Unknown Kentucky Reel ... Help ID?

[Teal]

Picked this up from the Lang's/Blanchards auction ... obviously haven't received it yet but these are the auction photos. Hoping someone can get a jump on ID. Will obviously post more photos when it arrives but it has a 12 o'clock handle and sculpted pillars.

Any thoughts?

-- Dr. Todd

[Mike N]

That’s a great unmarked reel, Dr. Todd, that caught my eye, too. To me it says B.C. Milam’s shop, but I would like to see the inside once it’s in your possession. Congrats.

Mike N.

[Teal]

The good Dr. Elder has posited a possible Sage connection ... more to follow.

[Ray Hencken]

The foot pillars look unique to me. They may provide a clue to the maker.

[john elder]

Such an interesting reel, with lots of “tells”, except they don’t really come down to one maker, at least for me. Dr Todd’s comment relates to some observations from Ron’s great website. Some of the things i notice about this reel are:
--pillars, including the rear foot pillars, are screwed into the backplate rather than held by screws. Several makers did this, but often the foot was held by screws and only the other pillars screwed into the back plate.
--the foot pillars have sculpting but the other pillars are plain.
--12 o’clock handle ( suggesting early?)
--4 screws holding face plate
--grasp held on by screw rather than riveted; not clear grasp is original, since easy to change/replace
— foot either held by peened posts or screws have been filed down rather than usable steel screws

Reels by Sage had the majority of these features ( foot the exception… pics borrowed from Ron’s site:) https://luresnreels.com/





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[RonG]

I saw this reel in the auction and was curious about it. At first glance, the reel looks to be made by B.C. Milam. However, I have not seen a nickel plated brass Milam reel before. That's not to say they couldn't have made one. On closer inspection, I don't recognize the foot pillar design or the pinned foot design. A pinned foot design would be very unusual for a KY reel.