Help identifying this brown(mahogany) end plated level winding reel

[unechan]

Hi all,

I recently acquired this one and, due to lack of manufacturer/brand/model inscriptions, struggling to identify thus asking for help from the experts here in the forum.

The dark brown, mahogany-like mottled plastic (hard rubber) end plates reminds me of some of the Meisselbach fly reels, and through searching the ORCA catalogue archives I've found that the Level Winding Reel No. 130 appearing in 1931-1933 catalogue does look pretty close to what I've got - but without confidence. Hope somebody can shed some light to this reel.


Overall view


Front view


Head plate, with "domes" for spool axis end and level winder shaft end (note: the one at 11 o'clock position does not have any function)


Close-up of the mottled plastic (hard rubber) end plates


Tail plate, with "domes" for spool axis end and level winder shaft end


Seat, one-piece, no manufacturer/model identification.

Thank you in advance,
Hironobu (from Osaka, Japan)

[unechan]

Hi all,

I've uploaded a short supplementary YouTube movie on this reel - hope this adds some help.

https://youtu.be/DWNvMD9iAsk

Thanks,
Hironobu (from Osaka, Japan)

[Richard Lodge]

Feels a little bit like a Union Hardware (Connecticut) reel but I'll have to dig out mine and some catalog pages and compare. Interesting reel. The foot should be an identifier.
Richard

[klonder]

Looks like bakelite to me, not hard rubber which may help with an id.

[john elder]

I agree with Klonder…. Bakelite or one of its relatives.

J

[klonder]

So, bakelite is molded and as such requires heated machined forms, a significant expence I would think. Unlikely one of a kind and likely many more molded/produced.
Maybe making it easier to run down, certainly the circa. H&I, Weber, M&C, some Shaker/Russell spools, the English "Kenneth" w/ a bakelite spool, who else use bakelite?

[wrong99]

Your reel was made by the Bronson Reel Co.

[klonder]

Very similar to an H&I "Chief".

[unechan]

Hi All,

Thanks so much for your detailed comments and suggestions !

Combining all information supplied, and digging into ORCA library, the Bakelite Side Reel No. 1805 of Horrocks & Ibbotson Co., appearing in 1939 catalogue, might be a likely candidate. The spool axis offset, which I believe is one of the characteristics of the reel, do match. And also judging from the model number, I believe this reel is the forerunner of the H&I "Chief" mentioned by klonder - No. 1806 in 1949 catalogue.





Following the comment from wrong99, I've searched Bronson catalogue to look for similar reel but so far without success; maybe it was a trade reel by Bronson, supplied to H & I ? Any supplementary information is welcome.

Thanks again,
Hironobu