Orvis 4th model fly reel (“No. 2 Improved for Bass Fishing”)

[Mike N]

Dr. Elder just cleaned this up for me.

The Fourth Model’s “overhanging rim” is what primarily makes it different from the Third Model shown on Ron G.’s website. Compare: https://luresnreels.com/orvis.html

[Mike N]

Ron Gast was kind enough to send me the following illustration from the 1910 Abercrombie & Fitch catalog.

It appears the reel we are calling the Fourth Model — with the balanced handle, safety band (overhanging rim), and back-sliding click as shown in the photos— was sold by A&F as the Orvis “No.2 Improved for Bass Fishing.”

[wrong99]

I love it!
Mark

[Mike N]

I suppose the next question is why “180” is stamped on the foot if the catalog indicates its maximum line capacity is 70-80 yards? Any thoughts?

[Teal]

I think that's maybe a 100 with an overstamp? Makes more sense then a 180 ...

[Mike N]

I think that's maybe a 100 with an overstamp? Makes more sense then a 180 ...

Teal- I agree it appears to be an overstamp. I have the 1909 Orvis catalog PDF on order from our ORCA library and will be interested to see if any 100 yard capacity models were offered.

Mike N

[Jim Schottenham]

Mike,

In the article written by Jim Brown years ago, he speculates that the 3rd and 4th versions were marked with a serial number between the foot pillars. All the third versions and one forth version Orvis reel I've held all had different numbers - and in 2008 Lang's sold an all aluminum 3rd version that had the number "26" between the pillars. Given that the Manhattan Brass Mfg. Co. was making/building these reels for Orvis, it could also be a "batch" number - much like the Kentucky reels we all see with Roman numerals and/or numbers scratched into the parts for assembly. Otherwise, I think we'd see serial numbers in the thousands on these reels - they must have sold more than a few hundred.
Just my two cents.

[Mike N]

Mike,

In the article written by Jim Brown years ago, he speculates that the 3rd and 4th versions were marked with a serial number between the foot pillars. All the third versions and one forth version Orvis reel I've held all had different numbers - and in 2008 Lang's sold an all aluminum 3rd version that had the number "26" between the pillars. Given that the Manhattan Brass Mfg. Co. was making/building these reels for Orvis, it could also be a "batch" number - much like the Kentucky reels we all see with Roman numerals and/or numbers scratched into the parts for assembly. Otherwise, I think we'd see serial numbers in the thousands on these reels - they must have sold more than a few hundred.
Just my two cents.

Thanks, Jim. Great insight. Serial or batch numbers make sense given the different numerical stampings on the Third and Fourth models.

Mike N

[Mike N]

Since Jim S. mentioned the Manhattan Brass Mfg. Co., here is a link to a company history:

http://www.thelampworks.com/lw_companies_manhattan.htm

For more on the Manhattan Brass/Orvis connection, see the bottom of page 12 of this article from the American Fly Fisher, the journal of the Museum of American Fly Fishing (now called AMFF):

http://www.amff.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... No2web.pdf

PS — in the photo on p.13, note that that first reel appears to have no handle at all, but simply a grasp and counterweight attached to the perforated front frame.

[john elder]

I didn't take any internal pics, since there really wasn't much to see in there, but I'm pretty sure this reel had the typical scrawled "batch" numbers inside, so it's not that. Seems a jobber stamping such a prominent number on the outside where it would be seen would have lost that contract pretty fast. Dunno what to make of Jim's "26" but if not a serial number, then I like Dr. Todd's yardage idea. I would surmise that it was first stamped "80", then converted to "100". This would make sense if the frame had originally been committed to the #1 line and later added to the bass size line...just MHTs