Questions about a Meek #2 reel

[Reelman2]

I just acquired a B F Meek #2 Tournament reel with jeweled end caps. It appears that the end caps do not unscrew. Is that normal for a #2. I have a Horton #2 but it has metal end caps that do unscrew. In addition the B F #2 no has number on the bottom of the foot like most of the Meeks for production numbers. There was a tag with the reel that said "One of 3 known".

[RonG]

Please post some photos of this beauty.

[Reelman2]

Here are pics of the Meek & sons #2

[RonG]

Hey Bill,

The early B.F. Meek & Sons reels had the S/N stamped on the bottom of the foot. If the reel was jeweled, they were like yours without covers and therefore no need to unscrew anything. The earliest B.F. Meek & Sons casting reels also had knurling around the edge of the tail plate.

[wrong99]

So, is there actually only three of these known?

[RonG]

I don't know how someone came up with 3.

[kyreels]

I have 4 BFM&S number 2, and a BFM #2. I will be showing that in my collection at the virtual National Show. I defer to Ron as the expert in BFM&S. But in my opinion from my observation, the notable variations are:

Handle at 4 o'clock or 12 o'clock
Endcaps jeweled or GS
Handle GS or Aluminum
Spool Aluminum or GS
Tailplate Knurled or Smooth (never seen a #2 knurled)
Markings position and variations (like Club Special)

I think that it is likely that all the foots had a serial number on them originally. I would put this reel in the 2600 to 4000 serial range, but that is just a guess based on the aluminum, which was prevalent only in the later serial numbers.

I have two BFM&S reels with the same tournament handle. I know BFM&S catalog offered an aluminum handle, but I don't know if yours or my handles were made by BFM&S.

[Mike N]

Hey Bill,

The early B.F. Meek & Sons reels had the S/N stamped on the bottom of the foot. If the reel was jeweled they were like yours without covers and therefore no need to unscrew anything. The earliest B.F. Meek & Sons casting reels also had knurling around the edge of the tail plate.

Just to amplify on Ron’s excellent point, the idea behind agate (jeweled) end caps was to to prevent metal on metal friction. Agate is a translucent variety of microcrystalline quartz. Agates that are an attractive color are used as gemstones.

Because the agate is harder than metal, the rotating metal pinion could spin freely against the smooth agate. Thus, there would be no need to remove a jeweled cap for oiling— as there would be for the standard metal end caps, although I’ve seen screw-off jeweled end caps. (On the “Mohs” hardness scale, diamonds are a 10, quartz (agate) is a 7 and ordinary steel is typically a 4.)

I’ve collected such reels for over 30 years, and although it’s a great reel, I see nothing in the photos that a reel with front and back jeweled end caps is a such a rarity. I assume the serial number is stamped on the inside of the side plate near the foot, but that view is not shown in the photos.

Thanks

Mike N.

[john elder]

As an aside, does anyone know how those agates were mounted into the bearing? I have tried to rescue a few and could not get them to move, even after soak in acetone To loosen any adhesive material... and you can’t just knock them out!

[RonG]

I don't know for sure, but I would think they would be swaged in place. As another aside, I did some destructive examination to understand how the rear plate on a "Blue Brass Reel, by, B.F. Meek & Sons, No. 33" (no to be confused with a B.F. Meek & Sons, Blue Grass, No.33) is attached. It is NOT like the later No. 33's that have left hand screw threads so you can unscrew it. The knurled rim of the rear plate is swaged onto a groove in the tubular frame and makes it impossible to remove (unless you do like I did and tear one up).

[Reelman2]

Mike, I looked for a number on the inside of the plate but no number.

[kyreels]

I believe that only BF Meek reels were serial marked inside of the plate. As Ron said, all BF Meek & Sons should be marked with the serial on the foot. The foot could be a factory replacement, or it could be a non-factory replacement. (That covers it, I am pretty sure).