This Was a Really Good Week
This Was a Really Good Week
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.
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
Incredible!!!
- reeltackle
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week
Nice haul Bill!
Ed Pritchard
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"Reels As Big As Your Head" Always looking for BIG game reels and anything else that might go along.
http://www.AntiqueFishingReels.com
ORCA Charter Member "First Paid Member"
Honorary Life Member
"Reels As Big As Your Head" Always looking for BIG game reels and anything else that might go along.
- Midway Tommy D
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week
WOW! Good for you, Bill. That's quite an acquisition, and addition!
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)
Tom DeLong, NE
ORCA Member - 2027
Tom DeLong, NE
ORCA Member - 2027
- reelsmith.
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week
The grail acquired.
Awesome. Happy for you Bill.
Dean.
Awesome. Happy for you Bill.
Dean.
Wanted: Kosmic Items, Small Leather Fly Reel Cases, Early Fishing Related Bottles, Fly Reels and Pre-1900 Angling/Casting Medals.
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week
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?
Ron Gast
https://reelsnlures.com
https://reelsnlures.com
Re: This Was a Really Good Week
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.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?
Wanted: Horton, Bristol & Meek reels, reel boxes, and catalogs!!!!
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week
Congrats on the honor of being the trusted recipient. And… Wow.
ORCA 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Re: This Was a Really Good Week
Bill, congratulations! Incomparable!
Steve Vernon
ORCA Honorary member
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- kyreels
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week
Congratulations Bill. Great acquisition. We are all holding them for the next gen.
Matt Wickham
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
Re: This Was a Really Good Week
Congratulations !! We all dream of events like this !! John
Re: This Was a Really Good Week
Congratulations Bill! What great addition to any ones collection. I would not sleep a wink tonight if I had that group in my hands.
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week
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
Awesome! Congratulations!!!
Re: This Was a Really Good Week
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!!!!
Re: This Was a Really Good Week
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!!!!
Re: This Was a Really Good Week
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!!!!
Re: This Was a Really Good Week
Love the #6 Reel!
- RonG
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week
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.
Ron Gast
https://reelsnlures.com
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week
Simply awesome - congrats!
Re: This Was a Really Good Week
Wanted: Horton, Bristol & Meek reels, reel boxes, and catalogs!!!!
- RonG
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Re: This Was a Really Good Week
That Meek & Milam is a treasurer itself and a great bonus with the Horton collection.
Ron Gast
https://reelsnlures.com
https://reelsnlures.com
Re: This Was a Really Good Week
WOW! That #7 is a"killer"! Love the engraving. Fantastic reel. Congrats Bill!