Historic Tackle Find!!
- Deepfins791
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Historic Tackle Find!!
I recently acquired the remainder of Arlene Kovalovsky’s estate, the wife of Oscar Kovalovsky, from the person who was the executor of Arlene's estate. The collection includes all the records and photos Oscar saved, dating back to his father’s auto repair business. It is an absolute treasure trove of historical information, including hundreds of family photos, old negatives (some 8X10 size!) from the 30’s of their reels, advertising and stationery, correspondence from clients, letters from Zane Grey to Arthur and original copies of letters from Arthur to ZG, many photos of big game anglers using Kov’ reels, including Dr. R.L. Sutton and Bob Kleiser, Arthur’s spectacles, a pair of Oscar’s high school drafting projects, all the original certified copies of their patents, along with the patent applications, a couple patent applications for inventions that were never awarded, partnership agreements between Arthur, Oscar, and Lewis, information on their gunsmithing business, etc., etc.
I contacted the executor shortly after Rick Gailing and I finished the Reel News magazine article on Oscar’s fly reels last winter. She was a close family friend of Oscar and Arlene's, and I thought she might like a copy of the magazine. We kept in touch over the summer. The executor told me Arlene’s family had no interest in the records, and were going to throw them all out. She intervened, and put it all in storage. There were boxes and suitcases full of stuff. UNBELIEVABLE, it was all headed to the dump! About three weeks ago, she decided it was time to find a new home for the collection. We agreed on a price, and I purchased the lot.
For the last two weeks, I have been trying to wrap my arms around the collection. I have scanned over 800 photos and documents, and saved the digital files on an external hard drive kept in my fire-proof safe. The originals get filed away in archival plastic sleeves in binders, and also get stored in my safe. I am probably only 2/3rd’s done. No way I could possibly share it all on this forum. The collection really needs to be published in a book. Here are a few items, though. The ink blotter cards with Arthur's auto repair shop ad are really cool.
Enjoy!
John
I contacted the executor shortly after Rick Gailing and I finished the Reel News magazine article on Oscar’s fly reels last winter. She was a close family friend of Oscar and Arlene's, and I thought she might like a copy of the magazine. We kept in touch over the summer. The executor told me Arlene’s family had no interest in the records, and were going to throw them all out. She intervened, and put it all in storage. There were boxes and suitcases full of stuff. UNBELIEVABLE, it was all headed to the dump! About three weeks ago, she decided it was time to find a new home for the collection. We agreed on a price, and I purchased the lot.
For the last two weeks, I have been trying to wrap my arms around the collection. I have scanned over 800 photos and documents, and saved the digital files on an external hard drive kept in my fire-proof safe. The originals get filed away in archival plastic sleeves in binders, and also get stored in my safe. I am probably only 2/3rd’s done. No way I could possibly share it all on this forum. The collection really needs to be published in a book. Here are a few items, though. The ink blotter cards with Arthur's auto repair shop ad are really cool.
Enjoy!
John
Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
Wow, that is fantastic news! Bravo. Thank goodness there are people like you.
It gives me nightmares to think of things naive inheritors have taken to the dump.
.
It gives me nightmares to think of things naive inheritors have taken to the dump.
.
Robert Janssen
Sweden
Sweden
- 54bullseye
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
Really neat pictures John !! Whoever it is in 2nd picture there holding a Remington model 121 slide action 22. And they have quite a lovely lady standing next to them Lol !!!! I hope you post more pics and make note of who it is in pictures please. Thanks for showing them ! John Taylor
- john elder
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
Just incredible, John...like JT, would love to see more and I hope you can pursue that book deal!
JT, i’m Pretty sure that pic is of Arlene and Oscar!
JT, i’m Pretty sure that pic is of Arlene and Oscar!
ORCA member since 1999
Honorary Life Member
Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
Honorary Life Member
Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
John, With your reputation of a quality tackle collector, this addition is not surprising. Thankfully you were at the right spot at the right time or this historic information may have become fodder for the worms! Thanks for saving and sharing.
Respectfully,
Randy McConnell
Reeltyme
Respectfully,
Randy McConnell
Reeltyme
Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
Way to go John!What a fantastic save. I know you are having fun sorting through a treasure trove. Hope to see some more photos. Congrats!!
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
Wow! Very cool find! Tight lines Nick in NY
Wanted Ultra rare salt water reels including big game as well as unknown rare surf reels!
Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
John- thanks for your foresight and efforts in preserving this historic information for future generations. You are to be commended by the entire reel collecting community.
Mike N
Mike N
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
- Midway Tommy D
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
Great save, John! Being the curator of such invaluable documentation and artifacts has to be personally rewarding!
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)
Tom DeLong, NE
ORCA Member - 2027
Tom DeLong, NE
ORCA Member - 2027
- kyreels
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
John,
I really appreciate your efforts and contributions. Please ensure that History is preserved. We all have that responsibility, but you have a real opportunity here.
Would love to see some if this at a National show, east or west.
I really appreciate your efforts and contributions. Please ensure that History is preserved. We all have that responsibility, but you have a real opportunity here.
Would love to see some if this at a National show, east or west.
Matt Wickham
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
- john elder
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
Stay tuned! ORCA Nationals at the Kona Kai in San Diego, Fall, 2021! I have an in with the Organizers and John will have all the room he needs for a Kovalovsky display!
ORCA member since 1999
Honorary Life Member
Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
Honorary Life Member
Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
- Deepfins791
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
Thanks everyone for the kind words. Admittedly, it is a bit overwhelming being responsible for a collection of this size and significance. I made a commitment to the seller that I would properly curate the collection and share it with as many people as possible. To that end, I am leaning towards writing a book. Some of the historic photography of the Kovalovsky reels is simply spectacular. Imagine the size of a camera that takes an 8X10 negative, and imagine the quality of the resulting prints! And the collection spans the time from the development of the first Kovalovsky reels, through when Oscar developed the 2-speed and 3-speed gear boxes for Fin Nor, the prototypes for the API fly reels, and the ultimate 12/0 2-speed "Albatross" big game reel. If all goes well, maybe I can have the book finished by the time the 2021 convention rolls around. Here are a few more scans from the collection.
Cheers,
John
Cheers,
John
- Deepfins791
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
This is so incredible John!
I can't imagine how awesome it must be going through all those artifacts and the knowledge that you'll gain about the Kovalovsky family.
The Pfluger Interocean given to me by Chris that was part of Oscar's estate is still the most prized in my small collection.
I'm glad that this treasure trove ended up in the right hands, and thank you so much for sharing with us!
Chad
I can't imagine how awesome it must be going through all those artifacts and the knowledge that you'll gain about the Kovalovsky family.
The Pfluger Interocean given to me by Chris that was part of Oscar's estate is still the most prized in my small collection.
I'm glad that this treasure trove ended up in the right hands, and thank you so much for sharing with us!
Chad
- Deepfins791
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
Wow, very cool John!!!
- Dan Z
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
awesome!! happy for you and the history
daniel z
daniel z
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
Nice! Now comes the sorting...early on tried the 1 of everything just not enough space! Good Stuff!
Wanted Ultra rare salt water reels including big game as well as unknown rare surf reels!
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Re: Historic Tackle Find!!
The determination and effort of a family member to guard their history is called duty to family. To obtain this history and become the steward of an iconic archive is a profoundly humbling honor. Dismissal of it as garbage is unspeakable.