Interesting drag control on an EVH 521

[john elder]

jerry Kornsey recently came up with this Edward Vom Hofe 521 that has some sort of “after market” drag control that apparently limits the range on the star drag. It is reminiscent of an LA Coxe drag control without the spring release characteristic of the latter mechanism. I would call it an intelligent design but due to the necessity to modify the bearing cover, seems unlikely to have been done by Vom Hofe. Has anyone seen this before?

[reeltackle]

I’d say it was a Joe Coxe repair or modification for sure. The counterbalance on the handle, the cutaway star, the Coxe style drag, the spring loaded plunger mechanism that you find on some of his Swordfish reels to set the hook all fit the Coxe mold. I would speculate that the reel was being fished out on the west coast and experienced mechanical issues and Coxe patched it up and modified it in the process. Interesting reel, does it have a serial number to date it? Thanks for sharing John.

[john elder]

Thanks, Ed! Jerry says it dates to 1912. It’s certainly a modification that would be in the Coxe wheelhouse.

[reeltackle]

1912 would not be possible as the star drag did not make its debut until 1913. The reel looks like it had the correct EVH star drag on it prior to being modified by Coxe so it would have to have been made later than 1912. Have Jerry look for a serial number on the side of the foot, as we know they started marking serial numbers on most reels in 1908.

[john elder]

Well, according to Bingham’s chart, its 1912. I think there is some slop there or they just used a leftover 1912 stamped foot in the next year’s production. “Waste not, want not!”…not unique in the reel production biz.

[Steve]

Coxe came out with his similarly-adjustable star drag in 1924, but I don't know when that plunger came into use. Meanwhile, the adjustability method originated with EVH's brother.

[Nick in NY]

Just because the reels from 1912 doesn't me it had to be altered that year... That a silly assumption. I fish with 30 year old reels and have modified them along the way. Does look line a Coxe modification... Tight lines Nick n NY