Shakespeare reel oil
- Jeff Johnson
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 381
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:14 pm
- Location: Columbus Ohio
Shakespeare reel oil
I was fortunate enough to pick up a cool bottle of reel oil the other day - Shakespeare "One Drop" reel oil No.1232. It's got to be quite scarce with the box and pamphlet. My question is what years it was available? I've seen newer one drop oil bottles but this is obviously earlier.
Now I'm probably making this harder than it is. On the side of the box are numbers that end in 23 - so my thought is 1923. But I don't have any Shakespeare catalogs. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Now I'm probably making this harder than it is. On the side of the box are numbers that end in 23 - so my thought is 1923. But I don't have any Shakespeare catalogs. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
- RonG
- Super Board Poster
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2003 8:49 pm
- Location: Frostproof, FL
- Contact:
Re: Shakespeare reel oil
The ORCA Library has lots of Shakespeare catalogs. You might be able to find it in one of them.
Ron Gast
https://reelsnlures.com
https://reelsnlures.com
-
- Star Board Poster
- Posts: 2578
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:42 am
- Location: S.F. Bay Area ORCA MEMBER
Re: Shakespeare reel oil
Because of the style of the label on the bottle, my guess would be early to mid 1930's. Maybe even late 20's.
Last edited by wrong99 on Sat Dec 18, 2021 12:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Shakespeare reel oil
Jeff, I’ve not seen a more complete package of that oiler. Great find!Jeff Johnson wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 4:25 am I was fortunate enough to pick up a cool bottle of reel oil the other day - Shakespeare "One Drop" reel oil No.1232. It's got to be quite scarce with the box and pamphlet. My question is what years it was available? I've seen newer one drop oil bottles but this is obviously earlier.
Now I'm probably making this harder than it is. On the side of the box are numbers that end in 23 - so my thought is 1923. But I don't have any Shakespeare catalogs. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Mike N
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
- Jeff Johnson
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 381
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:14 pm
- Location: Columbus Ohio
-
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:15 pm
-
- Star Board Poster
- Posts: 2578
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:42 am
- Location: S.F. Bay Area ORCA MEMBER
Re: Shakespeare reel oil
I found the No.1232 Reel Oil going back to 1923, but it came in a rectangular bottle then.
- Bill Sonnett
- Super Board Poster
- Posts: 620
- Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:19 pm
- Location: Jackson Michigan
Re: Shakespeare reel oil
Eris Jeska told me he found an article in a Kalamazoo paper from 1922 that stated that the Shakespeare Co planned to change their box colors from gray to "tangerine" (orange) for the season of 1923.
I love to get old reels, work on them until they run as smooth as silk and the take them fishing using pre-1960 plugs, mostly surface fishing for Largemouths after dark.
-
- Star Board Poster
- Posts: 2578
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:42 am
- Location: S.F. Bay Area ORCA MEMBER
Re: Shakespeare reel oil
They must have waited about 6 years to do it, though.
- Bill Sonnett
- Super Board Poster
- Posts: 620
- Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:19 pm
- Location: Jackson Michigan
Re: Shakespeare reel oil
1923 Shakespeare lures come in "tangerine boxes. The reels, I am not so sure of.
I love to get old reels, work on them until they run as smooth as silk and the take them fishing using pre-1960 plugs, mostly surface fishing for Largemouths after dark.
-
- Star Board Poster
- Posts: 2578
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:42 am
- Location: S.F. Bay Area ORCA MEMBER
Re: Shakespeare reel oil
Right, Bill. I was thinking reel boxes.
- Jeff Johnson
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 381
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:14 pm
- Location: Columbus Ohio
-
- Star Board Poster
- Posts: 2578
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:42 am
- Location: S.F. Bay Area ORCA MEMBER
Re: Shakespeare reel oil
Jeff,
Thanks to your latest post, I think your reel oil package is from 1926-1928. The "Huffman Attachment" sold for $1.00 in 1923. In 1925, it sold for 75 cents. Starting in 1926, the price went down to 65 cents, where it would stay until 1928. Below is a photo of the listing from Shakespeare's 1926 catalog, where they even used the same images that are seen in your reel oil paper insert. These images were also used through 1928, the last year the Huffman was offered in catalogs.
Mark
Thanks to your latest post, I think your reel oil package is from 1926-1928. The "Huffman Attachment" sold for $1.00 in 1923. In 1925, it sold for 75 cents. Starting in 1926, the price went down to 65 cents, where it would stay until 1928. Below is a photo of the listing from Shakespeare's 1926 catalog, where they even used the same images that are seen in your reel oil paper insert. These images were also used through 1928, the last year the Huffman was offered in catalogs.
Mark