Patent 832291 Union Hardware?

[Dale Noll]

Recent eBay auction showed a Hinged reel with above patent number on foot, and wondered if this was a Meisselbach reel. I got copy of patent from gov using the K White method given in his book on pg 327. Was able to print, but could not copy to file.

Anyway, patent was issued Oct 2,1906 to Thomas Wallace Bryant of Torrington, Conn. Don't know if person was employee of Union Hardware or Meisselbach, or an independent inventor. Since Union Hardware was located in Torrington, I expect this person may have been an employee.

Patent gives a lot of excellent views of the hinged reel. Does anyone know if these reels were made by Meisselback or Union Hardware? I have other types of Union Hardware reel that are not very classy, but the Hinged reel seems to be somewhat better quality.

Any Union Hardware experts out there? Thanks. Dale.

[Steve]

1906

[Reel Geezer]

I have never been able to understand why people think this reel is a Meisselbach product. It was patented by a man from Torrington, CT, Union Hardware was in Torrington, Ct. Meisselbach already had a fine take apart reel. This hinged reel is neat to look at, but poorly designed because the pivot can't fit into the bearing with any precision due to the hinge closing in an arc, rather than straight on. If anything the reel resembles Meisselbach-Catucci reels far more than Meisselbach reels; and they were two different companies.

[Ed Clark]

I think the reason so many people think it is a Meisselbach product is because they look so similar. The frame does look very much like the tri-parts and tak-a-parts but the similarity does end there. At a quick glance I suppose people see this. I collect Union Hardware reels and reel boxes. The majority of the reels are very cheap but they did make a few nice ones. Beside the hinged model Samson they also made a 3 screw model that went straight on to the spool. They also made many different reels and used the same names of Samson and Sunnybrook on many different models.