Bob Miller's two dollar reel

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john elder
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Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by john elder »

Noted author, historian and all around ORCA good guy Bad Bob Miller reached out to me with an idea for a reel He wanted me to try to make for him. The theme was to make a small fly reel with the side plate made from a silver dollar. It sounded like a fun opportunity to try some new things and add to my tool belt, so I was all in! Below is a pictorial of what was done, minus assorted fits and starts with pillars, clickers, and cranks. No dollars were destroyed in the making of this reel!










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Mike N
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Mike N »

Wow, John! Another contemporary masterpiece that will become a classic. Nicely done, indeed.

Mike N
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Midway Tommy D
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Midway Tommy D »

Way cool, JE! 8) :cool
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)

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RonG
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by RonG »

Bring it to Frankfort if you can. It's a pretty cool reel design from the mind of John Elder.
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john elder
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by john elder »

Thanks, Guys! It will be making its way to Bob but i’m sure he would enjoy a visitation, since he can’t make it to Frankfort (dammit!). What a fun project!

Here’s a couple pics i left out.

ORCA member since 1999
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Bill Muth
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Bill Muth »

Amazing work John!
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reeltackle
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by reeltackle »

So cool!! Great idea and great execution. Thanks for sharing!!
Ed Pritchard
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Teal
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Teal »

Flat out amazing. Great job, John!

-- Dr. Todd
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leland99
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by leland99 »

great job John!!
Bryce Tawney
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Richard Lodge
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Richard Lodge »

Wow! Beautiful work and ingenious design, John. Thanks for sharing!
Richard
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Steve
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Steve »

As Tom Brokaw almost said, "It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a fly reel with 'em."

Nice, John! And that one-piece spool...you must have been knee-deep in aluminum chips.

Steve Vernon
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m3040c
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by m3040c »

A fine job. I sincerely hope you have some apprentices working with you. Your skills need to be shared.
mike cass,,, if you can't collect it, it must be food
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Paul M
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Paul M »

WOW
Paul Manuel

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Brian F.
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Brian F. »

Uh-mazing! You just keep getting better and better!
Aloha
Brian F.
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ORCA Member 1997
Got a spare reel stamped "Pflueger" or a Montague Imperial?
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Paul Roberts
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Paul Roberts »

Beautiful. Amazing. 😎
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reelsmith.
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by reelsmith. »

You 'da man, John !

Nice work.

Dean.
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Mike N
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Mike N »

Frankly, I would not be surprised if John Elder is included as a candidate in a future poll of best reel makers along side Talbot and Meek.
Mike N.
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john elder
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by john elder »

Eek! Thanks for all the pats, guys but Mike, seems unlikely that I will get a mention in Vernon, Vol XI! I just want to keep having fun. Thanks to all of you for helping me do that!

J
ORCA member since 1999
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Dr. Rob
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Re: Bob Miller's two dollar reel

Post by Dr. Rob »

This is brilliant, John! Absolutely delightful.
I just love the combination of one-off metalsmithing craftsmanship and machining. Well done! From one reelmaker to another, bravo!

.
Robert Janssen
Sweden
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