Shakespeare Oldest Rod and Reel Contest
Shakespeare Oldest Rod and Reel Contest
I just bought a Hardy Featherweight from a gentleman in NY and I asked him about Shakespeare reels. He said Shakespeare held a “Oldest Shakespeare Rod & Reel” contest about 30 years ago and his family won with a rod & reel that had been in their Upper Peninsula cabin forever. His wife sent them to Shakespeare without asking him, and Shakespeare in return sent him a new rod and reel. He was not happy.
Does anyone remember this contest, or know what reel took first place?
30 years would have been just before their 100th anniversary, and Anthony Industries owned Shakespeare then.
Does anyone remember this contest, or know what reel took first place?
30 years would have been just before their 100th anniversary, and Anthony Industries owned Shakespeare then.
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Re: Shakespeare Oldest Rod and Reel Contest
Ugh! That’s a sad story. Presumptive of Shakespeare, or the wife. Probably she didn’t know it would be an exchange. Hope he got the old rig back.
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Re: Shakespeare Oldest Rod and Reel Contest
I received another email from the gentleman, and he said his (now ex) wife said the Shakespeare representative told her the reel was “one of the first 500 made, and Mr. Shakespeare made it on a jeweler’s lathe.”
So it was an early Style C.
It would seem there would be some information somewhere about this contest and the results, but I can’t find anything in national magazines from that period.
So it was an early Style C.
It would seem there would be some information somewhere about this contest and the results, but I can’t find anything in national magazines from that period.
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Re: Shakespeare Oldest Rod and Reel Contest
Thanks Colby! Great job sleuthing this out. I guess 5K in 1985 was good compensation for that reel!