Link to OLD Catalogs with reels -scanned by Google

[Paul M]

I came across a bunch of links to OLD fishing tackle catalogs and related info scanned by Google. There are some great looking antique reels in these, if you have not seen these before:

Thos Chubb Catalog 1888

Edward Vom Hofe Illustrated Catalog, 1889

Malcolm A. Shipley catalog 26th Edition, 1896

Meek Reel Catalog 1900

Shakespeare How to Catch Bass 1903

Abbey & Imbrie Catalog Supplement No. 178, 1908

Wm Mills & Son, Catalog, 1922

(Aug 11, 2016 update- an expanded list of document links can be found here: http://reelyoldreels.weebly.com/old-tac ... links.html)

[OCauto]

Is O.R.C.A. a partnership organization with that site?

[Alan Baracco]

Reel Peeps,

HathiTrust.org, established in 2008, is basically a digital library. Most Universities belong to the Partnership. It is an absolute treasure trove of publications in the public domain, especially government publications. The advanced search function is useful in narrowing searches, otherwise you often get thousands of listings. Downloading (in PDF format) is allowed but only one page at a time unless you are a member of the Partnership. I have not found that to be a problem. I use this site almost daily.

Alan

[Paul M]

Here is the third party policy info on accessing the content linked above:
https://www.hathitrust.org/access_use

Paul M

[Alan Baracco]

If you use the HathiTrust.org website and simply put "Abbey & Imbrie" in the search box you get the catalog Paul mentioned, plus others from the early 20th century. Plus you will see several entries down a book called "Abbey & Imbrie Centennial Fish Stories", published in 1920 by A&I marking their 100 anniversary as a firm.
It is a collection of fishing stories, if you like the writings of Bob Miller in REEL NEWS, this is right up your alley. My favorite is "Golf Balls as Bass Bait on page 46. Fun stuff.

Alan

[Paul M]

Thank you Alan. You got me hooked on this site. It is very powerful. I used it a few months ago to tie down some obscure details for an upcoming article. If not for this site I would have been unable to find what I was looking for.

Paul M

[Alan Baracco]

Paul, (and all researcher, really),

The power of HathiTrust is limited only by your imagination.
A&I, as we discussed, how about the 1884 illustrated catalog?
Field & Stream, copies back to their early years (I looked at Vol. 6).
Especially open source documents from the government, patent & trademark data is all there, (oldest US patent for a fishing reel is by some guy named Billinghurst, as listed in USPTO documents), court decisions, etc. And in the comfort of your own man cave!! Canadian data as well, plus English stuff.
Digitized by Google, certainly, but many more entities as well, Universities, etc.

Alan

[kyreels]

This site is indeed addicting, thanks for sharing it. I have already learned some valuable information that I stumbled across regarding some tournament records. I may have read it in the past, but reading it in this form is both enjoyable and easy and stuck with me.

I have to respectfully disagree about the Billinghurst reel being the first US patented fishing reel. I am going to start a different thread to discuss that. I have researched US Fishing Equipment Patents for over 20 years, and have some different information.

[Steve]

Matt, what I believe was the earliest extant U.S. reel patent was described in my book, Antique Fishing Reels, some time ago and in several articles since. It will be interesting to compare results.

[Alan Baracco]

Matt & Steve,

Thanks for the corrections, always appreciated. I'm anxious to see what you think. My information comes from "PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS, United States Patent Office, 1790 to 1873, inclusive, Volume 1" which is a subject matter index.

Under "Fishing Reel" or "Fishing-line Reel" there are 14 entries, No. 24987 on August 9, 1859 to A. Billinghurst is the earliest, and that is the sum of my knowledge. There are a couple of listings for "Angler's Reel" and "Fishing Apparatus" has 4 listings. "Fishing Implement" is also listed, but I haven't actually looked at the patents to see what they are.

As Colby says, keeping it fun!!

Alan

[Steve]

The PO fire in 1836 didn't help matters. The Gazettes listed several gizmos patented before that, but I've been unable to see what they were, with one exception. Here's an 1818 patent drawing for a "fishing device"; no text is available:

Here's an 1838 line roller listed as a "fishing reel":

And here's an 1856 patent that I think is oldest extant patent for what we now consider a fishing reel:

The last is described on pg. 103 of Antique Fishing Reels.

[kyreels]

Gotta get a copy of Steven's book, have always enjoyed the Fishing Reel Makers of Kentucky, a classic if there ever was one. Keeping it fun for me is arguing about things, which may go a long way towards explaining things, except that I did just have my 39th wedding anniversary yesterday. I feel I can argue with you all, just not the spousal contingent.