A Beast Of A Salmon Reel ....

[reelsmith.]

Don't know where to start with this one ...so here goes...

The plates, foot, foot pillars, arbor and crank on this beast look like STEEL. Note the file marks in the last picture and the coloration of the reel. The pillars and the spool flanges are nickel silver. The screws are a mix of brass and nickel silver.

Note the hard rubber switch on the back which activates a drag on the spool. Also note the extra screws inside the rear plate that do nothing ...suggesting the maker had other plans, which he abandoned.

The counterbalance has a tiny mark in it where it looks like a screw for a weight would have gone, if it had one.

As you look at the reel from the front the pillar at 11:00 is a rolling pillar. You really can't tell from my pictures, but the back plate is dished between the decorative rings.

Also of note are the square foot pillars and the shape of the foot between the pillars.

The reel is 4" in diameter (without pillars) and weighs 1.5 pounds.

I have some general thoughts, but am stumped as to a maker.

It's certainly an early reel and the craftsmanship is absolutely first rate. Tolerances are tight and the fit and finish are superb. In my opinion there is no question it is an American reel.

The shape of the crank where it attaches to the spool end and the knob are familiar, as is the general layout/design of the reel.

The extra screws on the inside in the back-plate suggest this was a one-off, not a production reel ...and I've never seen a fixed click reel of this type that had an additional drag.

Thoughts?

Dean.

[big hoss]

I'll happily reduce your stress level - send it south to New Zealand. You'll feel so much better without the challenge.

[john elder]

Fantastic reel, Dean! I'm very jealous of that one! Nice pics, too, but we are missing a view of the back side of the spool...i wondered how that drag was working to put pressure on the spool? Perhaps those other holes would allow that drag to be flipped and act from the other direction for left hand wind?

(Ah, forget that...just went back and looked again and can't make that idea work. Extra holes may have been changes in configuration for the drag)

I would agree that with that weight, it is likely not a production model but perhaps it is an oversized prototype to serve as a model for one made of lighter materials or smaller size? It is so exquisitely made, one would have to assume the maker would know better than to use steel, eh?

[reeltackle]

I don't collect salmon reels .... but if I did!

Nice reel Dean!

[reelsmith.]

John,

The curvature of the drag matches the curvature of the back side of the spool. It would be more effective with the addition of a pad. But, this reel may pre-date the inception of that feature. Its all quite well done.

As for the weight ...it would work well on the end of a two-handed 12 to 16-foot Leonard !

It would look mighty spiffy as well.

The amount of hand-filing that went into the making of this reel is truly impressive.

The maker was not only talented ...he had a helluva' lot of patience.

Dean.

[Steve]

In my opinion there is no question it is an American reel.

Please explain.

[Paul M]

I love the file marks on the edge of the side plates.

[reelsmith.]

Please explain.

Short answer: Nothing like any raised pillar English salmon reel (McGowan, Walsh, etc) I've ever seen/handled. Much in common with the American raised pillar salmon reels (Kopf, CB&M, Malleson) I've seen/handled.

Shorter answer: See pictures above.

Dean.

[reelsmith.]

I love the file marks on the edge of the side plates.

Me too !

We know these early reels are hand made ...but I love that those marks show the hand tooling that went into its creation.

Dean.

[Jay White]

Salmon Reel I'm
not a Salmon reel collector either, But I would certainly be interested in that one if you wish to part with it. Great reel, thanks for sharing!!

[RonG]

I have never seen a steel salmon reel before. Did you do a magnet test on it? There's no obvious rust so it may be a stainless steel in which case it's newer. Anyway, it's a cool looking reel.

[reelsmith.]

I have never seen a steel salmon reel before. Did you do a magnet test on it? There's no obvious rust so it may be a stainless steel in which case it's newer. Anyway, it's a cool looking reel.

Good point !

It is stainless. Sorry for not distinguishing. Stainless has been around prior to 1900, just not identified as such until a bit later. I should differentiate and always forget.

Yes, it is very cool. My favorite kind of reel ...one I've never seen before.

Dean.

[Mike N]

I particularly like the bullet grasp, the flat pendulum counterbalance handle design and the top hat back plate. It's a classic built by a true craftsman.

[Ray Hencken]

Dean,
How is the crank handle attached to the shaft of the spool? Is a screw on attachment as is found on some JVH reels or does the screw at the check gear secure the handle?

[reelsmith.]

Dean,
How is the crank handle attached to the shaft of the spool? Is a screw on attachment as is found on some JVH reels or does the screw at the check gear secure the handle?

Hey Ray.

Screw on crank.

Dean.

[reelsmith.]

When I first saw this reel my first thought as to maker was someone from the CB&M (Conroy, Bissett & Malleson) group. Why? That bullet knob. It is so distinctive and often found on CB&M marked reels.

I wanted a further connection ...so surfed the Net in hopes of finding a similarity with a known reel from the CB&M family.

I found that reel on Ron Gast's site. Take a look at the shape of the crank on Ron's "Conroy" reel and my reel. Note the shape of the crank, particularity at the center where the collar is. Bingo.





Yes, I know Ron's reel has a counterbalance weight and mine does not, his crank is screwed on and mine is wound on and the knob screw on his reel is flush and mine is not.

Expanation? Evolution.

It has been suggested my reel might be pure nickel ...this assumption based on the reel's coloration.

I have more questions than answers, but think I have direction.

Dean.