This Was a Really Good Week

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Bill Muth
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This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Bill Muth »

I added a couple pieces to the collection this week. . . .

Wednesday was a very humbling and special day as I was able to acquire the William I. Treadway collection from the Treadway family, which owned and operated Horton Mfg. Co. from 1888 until 1952. The collection includes the Meek No. 0 Special that I wrote about in The Reel News in 2018, along with other rare pieces, salesman samples, prototypes, and boxed reels in amazing condition. The boxes in the picture all contain reels, most with matching serial number guarantee papers. These items were exceptionally well cared for over the years. The metal sign in the background hung outside the Horton factory from 1925 until the building was sold.

The Treadway family trusting me to be the steward of this collection going forward is certainly one of the greatest honors I have had. These reels are all going into what is now a quite complete Horton reel collection. I still need a couple boxes that have eluded me and am always on the hunt for special order and left handed Horton reels, but there are not many holes left to fill. Thank you to the ORCA members who shared all or parts of this ride with me - you know who you are - and look for upcoming articles in The Reel News depicting some of the unique items from this collection.





Wanted: Horton, Bristol & Meek reels, reel boxes, and catalogs!!!!
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by wrong99 »

Incredible!!!
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by reeltackle »

Nice haul Bill!
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Paul M
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Paul M »

Good for you, Bill!
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Midway Tommy D
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Midway Tommy D »

WOW! Good for you, Bill. That's quite an acquisition, and addition!
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by reelsmith. »

The grail acquired.

Awesome. Happy for you Bill.

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RonG
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by RonG »

Hey Bill, I'm glad you got the No. 0. I knew you would end up with it one day. That's a very special reel and those other special reels are great also. Can you post a closeup of the "Special" reels? Is the large double knob reel on the red box a Meek No. 6? Also, is the half crank reel a Milam?
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Bill Muth
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

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Can you post a closeup of the "Special" reels? Is the large double knob reel on the red box a Meek No. 6? Also, is the half crank reel a Milam?
Thanks Ron! I will post some better pics of more unique reels later today. The wide spool reel on the plain red box is actually a Blue Grass No. 5 made with the wide Meek No. 6 spool and different handle grasps. Everything is definitely factory - I'm guessing that they were experimenting with the wider spool on the No. 5, and then pivoted to the Meek No. 6, but there was no documentation behind that reel. The half handle reel is a Meek & Milam No. 7 that a gentleman "gifted" to Horton in 1934.
Wanted: Horton, Bristol & Meek reels, reel boxes, and catalogs!!!!
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Paul Roberts »

Congrats on the honor of being the trusted recipient. And… Wow.
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Steve »

Bill, congratulations! Incomparable!

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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by kyreels »

Congratulations Bill. Great acquisition. We are all holding them for the next gen.
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John Savu
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by John Savu »

Congratulations !! We all dream of events like this !! John
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Jay White »

Congratulations Bill! What great addition to any ones collection. I would not sleep a wink tonight if I had that group in my hands. :bow: :bow: :bow:
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Shellbelly »

Having the bronze sign in place is going to make the display quite exceptional. You have almost everything but the factory! Very nice and congratulations!
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by bamboocollector11 »

Awesome! Congratulations!!!
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Bill Muth
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

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As requested, I will post some pics of the more consequential items from the collection. First up, the Meek No. 0 Special. For those who are not ORCA members (and why aren't you?) I wrote an article in The Reel News in 2018 detailing this reel's history. The quick summary is that it is well documented that they only made two of them, and the other one has not been found. You can't appreciate how small this reel until you see it in person. I literally had an emotional reaction the first time I held it. And yes, when I get up the nerve, I am going to clean it.




Wanted: Horton, Bristol & Meek reels, reel boxes, and catalogs!!!!
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Bill Muth
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Bill Muth »

Next up, the Horton Meek No. 6 JMF, a beefy free spool reel with a massive wide spool. Between Ron Gast and I we are aware of six of these (and at one point one or the other of us owned five of the six, though a couple have moved onto other collections). The box is specially made to house the reel's elongated spool and as such is longer than the standard Horton Meek box. There are two known boxes for the Meek No. 6, both currently in my collection.




Wanted: Horton, Bristol & Meek reels, reel boxes, and catalogs!!!!
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Bill Muth
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Bill Muth »

Last reels for tonight, the see-through side plate salesman's samples for the Meek No. 3 and the Meek No. 30 level wind. Both reels have aluminum back plates, which was a standard offering on the Meek No. 30 but not the Meek No. 3.


Wanted: Horton, Bristol & Meek reels, reel boxes, and catalogs!!!!
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Jay White »

Love the #6 Reel!
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Stef Duma »

Very impressive, well done.
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by RonG »

Those Salesman's Samples are exceptional and probably one of a kind. I'm glad you were able to acquire this collection. It is well deserved and an excellent example of the results you obtained with your diligence in putting together the Horton Mfg. Co. collection.
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Jim Schottenham »

Simply awesome - congrats!
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Bill Muth
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Bill Muth »

Here is the Meek & Milam No. 7 - check out the presentation engraving on the back plate.


Wanted: Horton, Bristol & Meek reels, reel boxes, and catalogs!!!!
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RonG
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by RonG »

That Meek & Milam is a treasurer itself and a great bonus with the Horton collection.
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week

Post by Jay White »

WOW! That #7 is a"killer"! Love the engraving. Fantastic reel. Congrats Bill!
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