Veeder M'fg Co Hartford Conn. Cradle type reel

[54bullseye]

Here is a neat cradle style reel I have had for sometime that I figured some of you might find interesting. Unfortunately no rod to go with it. Reel is 7" across with two spools one with linen the other has some sort of Bronze or brass line on it. It has a push button brake that rubs against the spool when pressed and also has a working star drag. It also has a cool line counter mounted on it.. Veeder M'fg was established in 1895 and made all sorts of counters and from what I found it merged with another Co. in 1928 . The cradle has a neat "checkered" butt on it.

I assume this one never saw much salt water as it's in nice shape so it was probably used for trolling for Lake trout in deep fresh water lakes.
Does any one else have one or have seen one similar ?? John Taylor

[54bullseye]

The other possibility is reel is made by someone else and they just used a Veeder line counter on it ???? John Taylor

[Steve]

Does any one else have one or have seen one similar ??

John, a reel like yours and the Veeder-equipped reel seen below are shown both in my book and in an article in The Reel News, July, 2013, pp. 4-6. I prefer the Veeder cycloporn, also shown below.

[john elder]

John, really neat piece! It’s the closest reel i have seen to a custom reel i have that is also missing the tip. Is your reel a multiplier? Looks like yes.

John

[Mike N]

That Veeder reel is incredibly interesting. I found myself looking over and over at its design. Thanks for posting,

Mike N

[Nick in NY]

Neat reel John! . Many years ago I had a reel that also had a line counter on it BUT it wasn't marked. It did however have a pull handle similar to a Fin-Nor reel. It was similar in design to a Hardy Fortuna BUT was anodized light green. Years later I saw it being sold on ebay...not sure who wound up with it but did attribute it to a European maker... Tight lines Nick n NY

[54bullseye]

Well I found a rod for the Veeder Mfg reel !! What were the chances !!! Reel collector James Lawrence out of Tennessee came up with two Veeder cradles just like mine only in poor condition. Looks like they were used in salt water and hung up wet. There were two rods with the reels also in rough condition with thread about gone. Well James sold the two set ups but saved the best of the rods and sent it to me !!!!

I will post pictures of the rod both before and then after the re wrap. The rod I believe is a Heddon. You can faintly make out "Heddon" on it and it says "Double Built". It also has the name "R.C. Malon" on it. The rod itself is pretty solid with just a little delamination of bamboo in the last 6" of tip that I think will be an easy repair.

The grip has checkering the same as butt on the reel and the same as I have seen on other Heddon rods. I am going to send the rod for some "ELDERCARE" !!!! Should be a neat project for John .










thanks for looking !! John Taylor

The writing is kinda hard to make out and photograph !!

[Nick in NY]

Yup...I see Heddon! Nice...oh how I wish I had wall space! Good stuff John can't wait to see what J.E. does! Have a Merry Xmas A Happy New Year Nick n NY