Early Walker Fly Reel

[RonG]

I've been looking for an early model Arthur Walker fly reel for some time. The early models had an on/off adjustable click and an internal drag much like that seen on Edward vom Hofe Peerless fly reels.

[reeltackle]

Ron, I have two Walker salmon reels marked -
“Arthur L Walker Maker N.Y.”
One is a 200 2/0 and the other is a 200 3/0.
Both are excellent in there original cases. Contact me if you are interested.

[reelsmith.]

.
Nice reel Ron.

Here are a few pictures of an early Walker 50-Series reel. This is a 53.











Early Walkers are really nice reels. The TR-series reels pale in comparison.

Dean.

[Mike N]

Just a beautiful reel, Ron.

Walker reels are so seldom seen and I’ve never handled one, but of course know his work by reputation.

Ron, Dean and Ed: How do Arthur Walker’s best fly reels compare in quality and production numbers with Otto Zwarg?

Merry Christmas,

Mike N

[RonG]

It went EVH -> Zwarg -> Walker. All made basically the same high quality salmon reel of similar designs. Zwarg didn't make a fly reel so Walker took over where EVH left off with a high quality fly reel. Like Dean said, the later model Walker reels made after Arthur walker passed are not the same quality as the early Walker fly reels.

[reelsmith.]

A timely addition given the conversation...

I just picked up this Walker Model 51, which is 2.5" in diameter.







This one is a keeper. I've also had a 53 and a 54 and while very similar, no two were the same, most notably different bearing caps. My guess is Walker reels were all unsigned until he started using sliding bearing covers.

Dean.