WTB: Small, Early, American Fly Reels ... OK, I'M BEGGING !!

[reelsmith.]

I'm looking for a few reels in particular:

1. Edward vom Hofe "Peerless", size #3 or smaller.

2. Small, raised-pillar, nickle-silver and hard-rubber reel ...like a Julius vom Hofe #3 size, but it does not need to be marked, or need to be by JVH.

3. Nickle-silver reel with half handle and raised check plate.

4. Tiny, nickle-silver, ball-handle reel. I think a #6 size, if I'm not mistaken.

5. Approx 2" side-mount reel.

6. Raised pillar, aluminum, Julius vom Hofe.

Open to others as well ...the keys being that they are small, early, American and high-quality.

Please let me know if you can help ...my home is virtually reel-less ...and that's not good !

Dean.

[Jason]

Hey Dean,
Did you pick up that aluminum kopf with the engraved name from the recent langs auction? I though someone got a good deal and it seems right up your alley.

[reelsmith.]

No, I wasn't in "American Reel" mode at the time of Langs. This all just started late last week ...and I'm just after fly reels.

That was a cool reel though.

Dean.

[reelsmith.]

OK, I'm Begging Now !

[Richard Lodge]

I;'ve never seen you beg and grovel, Dean.
Usually you're the one with the cool things for sale and now? Hmmmmm... Must be something new in the water down in Connecticut. What brought on this American fly reel jones of yours?

[reelsmith.]

Collecting small, early, American fly reels is how I got started (that was back in 1976) and have always been my favorite tackle collectible.

At one time I had a pretty nice collection. It was small, but high on quality: EVH #3 Perfection, EVH #3-1/2 Peerless, all three models of the Leonard Bi-Metal, Meek 44, Redifor Model X, Sellers, Billinghurst, numerous JVH reels (including a lightweight and an aluminum raised pillar reel), a few raised back reels with off-set feet ...that sort of thing, but less than 25 reels.

Back in those days collecting reels was easy ...all it took was money. Reels were readily available. When it came to shows the issue was never would there be any reels that would interest me ...the issue was which ones would I buy with my limited funds.

I sold it all because money was tight and my wife and I wanted to start a family and buy a house.

Well, the kids are grown and we still have the house ...and now I want reels !

Timing is everything ...and mine apparently sucks.

Dean.