Who made the highest quality reel?

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Poll: What name comes to mind when you think “top quality” vintage reel? (Pick up to 3)

Poll ended at Sat Sep 24, 2022 9:59 pm

Bogdan
1
2%
Gayle
1
2%
Hardy
4
8%
Kovalovsky
8
16%
Leonard
1
2%
Meek
6
12%
Talbot
9
18%
Julius Vom Hofe
2
4%
Edward Vom Hofe
7
14%
Jack Welch
3
6%
Otto Zwarg
3
6%
Other (specify)
4
8%
 
Total votes: 49

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Mike N
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Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Mike N »

Workmanship, design, materials, function, collectibility…

Left off several good ones: Milam, Sage, Heddon…
Mike N.
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Mike N
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Mike N »

When the voting ends in a week or so, we’ll have a runoff vote between the top two to determine a clear-cut winner.
Mike N.
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Midway Tommy D
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Midway Tommy D »

WHAT? No Spinning Reel makers? :shock:
Seems a little biased to me. :lol:
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)

Tom DeLong, NE
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john elder
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by john elder »

Well, Tommy you got Hardy on there and room to add another! Jump in with a name and you and Arly can duke it out!
:D
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Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
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Midway Tommy D
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Midway Tommy D »

I don't think of Hardy when I think of a top echelon spinner. I think I'll just pass and let Arly have at it. :)
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)

Tom DeLong, NE
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Mike N
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Mike N »

Will the championship final runoff be :


(Ed Pritchard photo)

VERSUS



(Terry Ow’s EVH)
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reeltackle
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by reeltackle »

Intricacy, gearing, complexity, machining, aesthetics, innovation, preciseness ........... does any other reel truly compare?




Last edited by reeltackle on Wed Sep 21, 2022 9:03 am, edited 2 times in total.
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"Reels As Big As Your Head" Always looking for BIG game reels and anything else that might go along.
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Steve
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Steve »

Ed, you forgot weight.
Last edited by Steve on Wed Sep 21, 2022 6:59 am, edited 1 time in total.

Steve Vernon
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Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
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"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
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Mike N
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Mike N »

I like a little campaigning. Meek has moved into sole possession of second place in the vote.


(Ed Pritchard’s website)
Mike N.
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Mike N »

Randy Anderson, Talbot collector extraordinaire, sent me these two photos to post for the voters consideration. The jeweled Talbot reel is engraved “Fred N. Peet, August 16,1900,” with a beautiful fishing scene engraved on back.


Mike N.
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Stef Duma »

William Dann 1830, clamp winch and such fine tolerances spins like a dream.



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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Ray Hencken »

What about Philbrook & Paine marbelized fly reels? They should be included
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Mike N
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Mike N »

Ray Hencken wrote: Wed Sep 21, 2022 4:54 pm What about Philbrook & Paine marbelized fly reels? They should be included
Ray,

I’ve owned and always admired Philbrook & Paine marbelized reels. Philbrook & Payne reels were made for H.L. Leonard, and I listed Leonard as a candidate. I hope Leonard gets more votes as a surrogate for P&P.

Mike
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Mike N
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Mike N »

We were at 285 views and I posted a link on Joes to this thread. Let’s see what the lure collectors think…

Mike N.
Mike N.
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Ray Hencken
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Ray Hencken »

Mike N wrote: Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:37 pm
Ray Hencken wrote: Wed Sep 21, 2022 4:54 pm What about Philbrook & Paine marbelized fly reels? They should be included
Ray,

I’ve owned and always admired Philbrook & Paine marbelized reels. Philbrook & Payne reels were made for H.L. Leonard, and I listed Leonard as a candidate. I hope Leonard gets more votes as a surrogate for P&P.

Mike
I'm going to nit pick a bit. The question is " Who made the highest quality reel?" I don't believe that Leonard made any reels, rather they retailed/sold reels made by Philbrook & Paine and then by Julius vom Hofe and perhaps others.
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Mike N
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Mike N »

Mike N wrote: Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:53 pm We were at 285 views and I posted a link on Joes to this thread. Let’s see what the lure collectors think…

Mike N.
Well, posting on Joe’s added another 200 page views but only a few more votes in the poll. Should be an interesting finish.

Mike N
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Mike N
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Mike N »

So the poll ended 9-8-7-6.

Talbot…9
Kovalovsky …8
Edward Vom Hofe…7
Meek…6

As a former high school wrestling coach, I like the 1 v. 4 and 2 v. 3 seeded bracket for determining a true champion.

The next semi-final polls will be to cast one vote,

#1 seed Talbot v. #4 seed Meek

and on vote

#2 seed Kovalovsky v. #3 seed Edward Vom Hofe.

I’ll post the polls shortly.
Mike N.
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john elder
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by john elder »

How are we doing the second round vote, Mike?
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Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by RonG »

Hey Mike,

This is an interesting poll. The question I am wondering about is what defines quality. Is it the tight tolerances on the machined parts or is it the aesthetic beauty of the reel? I'm also wondering if people are voting based on quality or popularity. It's also seems hard to compare one reel that may have been made in the 1800's and the other made in the 1950's. Maria Ustonson made the best reel in 1810 and Kovalovsky in the 1950's. These are my humble opinions.
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Steve
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Re: Who made the highest quality reel?

Post by Steve »

Poll: What name comes to mind when you think “top quality” vintage reel?
My answer is "All of the above."

Steve Vernon
ORCA Honorary member

Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
Websites:
Antique Fishing Reels
Kopf reels
Hendrick reels

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
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