Reel + same maker tackle challenge

[Steve]

ignoring the risk that "maker's marks" don't guarantee who made them

Your point is well-taken, Paul

The P&S lure is a James Trolling Squid, patented in 1874. A couple of them were sold at Lang's recently. And according to Slade's Encyclopedia of Old Fishing Lures Made in North America, it was made later by Buel.

Who knows who made the reel?

[Ray Hencken]

A 3 1/4" green Hardy Princess with a Hardy curate, a Hardy #4 fly fishing knife, a Hardy leader and hook gauge

[reelsmith.]

Nice one Ray !

Some prime vest pocket collectibles there.

Dean.

[Ray Hencken]

3 1/8" Hardy Perfect having an Abercrombie & Fitch badge inside the reel with #1, #2, and #3 Hardy Fly Fishing knives.

[Mike N]

3 1/8" Hardy Perfect having an Abercrombie & Fitch badge inside the reel with #1, #2, and #3 Hardy Fly Fishing knives.

Ray- that's some collector eye candy right there. I would love to see the A&F badge if it is possible to photograph because I have an interest in Abercrombie-retailed items and have documented a few different badge varieties.

Thanks.

Mike N.

[Ray Hencken]

Mike, Here is a picture of the badge

[Mike N]

Ray, that badge is classic. Very upscale New York, and makes a great reel iconic, in my opinion.

Thanks. I’ll add the photo to my library.

Mike N.

[Mike N]

I’m an admitted Anglophile, and love everything British, but those great Hardy photos posted here raised a bit of American patriotism —so here are a few items from Manchester, Vermont. Orvis literally brought along a fisherman from cradle to grave: a catalog to order and and an envelope to send payment. Then the classic bamboo fly rod and the venerated patent 1874 reel in its fitted walnut box. The cardboard boxes of leaders and flies arrived next, and lastly, there’s always the Orvis trout net to seal the deal...

[Eric J]

Some of Mr. Shakespeare’s fly fishing tackle.
The brass Shakespeare nameplate on the leather rod case.
A tiny (1”) glass-eyed Shakespeare fly rod mouse.

His No. 1835 Model HC Auto fly reel with unusual green color (not the standard Army surplus OD green) and experimental hand cut “hook keeper” and recessed cutout for it on the trigger.

[Mike N]

That’s a great Shakespeare sampling, Eric. That leather rod case is the bomb.

Mike N.

[Eric J]

Thanks Mike! The rod case has certainly seen better days and was well travelled, but he kept five fly rods in it. The lid is missing. The only thing in that grouping that didn’t belong to Mr. Shakespeare is the pack of Shakespeare Springbrook White Miller flies. I picked them up on eBay a few months ago, but thought they worked well in the group. Spring Brook is a little trout stream just a few miles north of Kalamazoo, and Mr. Shakespeare was part owner of a Brook Trout hatchery on it. The old concrete holding ponds are still there hidden in the underbrush.

[john elder]

Great display and historic collection, Eric!

[reeltackle]

Wow, its really great to see so many reel and same maker tackle postings, great idea for a thread Mike. Being a big game reel collector I particularly like the Stead pieces John and the Fin-Nor pieces Butch. Mike, your Orvis pieces are amazing, you have assembled a collection worthy of being displayed any museum in the country. Thanks to all who posted, their reels and the go-along pieces of tackle which help make the story so much better.

Eric, it is always great when you can attach ownership to pieces of tackle and having some of Mr. Shakespeare's tackle is about as good as it gets. I thought you might enjoy seeing this 14/0 Shakespeare Miller-Autocrat reel that was given to Fred Kerr, past ORCA president and former Shakespeare employee, by the folks at Shakespeare when he retired. This giant reel, marked 14/0, was one of a small handful of extra large Miller-Autocrat reels made for Mr. Shakespeare to go shark fishing with. Unlike their smaller 4/0 and 6/0 counterparts these reels are only marked "Shakespeare Miller". To date, only three of these large reels have been found, all the same size, two marked 10/0 and this one marked 14/0. These reels are more of a 10/0 in size but for some reason this example, the one I got from Fred, was labeled as a 14/0. I used to have a picture of the reel being presented to Fred but it has been misplaced in the shuffle, I think that the picture was even published in a copy of the Reel News many years ago. Does anyone remember seeing the article or have a copy of that particular edition of the Reel News? Perhaps it was in the FATC Newsletter, Fred was a past president of that club too. Anyway, thought you would enjoy seeing the reel Eric and thank you for posting your Shakespeare owned Shakespeare tackle, the ownership really makes the pieces extra special.

[butch carey key west]

Ed, that is super looks like the 6/0 on steroids

[Eric J]

Ed that’s a big one alright! But do you have a piece of Shakespeare tackle to go with it? Not just for the challenge, but also for size comparison.
I didn’t know Fred worked for Shakespeare.
I know that Mr. Shakespeare enjoyed deep sea fishing, and even fished with Ernest Hemingway.

[Eric J]

This grouping is of Mr. Shakespeare’s early auto fly reel and his combo wading staff/trout net as seen in his 1926 catalog photo. That is his creel too, but it’s not a Shakespeare, it’s an Ed Cummings with his Russell trout knife and a sheath made from a WW1 era artillery shell.
The creel in his catalog photo was probably a Shakespeare brand creel. I used to have his hat too, but that was misplaced several decades ago.

[Jonathan P. Kring]

]With the risk of total eviction, I have tried to upgrade my previous post a bit. Still not up to standards. With my collection currently spread between Indiana, Tennessee and Langs, about the best I could do without some digging. The size of the larger lure is Not indicative of the fish I catch! A few Heddon items, some not so old.

[reeltackle]

Please excuse the lack of same maker tackle, I just wanted to share Mr. Shakespeare's reel with Eric. The only other Shakespeare items I have are a couple pieces of paperwork that came with the Miller Autocrat reels. As requested, here is the reel next to an early Julius vom Hofe B-Ocean 4/0. Also a picture of the 14/0 Miller next to one of the two know 10/0 Miller reels, notice they are the same size. Also a picture of the tag from the 14/0. Sorry I don't have any other Shakespeare tackle to put with it.

That is a great picture of old man Shakespeare and he is certainly exhibiting some pretty defensive posture for a man going fishing. It looks like he is trying to fend off someone with his net and at the same time ready to whip the rod around and give someone a good lashing with it. Perhaps he had a creel full of trout and felt the photographer was trying to steel his dinner.

[Eric J]

Yes, he took his fishing seriously! I think it’s great that men wore ties to go fishing. Tackle manufacturers hadn’t figured out yet that anglers would go out in public with their logos printed on their undershirts.

[Jim Schottenham]

T.H. Chubb items:

[Mike N]

Jim- that’s a fantastic Chubb grouping. The reel speaks for itself, but the label on the rod is the most in tact I’ve seen and the pack of hooks appears pristine for its age. Condition, condition, condition. The map background was a great idea, too.

Mike N.

[john elder]

Nice display, Jon! Collections take all forms and Heddon has been there e Rey decade for 100 years...gotta love it all.

Beautiful Autocrat, Ed!! Phil Beguhl had one in Bakersfield show probaby 10 years ago but don’t think it’s the same one?

[Mike N]

]With the risk of total eviction, I have tried to upgrade my previous post a bit. Still not up to standards. With my collection currently spread between Indiana, Tennessee and Langs, about the best I could do without some digging. The size of the larger lure is Not indicative of the fish I catch! A few Heddon items, some not so old.

That's a nice sampling, Jon. Heddon will always be a special company to many of us collectors.

Mike

[Eric J]

I’ve never seen a Chubb reel or a Heddon beer can lure, so thanks for posting those!
I’ve always thought the Chubb logo was one of the best. Reminiscent of an old fraternal organization logo.

[Jonathan P. Kring]

Although the book is not tackle, this reel might be the best I've Got. Al Foss Easy Control. Best of all it was a gift from a friend! "Marion The EX Librarian"