Circa 1845 Jacob Hardman Kentucky Reel

[David Lehmann]

Jacob W Hardman of Louisville, Kentucky was born in 1801 and reportedly started making reels in the early 1840s and was a part-time reel maker (and most-of-the-time watchmaker) until at least the early 1860s. He was a contemporary maker to JF and BF Meek. The quality and aesthetics of his reels were way ahead of his time. His reels are quite scarce, with only a handful known, but his style is quite distinctive. This example is nearly identical to one that James Henshall illustrated and reported to have been made in 1845. Thanks to Ron Gast for parting with this. It likes its new home! NFS

[Jason]

Very cool. Whats the function of the knub on the crossbar?

[RonG]

That's a good question Jason. To reel collector's familiar with that reel, this has always been a question. I'm not aware of any definitive answer. If anyone has any ideas, we'd love to hear them.

[john elder]

Seems probable that knob is for hanging a piece of leather to act as a thumber .

[Mike N]

Oh my, that is a rare reel. Glad it stayed in the ORCA family.

[1badf350]

Just a wild guess, I wonder if that knob is used to stop the line from going out. Like an anti reverse? Once your line is out maybe you pull it back and wrap around the knob?

[David Lehmann]

I'm not sure of the purpose, but clearly Hardman had a purpose for it. As far as I know, every Hardman reel that has been found either has the perturbance on the pillar or has a screw hole in the pillar to accept one.

[Steve]

a screw hole in the pillar to accept one.

Which means that the little knob is fixed in position and can't be swiveled upward? I was going to ask. Or can the pillar be swiveled?

[kyreels]

I think John's suggestion of a thumbing device is most probable, given the period of the reel. But I think the device would have extended upwards, not hanging.

[reelsmith.]

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I think Hardman put it there just to mess with the minds of anyone crazy enough to care 175 years later !!

Game, set and match. Well done Mr. Hardman.

Dean.

[Steve]

Hook keeper?

[kyreels]

Hook keeper would make more sense on the front though. The rounded ball doesn't exactly align with a very good design for that.

[Steve]

Hook keeper would make more sense on the front though. The rounded ball doesn't exactly align with a very good design for that.

True, but a keeper up front would probably need a hole for the hook, and it would interfere with casting. No one answered my question about swiveling.

[RonG]

The aft pillar is fixed and does not swivel. John’s comment about it’s an attachment point for a leather thumb pad seems more probable than a hook keeper. It would be nice to see a photo or illustration showing its use.

[Steve]

One last question : In David's 2nd photo that "knob" looks like a cap on a shaft. Does it unscrew?

[RonG]

Yes, it unscrews. Look in "Fortune's Kentucky Reels" Book to see another one.

[Steve]

Yes, it unscrews.

Well, that oughta nail it , IMHO. A leather patch, with a teeny hole for that stem, is clamped on by the cap. Then it can be spun up or down as desired.

[Jason]

Or a variable tension hook keeper