Interesting combo reel

[john elder]

Mike Campouris was looking for information on this reel from a rod/reel combo outfit, made in the style of the Hurd Supercaster. A post on Joes yielded the indication it was made by Brooklure, but it's not currently on the Bronson site under that trade name. Any input on it from the ORCAns??

[Rick H]

John...that has JC Higgins written all over it (IMHO). Take a look at the design of their normal rod grips/handles. They made 'em with black, red and I think white inserts. And I'm pretty sure that they had a cork insert version also. A brother to the one you posted, but without the integrated reel. I'd bet the one you pictured, will end up being JC Higgins. At least it's a starting point. I'd also bet...VERY RARE.

[john elder]

Thanks for your thoughts, Rick! Professor Google does link Brooklure and Higgins, but i still haven't found this particular combo. Not sure if anyone has a supply of their catalogs or not.

[scottorock]

I agree with Rick. The "pistol grip" of that combo looks like JC Higgins. Im not sure of the company that made those style rods for Sears, but we do know Bronson made quite a few reels marked JC Higgins for Sears and Bronson made reels for Speigel's marked Brooklure. And the crank and crank nut on the reel screams Bronson. Cant see the LW line guide from the front or different views to determine if also Bronson made. News to me if Bronson made a combo like this, but then again, I see different Bronson made reels Ive never seen before almost once a month. My man Mark will chime in for sure. Nice find!!

[wrong99]

If it was Brooklure or J.C. Higgins, it would be marked as such, without exception. I believe Gephart Mfg. Co. supplied the "pistol grip" rods for Sears (J.C. Higgins), either with Tenite or cork grips, but I've never heard of one with a built-in reel. I personally think the built-in reel might be a one-off from some enterprising individual. Looks a little crude to me. As Scott said, the crank handle and nut are from a Bronson reel, but that's as close as it gets to being a Bronson product. Very interesting. Perhaps a prototype? Also, Brooklure was a model name, not a manufacturer.
Mark

[Midway Tommy D]

I'm having a hard time imagining someone would actually spend the amount of money required to make a casting mold for a prototype or a one-off. I would think there has to be more than just this one out there. The grip portion, though, sure does resemble a corked Higgins pistol grip.

[john elder]

Here are some more pics from Mike for consideration. Turns out that John Walker's ID of Brooklure is based on what was on a rod that was with one such reel he picked up. So perhaps that glass rod was not original to the combo? Just a thought!

[wrong99]

Is that rod a steel rod? If original, that could be a clue.
Mark

[john elder]

This from Mike:

John, it's a 8' telescoping steel rod, looks like the Bristol rods to me but it is unmarked, just don't seem right to have a fly rod with a bait casting reel on it. Mike

[wrong99]

Yeah, Mike is probably right. The two don't seem to go together. Likely one of a thousand different rods could fit that thing.
Mark

[john elder]

mike is hopefully joining the conversation in a bit...his password was deactivated, but Brian is getting him hooked up again. Since he probably hasn't used our new posting methods, I'll post here some pics of the innards that he just sent along and he can discuss further when he jumps in:

[Mike Campouris]

John you said about everything I could say, thanks for the help. I took this reel apart hoping to find something that would give me a hint to has made it, unfortunately there's nothing there that I can see. Also the handle might not be correct, it's a little slopy to me.

[wrong99]

I could be way off base, but to me it just looks a little too crude to be factory-made.
Mark

[Mike Campouris]

Mark I'd have to agree with but there are suppose to be two other reels like this one, I have not seen any pictures of them but if they are the same than I'd have to rethink on that one. Mike

[john elder]

I took the liberty of soliciting further comments and pics from John Walker and he graciously sent along the following:

"Here is mine.the one I sold to Ed Lyday had the correct rod withit and the rod was marked " Brooklure Combo" .the handle has an odd size area for the rod ferrel and the rod fits perfectly. If you require more pictures I will do more views on mine."




he further added some comments about manufacture and lack of relationship to his jC Higgens combo:

" I own a JC. Higgens combo and the reel is nothing like this one or a Bronson---it is much more like an Ocean City-If I can find it quick I will do pictures for you. I bought my JC Higgens from Dan Basore it has a green metal rod and came in a JC Higgen rod sock.If ever ORCA wants a double handful of pictures of combos from 1903-modern day childrens sets let me know. If they are interested I will maybe do a pictorial on them."




(...and yes, I told him we would greatly enjoy any input he has on combo rods!)

[Rick H]

So.....That makes it a Brooklure copy of a JC Higgins, huh?! LOL.

[john elder]

I asked professor Google and she came up with the following....add in a comment about a fly rod and it sounds like Spiegel is where we should do some searching!

" The Brooklure outboard motor brand name was sold by the Spiegel Catalog Company. Motors were manufactured by Gale Products and were on sale from 1950 - 1958. We have no further information on the Brooklure brand name, but we are looking for some additional information."

But then, we have this bit on the bamboo fly rod board from Rex Eads in response to inquiry about a Brooklure fly rod:

"Al,

Your Brooklure Chief was made by Union Hardware. The reel seat hardware, ferrules and the style of the scripting of "Chief", are all consistent with Union Hardware's work. It was made as a trade rod for mail order giant, Spiegel.

Now you know!

Until a couple years ago, the general consensus was that most of these Brooklure rods were made by Montague. My research and study of Montague rods led me to the discovery that Union Hardware actually made their own rods, and were competing with Montague and H-I for the mass production market for decades. Last spring, I had a nice chat with a woman that worked in the Union Hardware rod shop. Some very interesting history there. "

So, Union Hardware may be in play.

[wrong99]

It would also be good to know who produced the "Brooklure Combo" rod and if it was made of fiberglass (which I assume it was). The quotes above from Rex about Union Hardware were references to split bamboo rods. Montague started making glass rods post-1950, when they were part of Ocean City Mfg., so there could be a connection there with Spiegel. Just throwing some ideas around.
Mark

[wrong99]

I found a reference from the 1947 "Fishing Tackle Digest", in the Combination Rod section, to the STREAM LINER HANDL-GRIP FISHING REEL. The description states "Level wind, anti-backlash reel. Complete with a lightweight aluminum die cast handle in one unit. Handle is pistol grip type with a cork insert to prevent slipping. Equipped with collet adapter rod lock that fits almost any type of rod." Naturally no photo, only photos of the Hurd and Kerr combos. Possibly built by the same company, the Chicago Fishing Equipment Co., that produced the Gentleman Stream Liner? Spiegel was also a Chicago-based company.
Mark

[wrong99]

I took the liberty of soliciting further comments and pics from John Walker and he graciously sent along the following:

"Here is mine.the one I sold to Ed Lyday had the correct rod withit and the rod was marked " Brooklure Combo" .the handle has an odd size area for the rod ferrel and the rod fits perfectly. If you require more pictures I will do more views on mine."




he further added some comments about manufacture and lack of relationship to his jC Higgens combo:

" I own a JC. Higgens combo and the reel is nothing like this one or a Bronson---it is much more like an Ocean City-If I can find it quick I will do pictures for you. I bought my JC Higgens from Dan Basore it has a green metal rod and came in a JC Higgen rod sock.If ever ORCA wants a double handful of pictures of combos from 1903-modern day childrens sets let me know. If they are interested I will maybe do a pictorial on them."




(...and yes, I told him we would greatly enjoy any input he has on combo rods!)

So, does John Walker know if the original "Brooklure Combo" rod was fiberglass?
Mark

[john elder]

John just informed me it was a 6' fiberglas baitcast rod.