did every US state make reels???

cws/carl schultz · Post by **cws/carl schultz** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 5:34 pm

i cant believe i fogot eppinger i have 3 of them actually i have a number of others squire bros for one but those i gave were the ones on the top of the piles[yes i have piles of reels someday gonna get ossganized] as to quantity during its hayday bronson made 1,000,000 reels a year add in all those others and i believe mi is the champ[of course im not bias] i will get all info togeather with models and address and send in HEY MILT GREAT THREAD havent seen this much activity in awhile

ak-fish · Post by **ak-fish** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:02 pm

I can't imagine that thre was ever a company that made reels in Alaska. I have seen a few hand made mooching reels but nothing "manufactured." Does anyone know of any?

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:29 am

This list, plus some information email to me, has been updated to this point and posted on the manufacturers page on the Fishing Reel Research site:

http://www.fishing-reel-research.org/

That site was created for this type of purpose. There is too much information out there that is in many different places and therefore gets lost. It is up to ORCA members to update the information on that site. I will maintain the site for two years, and then it will either die or be passed on to another member.

I will list the manufacturers in alphabetical order when I get a chance, and we ought to list cities where they operated.

guest · Post by **guest** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:06 am

Duncan Briggs of Providence R.I. ie: Briggs reel Co.

Dustnstuff

JeffK · Post by **JeffK** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:54 am

Leonard Atwood of Farmington

Philbrook & Paine of Bangor (makers of the first Leonard fly reels)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:10 pm

Please-Tell me I simply overlooked it. No one mentioned Pflueger in Akron Ohio? Maybe I should read more carefully! By the way, Plueger reels were also made in Arkansas. And Redifor Reels were made in Warren Ohio. There was also a Spicker (spelling?) reel made in Ohio-Cincinatti as I recall. Rare.

Post by **john elder** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 7:01 pm

well, clearly, from the posts below, I am spending way too much time "opening my mouth and removing all doubt" .. Is it too late to add a New Years resolution? Can I keep it if i make it? I have to look when i get home, but yes, Geez, I'm sure you're right enre the Gulf reel being Texan...i have a mind like a steel trap...it's just rusty.

Harvey · Post by **Harvey** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 7:45 pm

John,
It wasn't South Bend as most people would tend to think! Jim will GLADLY tell you where they were made, won't you Jim?

"H"

Jim Madden · Post by **Jim Madden** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:34 pm

Alas, yes, it may be footnoted somewhere that South Bend reels were manufactured in Kalamazoo, Michigan. But, not unlike the noble knight who, behind his faithful steed, burdens his poor mule with most of the tedious labor, the South Bend engineers took a raw product and after embellishing it with superior Anti-back-lash technology did convince the populace of Kalamazoo to man the foundries, shears, and presses for a higher and more chivalrous cause. The hallowed name thay gave it was ---Oreno.

(Did I hear Harvey crying out loud too?)

Now that I have regained my composure:

South Bend - Stockford reel
Knox - Kiest
Fort Wayne - F.W. Specialties Company, Almug
A whole bunch of other ma/pa Indiana reel companies that Jim, Larry, and Dwight will have to list for us.

Harvey · Post by **Harvey** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:47 pm

Hey, when in 1940, you could order 10,000 #300 Oreno Antiback Lash reels from somebody else, be guarenteed the highest of qualty when it comes to workmanship and get them for $.93 a piece, then build your idenity on such products, wouldn't you do the same?
I don't blame then a bit!
"H"

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:58 pm

People , see how easy it is? and the best part all of us will be a lot more educated , I have already learend about some I didnt know about, So here is some more! Another Ohio reel, The HUNTER by the Chamberlin Cartage &target co Cleveland OHIO, Accurcast Meisselbach, Elyria OH. , Stubby rod and reel combo Dayton OHIO, Now for few I cant tell wher their from ( LASH,MASTER a unique reel with a line dryer built in and a red plastic spacer) a see tru reel with a metal back plate have heard they are called RAZZYs?one with no mame all plexaglass except for the internal parts the handle pillers spool shafy and foot and screws, looks good when casting or realing in. A spirial wind made in us also pat. England and CanadaA fraser delux modle 11-b made in USA.Smooth Caster md 600 betts &boddeus mfg co. Detroit MICH. Cycloid micromatic reel Cycloid corp Chicago ILL. Life Time Products inc Dearborn MICH. Burlington metal products inc. VermontSunnybrook union Hardware co Torrington Conn. #75. So the items are out there and california seems to have their share, how about the POPEIL Pocket fisherman Chatsworth CA. keep your listings comming this is going to be a true educational project ! Col. M. lorens aka SWIM JIG your OHIO conection

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:54 am

John E: If you were referring to the Gulf Reel with all the ball bearings, it was made in Dallas TX. If not, I'd like to know more.

orourke · Post by **orourke** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:04 am

In Bronson, Michigan there were two reel companies. The infamous "million reels a year" BRONSON Reel Company, and the little known WOLVERINE Reel Company. Wolverine manufatured "a simplistic reel for mounting on a cane or jointed pole." The reel was marketed being attached to a cardboard fish. On the back side of the fish were mounting instructions and a small celophane packet containing 5 screw in eyelets and 2 screws for mounting the reel to the pole. 1940's era.

The company was owned by Robert Lowell Davison. Wolverine also manufactured the Hold-rite automatic fishpole holder.

Dave O'Rourke

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:59 am

Here is one most of us may not have known about, but Stu Lawson gave us some interesting history on it back a bit in the Reel News. The Ranger Reel was made by the Ranger Division of Pioneer Bait and Tackle Company in Harbor Springs Michigan. They also tried to start a reel museum by asking customers to "Retire your old reel" for the "Pioneer's Old Reel Home". What happened to these reels?

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:06 am

The Reel List has now been alphabetized and updated
http://fishing-reel-research.org/Mfg.byState.htm

clinton_beeler · Post by **clinton_beeler** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:58 pm

In terms of sheer volume Zebco has to be the winner. When father was running manufacturing they produced 36,000 reels per day. When multiplied by the number of work days per year (250) that comes out to 9,000,000 reels per year. Once, Ralph called father in and told him that his parts inventory was too high ("We're in the reel business, not the parts business") so father called a meeting of all the line workers. For a few days they made 42,000 reels per day. That was the highest production level they ever had.

LashMaster (if it's the same one I'm thinking of) was made by R.D. Hull and his friend Willie Crawford. I'm not absolutely sure where, but two of his investors (Tex Radford and Mesta Alexander) were from Oklahoma.

When that company failed it was Alexander who introduced R.D. to Harold Binford of the Zero Hour Bomb Company. (small world, eh?)

I have a copy of the book with all of Zebco's major vendors. Are we counting them?

Regards,
Clinton

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:16 pm

Clinto thanks for the imput, I knew from our previous emails that ZEBCO made a lot of reels in a day. As for the Lashmaster can you find out more on this reel for me? also a posible digram and breakdown how to clean it? it is a very complicated reel with so many adj. in it and almost imposible as to the size or weight line it used, yes this one has me without a idea of repairing or using. Anyone else reading this post all help will be well appreciated. Thanks in advance Col. Milton Lorens aka SWIM JIG in icey OHIO

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:46 pm

The Lash Master reel was manufactured by Castmaster Fishing Reel Corp.,
in Tulsa, OK. (Thanks to Bill Muth.) Castmaster was incorporated in Delaware.

A few other companies, from various old ads:

American Nickle [sic] Steel Co., Illinois
A. Kleinman, New York
Graham Reel Co., Indiana
George Hancock, Mass.
Edward F. Small, Mass.
Barnum & Morehouse, New York
John Wilkinson Co., Illinois
Someone made the Wisner reel in Michigan, too.
Ohio Tool Co., Oh.
Hurd Lock & Mfg. Co., Mich.
Colgrove Tackle Co., Wash.
Sterling Mfg. Co., Conn.
Thompson Reel Co., Calif.
G. H. Mansfield & Co., Mass.
Diemoulding Production Co., New York
Benjamin-Sellar Mfg. Co., Illinois
Oneida Fishing Reel Co., New York
Celluloid Novelty Co., New York
Howard & Sievers, Ind.
Kilian Tackle Co., New York

Sorry for any duplication. Also sorry I didn't alphabetize the list, but Geezer needs to fill up some spare time.

Reelman · Post by **Reelman** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:45 pm

A-J Aircraft Co. Portland Oregon
Cap Tool Co. Rochester New York
Lou Meyer Kenosha Wisconsin
F.R.& R. INC Elmira New York
Goite Birmingham Michigan

Merv
www.reelman.net

bobhalver810@hotmail.com · Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:19 pm

Bache Hamilton Brown got the Airex Equipment Corp. in New York, to produce his first Mastereel. Then the Airex Div. Of Lionel continued producing reels through 1961. Fuerer Bros of White Plains N.Y. continued with their version of that line for several more years.

Jim Schottenham · Post by **Jim Schottenham** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:49 pm

"Guest" mentioned above that there was a rare reel from Ohio with "Spiker" markings. Unless there were others, the only reel I'm aware of with this marking is an Anson Hatch sidemount. Hatch was an early reel maker from CT. The example I am aware of, marked "Spiker" is clearly marked with the Hatch name and 1866 patent as well. Maybe there were other reels with the Spiker markings...are there any Ohio members that have seen this marking before? I know Spiker was in retail, so maybe there are other makers reels with this marking?
Jim

reelsmith. · Post by **reelsmith.** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:54 pm

I think he meant Spicher (sp)?

It's something like that, I've seen a few over the years, all ball-handles and all marked Ohio.

I bet John Savu would know.

Dean.

Post by **Brian F.** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:32 pm

According to Phil's NFLCC index, there was an article in the NFLCC G*bass*ette: The Spicker Reels, by Rich Dickman, 12/99, p 10

"Guest" from Tennessee has a good memory!

Jim Schottenham · Post by **Jim Schottenham** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 6:51 pm

Thanks for the info Guest, Dean and Brian! I'm off to find a copy of that NFLCC issue. Great stuff, and terrific thread Col. Milt!
Jim

Post by **Brian F.** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:54 pm

Aw, you're leaving me with the easy ones, right? How's about Montague/Ocean City from Philadelphia, PA (and NY and MA before that, according to Phil's Reel History page). Oops, Zwarg from Brooklyn, NY before retiring to sunny FL.

did every US state make reels???

michigan

Alaskan reels?

Rhode Island reels

Maine reel makers

States with reel manufacturers

South Bend, Indiana

doing a woderful job!! keep with it !

another one for Michigan

More reels from Michigan

WHEEE and thanks Clinton

Airex reels.

Hmmm,

Spicker Reels

Cool!!!

Thanks guys