sep 16, 2020 4:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
leland99
Advanced Board Poster
Posts: 159
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:18 pm
Location: Lake Cherokee, Texas

Re: Not All B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels Are The Same

Post by leland99 »

Not all the same, but all are fantastic!
Bryce Tawney
The Reel Packrat

Packing these reels into my nest hole: Talbot, Milam, Meek, Horton, Heddon, Wm Shakespeare Jr, and small diameter skeleton fly reels!
User avatar
Paul M
Ultra Board Poster
Posts: 2200
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:10 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada
Contact:

Re: Not All B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels Are The Same

Post by Paul M »

Speechless! Great group of tough reels!
Paul Manuel

Member since 2006
bettybarr
Advanced Board Poster
Posts: 289
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:13 pm

Re: Not All B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels Are The Same

Post by bettybarr »

Ron, Collectors like you make Collectors like us look normal! This is a great example of slight variations in a model. You always share your research.
Joined: 2007
User avatar
kyreels
Super Board Poster
Posts: 1147
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:12 pm
Location: Louisville, Kentucky

Re: Not All B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels Are The Same

Post by kyreels »

I am verklempt (vaclempt for you SNL fans). Missed out on a few of the rubber Meeks over the years, but this is great inspiration. Thanks for sharing. PM me when you are in financial distress.
Matt Wickham
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
soreno
Big ORCA Fan
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2020 2:53 pm

Re: Not All B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels Are The Same

Post by soreno »

Ron, awsome set of reels. I have the same problem, I see a variation and have to have it. I want to thank you again for helping me find the SB 1131 with the pattented tail plate it is the earliest 1131 variation I have.
Thanks Scott
Jay White
Advanced Board Poster
Posts: 215
Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:32 pm

Re: Not All B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels Are The Same

Post by Jay White »

Beautiful set Ron! When you decide to part with "lefty", let me know. Thanks for sharing!!!! After another look , I see that all three counter balances are different also. I like em!
User avatar
reeltackle
Super Board Poster
Posts: 900
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 10:11 am
Location: Florida
Contact:

Re: Not All B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels Are The Same

Post by reeltackle »

Very cool Ron. Let's get together and fish for tarpon with them some day!
Ed Pritchard
http://www.AntiqueFishingReels.com
ORCA Charter Member "First Paid Member"
Honorary Life Member

"Reels As Big As Your Head" Always looking for BIG game reels and anything else that might go along.
User avatar
Steve
Star Board Poster
Posts: 3940
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2003 6:11 am
Contact:

Re: Not All B.F. Meek & Sons No. 11 Reels Are The Same

Post by Steve »

Absolutely wonderful "family portrait."

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."
Post Reply