I'll trek into the basement a little later to take some measurements, but wanted to share pics of this neat little ball handle reel I got in the mail last week while I was away at ORCA. Only marking (at least on the outside) is the 25 under the foot. Any ideas about maker, age, country or planet or origin always appreciated.

Saw that on ebay, I think. Wise choice!
1. Er...um...It's not a ball-handle.
2. It's a very unusual left-handed model of what we usually would consider a fairly common, unidentifiable reel.
We've seen zillions of right-handed versions of these over the years, and I don't think anyone has IDed the maker(s) with any confidence. Age could be 1860ish-1890ish.

Steve wrote:1. Er...um...It's not a ball-handle.

Maybe it was and has been castrated ?

Dean.

Maybe it was and has been castrated ?

Its cast rating is very low compared to the Kentucky reels.

Very cool. The foot and crank knob look American to me. Don't a lot of reels with no crank collar get attributed to Malleson? I'd call it a Mallesteinkopfenhof.

Don't a lot of reels with no crank collar get attributed to Malleson?

Maybe, but on what basis? Don't a lot of GS and HR reels get attributed to Van Hoff?

Malleson with:


Malleson without:

Wow. Youse guys are tough. "Er... umm..." It's not a ball handle. How about a new category: Modified wannabe ball handle reels?


And not on eBay. ElsewhereBay, but I ain't telling.

Richard, Your reel does have a little ball on the rim lever so I assumed that is why you called it a ball handle.Thanks for all of the great pictures taken at the ORCA Tulsa show.