After I posted the quill click photo on the Noel reel thread, Don Kleier sent Steve and me the following note and photos, which I post here at Don’s request.
I’ve attached a couple pictures of an early Meek reel Betty and I have. I opened it up to clean and inspect it and was floored to find it had a quill click! I’ve never seen another with a purpose built click switch attaching a pinned quill. I always thought those “stories” were repair of a broken spring steel click or just mythology. Not after this reel! It also has a click switch that operates vertically while every other Meek reel operates laterally. Perhaps this is a better way to guess the click material rather than trying to listen to it. I understand that goose quills were favored for writing because they were large and rigid and the hollow shaft would hold ink. There are Canada geese, turkeys, and turkey vultures a plenty in Kentucky. Oh! I did find that it was easily bent back to engage the pinion gear and makes a pleasant but soft click.
I’d be interested in your collective thoughts …
Don
I’ve personally never seen such an unusual feature in any of my Kentucky reels. But it does not surprise me that it was found in a J.F. and B.F. Meek early, numbered screws reel. Anyone else have one?
Mike N
Very interesting quill click photos from Don Kleier
Very interesting quill click photos from Don Kleier
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
Re: Very interesting quill click photos from Don Kleier
Porcupine quill? Those are pretty tough.
- kyreels
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Re: Very interesting quill click photos from Don Kleier
Good to see the photos of the internal workings of an old reel, always welcomed.
The use of Goose Quills for early J.F. & B.F. Meek reel clicks as well as early Meek & Milam is fairly well known and well documented. Fishing Reel Makers of Kentucky page 32 has a great description.
The use of Goose Quills for early J.F. & B.F. Meek reel clicks as well as early Meek & Milam is fairly well known and well documented. Fishing Reel Makers of Kentucky page 32 has a great description.
Matt Wickham
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle