Julius vom Hofe "CROSS" Reel

[scottorock]

46 stamped between foot pillar screws and 46 inscribed inside head cap. Was this to note which "station" or "worker" put the reel together? Also "4" stamped on foot. Would the 4 equal 40 yard size?

[marius]

i don't know about #46 - but it is likely that #4 is the size of the reel. what is the diameter of the ebonite plates?

[scottorock]

Listed on the 'Bay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371106982965?ss ... 1555.l2649

[m3040c]

Reels like this JVH are hand made. The number 46 identify the parts of this reel to this particular reel. When reels are hand made, their parts may or may not be interchangeable with other of the same make & model reels. These numbers scribed onto the parts mean the parts are hand fitted.

[scottorock]

Ok, cool deal, Mike! I didn't know that. This reel has a new owner now but I appreciate the input. Hey! its August almost! The ink on your books must still be wet. Signing all those books is gonna be like the teacher sending you to the chalk board after you've been talking in class....again! Ha ha!

[m3040c]

Actually, the book has been such a long time coming that signing a bunch of book plates is something I am looking forward to. That will probably get old after the first 10 are completed.

By the way, I watched your listings on this JVH and the Conroy, glad to see you did well on the results, they were both great reels.

[scottorock]

yeah, I was getting really nervous! But it worked out well. Thanks!!

[oc1]

I have accumulated three of these JVH raised pillar cross reels. The largest is stamped 2/00 under the foot. I don't understand why it is double naut but it appears to be intentional and not a double strike. The medium one is a 1/0 and the smallest is a 3 1/2.

edit: Sorry if the photo does now show. Still tying to figure it out.

The 2/00 is hand scribed with "35" on the tail plate cross and the spool. The 1/0 is also hand scribed with "35" on the tail plate cross and the spool. But, the 1/0 is scribed with a different hand. I'm not a hand writing expert but it sure does not look like the same person scribed both reels. The small 3 1/3 is hand scribed "42" on the head plate plastic (hard rubber), "42" hand scribed on the spool, "42" stamped under the main gear, and "42" stamped on the head plate raised pillar at the stand. I understand they were doing some fitting of parts, but it's mysterious. Why would they bother to hand stamp the raised pillar when they could have hand scribed it on the back of the cross? Why aren't the 2/00 and 1/0 hand stamped on the main gear or anywhere on the head plate?

I'm impressed with the quality and durability. All three appear to have been fished hard enough to have quite a bit of corrosion and erosion of the nickel plating but all three are completely sound and functional.

I'm new to this stuff. Does anyone know when they started and stopped making these? At first I thought the side plates were bakelite which would have made them mid-1930's or later. Now I read here that it is hard rubber which would make them mid-1930's or before.
-steve