Mystery baitcaster ID
-
- Star Board Poster
- Posts: 2578
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:42 am
- Location: S.F. Bay Area ORCA MEMBER
Re: Mystery baitcaster ID
Made by Montague.
-
- Big ORCA Fan
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:20 am
Re: Mystery baitcaster ID
Thanks! A google image search confirms Montague, based on the handle shape alone. I guess this was a trade reel that just never got a name. Poor thing. Can I call mine a rare "three screw" model to gin up the value?
- David Lehmann
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 3:32 pm
- Location: Rochester, NY
- Contact:
Re: Mystery baitcaster ID
Not a Montague. Rivet pattern on the tailplate is consistent with Hendryx. This is a Hendryx trade reel. Probably around 1910 vintage.
-
- Big ORCA Fan
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:20 am
Re: Mystery baitcaster ID
Ok, mystery re-opened
A google image search for Hendryx reel shows a number of them that have that same handle shape, so that lends credence to the idea that it might be a Hendryx, but I can't find any images of Montague OR Hendryx reels that had 3 screws holding the handle side plate on, except the raised pillar type. They all seem to either be two screws, or four. My cursory google image searches are far from definitive of course. I did stumble across some Winchester reels that have the same general layout as this one, but nothing identical.
A google image search for Hendryx reel shows a number of them that have that same handle shape, so that lends credence to the idea that it might be a Hendryx, but I can't find any images of Montague OR Hendryx reels that had 3 screws holding the handle side plate on, except the raised pillar type. They all seem to either be two screws, or four. My cursory google image searches are far from definitive of course. I did stumble across some Winchester reels that have the same general layout as this one, but nothing identical.
- David Lehmann
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 3:32 pm
- Location: Rochester, NY
- Contact:
Re: Mystery baitcaster ID
David,
I have marked Hendryx reels with the same handle, spring rivets, end caps, and foot. I currently don't have any in stock with all of these features on a single reel, but I'm sure I have in the past (i.e., the same model you have). Here is a little bit earlier Hendryx with the same faceplate screw pattern. This reel has a riveted, patented and "Hendryx" stamped foot. Your reel is a Hendryx trade reel. It is towards the end of the company's reel endeavors (i.e., when they sold to Hendryx), but not at the very end (based on reel features). Hendryx got into making a fair number of reels without their company name stamping (likely being sold for the trade) sometime after 1900. I'm not sure if they did this because they saw the success of Montague and Pflueger, because they were responding to declining sales of their standard reels, or both. Winchester, when they acquired Hendryx, continued this practice of producing a huge number of trade reels.
Cheers,
David
I have marked Hendryx reels with the same handle, spring rivets, end caps, and foot. I currently don't have any in stock with all of these features on a single reel, but I'm sure I have in the past (i.e., the same model you have). Here is a little bit earlier Hendryx with the same faceplate screw pattern. This reel has a riveted, patented and "Hendryx" stamped foot. Your reel is a Hendryx trade reel. It is towards the end of the company's reel endeavors (i.e., when they sold to Hendryx), but not at the very end (based on reel features). Hendryx got into making a fair number of reels without their company name stamping (likely being sold for the trade) sometime after 1900. I'm not sure if they did this because they saw the success of Montague and Pflueger, because they were responding to declining sales of their standard reels, or both. Winchester, when they acquired Hendryx, continued this practice of producing a huge number of trade reels.
Cheers,
David
-
- Big ORCA Fan
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:20 am
Re: Mystery baitcaster ID
Ok great, thanks David. I'm going to take your word as authoritative on this one then. (Sorry Wrong99:)
I'm going to list it on eBay as "Hendryx Trade Reel circa ~1910", hopefully that will get the right set(s) of eyes so it goes to a good home.
- Dave
I'm going to list it on eBay as "Hendryx Trade Reel circa ~1910", hopefully that will get the right set(s) of eyes so it goes to a good home.
- Dave
-
- Big ORCA Fan
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:20 am
Re: Mystery baitcaster ID
Oh by the way, what are the two extra buttons on the tailplate supposed to do? I can engage them, but they seem to behave like casting brakes, rather than clickers or anti-reverse dogs.
-
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 210
- Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:11 pm
- Location: Bainbridge Island Washington
-
- Big ORCA Fan
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:20 am
Re: Mystery baitcaster ID
Interesting. The drag's pretty draggy but the clicker ain't a-clickin. I'm not going to risk disassembly to find out why.
-
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 210
- Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:11 pm
- Location: Bainbridge Island Washington
-
- Big ORCA Fan
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:20 am
Re: Mystery baitcaster ID
I'm about 200 reels into selling off my "collection" of 750 (yes, I was basically just a reel hoarder, but I'm in a better place now). Based upon completed sales of similar vintage Hendryx reels on eBay, it looks like this reel might optimistically bring 10 or 15 bucks, which is basically lunch at Burger King. And I fear that the clicker spring is broken, which means that I either just put it back together broken, or start hunting down 100 year old Hendryx trade reel clicker springs, or put it in a ziplock bag and sell it as parts. Then there's the chance of a stripped screw head, or a tiny spring going SPROOING into a dark corner of my basement that I haven't visited in decades. Ain't nobody got time for all that But if anyone else does, it'll be listed on eBay Friday night, just search for "Hendryx Trade Reel" and it can be all yours! Message me with the word "ORCA" and I'll cut ya a deal!