Update: My D. SLater Wood Reel Arrived today

[Monkeypaws]

Well I received my first wooden fly reel in the mail today. It is a 1889 D. Slater Model 274. The reel is in great shape for being 129 years old. After a quick inspection all I had to do is clean the wood, brass and apply some Alkanet root oil. The reel has a nice strong clicker and will work well on one of my vintage bamboo fly rods. The reel diameter is about 3" and is surprisingly lightweight.

[Midway Tommy D]

That turned out really nice!

[john elder]

Beautiful!!! Elegant, albeit simple construction! Nice score!

[Stef Duma]

I will reply here to this post and a post you put on Classic Reels

I have 7 Slater catalogues hence the reason I can identify them easily ranging from 1887 to 1914.

This phone shot is from the 1911 catalogue.

[img]
[/img]

I don't know who told you it was 1889 but I think they are incorrect, 1910 era certainly and still very old.

Personally I am not a fan of polished reels and it certainly is a matter of opinion, friends have the problem with what their wives will allow on show and a polished reel certainly scores higher than a dirty scruffy one. However Slater did not polish his reels they were lacquered brass like most makers were. I have over the years tried to reproduce the effect but have come nowhere near. One guy did with a finish that was a horological lacquered one. Not quite there but very close.

Its a very fine line we tread over the condition of our reels.

Here is a reel Nottingham made approx 200 years old that will be featured in the Book Men of Trent due out next month.

[Stef Duma]

I forgot the image.




Brass bindings on the rims.

[Monkeypaws]

Thank you so much for the update. When I tell people historical information, I like the detail to be correct. I look forward to the new book coming out.