Many of us collect antique flat, “round” wooden casting line spools. Since an ORCA member gave me an old line spooler/winder that only fits vertical spools, I have focused on those.
The labels for these 2” tall spools (some may be a little shorter) range from VL&A to Gladding. It’s tough to find the original retailer box. The labels are important because they otherwise can easily be mistaken for old sewing thread spools.
Special thanks to ORCA members Jim Schottenham and Dean Smith for helping me get started.
Those are super neat. Some years ago I got a very narrow 2" Kingfisher spool, which John Etchieson ID'd for me as one of the earliest Martin spools they offered. Neat stuff! Thanks for sharing.
Happy to update this thread with a few new acquisitions that are on their way. As Reelsmith said, boxed, connected line spools are the gold standard in this area.
wrong99 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:33 pm
Nice spools from Elliott Arms Co. Heddon also made "Thunderbolt" bamboo fly and casting rods for them.
Mark, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your sharing that info about Elliott Arms of Kansas City, Mo. It made me do a bit of research. Elliot’s was in the 1400 block of Grand Avenue. Two blocks away in the 1200 block of Grand Ave. was a major competitor that all Talbot collectors know well: Schmelzer Arms.
I do have a small line spool from Schmelzer’s shown below, but never drew the competitors’ connection. Thanks.
P
Awesome stuff. Anyone interested can check out my article on Schmelzer's trade reels and history in the Reel News (January 2007) for some interesting history of this company.
Here is some eye candy from Colby & my Trademark project, love the Speckled trout, Skunk, Lighthouse & Lily, all from Ashaway Line & Twine Manufacturing Co.
The Image Library I created to complement the Trademark Database contains over 9 pages of these kind of images.
You could branch out, these rod wrapping spools are the size of regular sewing thread, 1" in diameter and 1 1/4" tall. This is the thread pattern I used for the first rod I built, a Herter's kit my father got me when I was 10-11 years old, which would put them circa 1957. Ouch!
Alan, some great stuff! I was born in ‘58 and don’t ever remember a time when my father did not have the new Herter’s catalog on the stand next to his chair. Great memories.
