We've all seen Shakespeare "B" and "C" Reels, what is an "A"

[Reelholder]

style Shakespeare reel? I've never heard of one but I'm experienced enough to know that it doesn't mean there aren't any Style "A" Shakespeare reels. It wouldn't make sense to start you model line with Stlye "B" and C". Thanks.

[Jim Schottenham]

ORCA member Ron Gast has a nice one photographed on his site here:
http://luresnreels.com/shakespeare.html

While at the Bass Pro Shops store in Islamorada, FL, I found one "stuffed" in the corner of a display case they had. I know that at least two sold at the now historic Donald Thoms auction in Michigan a few years back. Tough as nails to find, but there are a few out there.....

[Reelholder]

Bass Pro Shops is the last place I'd expect to see a Style A....since they must be rare. Johnny Morris must have an outstanding museum of tackle if he pooled it all together.
Thank you very much for the lead to Ron Gast's Shakespeare website...it answered most of my questions. Does anybody have a picture of a Shakespeare 2M? What does the M stand for. It's a narrow spool size 2 reel.

[wrong99]

I had always thought the "M" stood for the "Medium", 60-yard narrow spool.
Mark

[Robyn Summerlin]

First the Style C, then the B, then the A which is identical to the B but made of German Silver. The Service, Standard and Professional reels (2S, 2M, 2L, 3S, 3M, 3L) date to 1903 & 1904 and each came in six sizes. The Handmade Quadruple was made in 1901 only and may be the rarest of all of these. The search function on Reel Talk can get you more info on most of these, and Gabby Talkington's website has a paper presented by WSJr's grandson Eric Jeska with a good history of Shakespeare. It's probably in the ORCA library as well.
http://www.antiquelures.com/Shakehistory.htm

[Midway Tommy D]

Thanks for posting the "Shake" history link Robyn. Great read, regardless of whether or not you've seen any of it before. Refreshing history knowledge is always interesting and beneficial. I'd forgotten about of couple of those things.

Tom

[Reelholder]

Wow Robyn, Thanks so much for even more interesting info...thanks for the search idea and the fact that Gabby has a special letter on his website. Does anybody have pics of the 2S, 2M, 2L, 3S, 3M, 3L reels?

[Ron Mc]

ORCA member Ron Gast has a nice one photographed on his site here:
http://luresnreels.com/shakespeare.html

While at the Bass Pro Shops store in Islamorada, FL, I found one "stuffed" in the corner of a display case they had. I know that at least two sold at the now historic Donald Thoms auction in Michigan a few years back. Tough as nails to find, but there are a few out there.....

my low serial no. Shakespeare B (s/n 127) has the same handle as Ron's Shakespeare A.