Side Mounted Reels

[Stef Duma]

When was the first US side-mounted reel introduced?

Are there any examples of clamp side-mounted reels?

Many thanks

[kyreels]

Not my area of expertise, but due to the new ORCA fly reel history (work-in-progress), we cite the Billinghurst reel of 1859 as the first patented USA side mount fly reel. I am confident that there were other side-mount reels (possibly not fly fishing related) that proceeded it. https://www.orcaonline.org/frhfly1/#single-action

[reeltackle]

Deleted

[kyreels]

Ed, is that US or English? Actually first reel with a clamp on the plate I have seen.

[Paul M]

Wow!

[reeltackle]

I got the reel in Wales. After I bought it I Googled Iohn Wever Price (The I is a Gothic J) and he was a ships captain from a little town in Wales, that is no longer on the map. He retired in 1773 and this may have been some sort of retirement gift to him. Spelling was not very important back then and that is probably why the spelling of the last name in his ancestry report doesn't match up with way the name is engraved on the reel. Also, ancestry reports have cleaned-up names which have changed in the transition from 1700s Wales to current times. For example, my name, Pritchard, which is Welsh was "Ap richard" back in the 1700s meaning son of Richard. The "a" was dropped and the "P" was added to the rest of the name getting - Prichard. Later the "t" was added making "Pritchard" sometime after my great grandfather x7, Roger, immigrated to the US in 1634 ... for what reason the "t" was added I do not know.

So, here is what I have found when I google old John:

On West side: — "Sacred to the memory of John Wr. Price of Tyn-y-graig, Gent., who de-
" parted this hfe ye 4th of June 1803 aged 65 years." " Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth Price
" wife of the said John Weaver Price who departed this life ye 2nd of Deer. 1819 aged 82 years."
This John Weaver Price was a Captain in the Merchant Service, having been on the " Randolph "
from 1760 to 1773, and left in the latter year to reside on his estate, and there are a couple of quaint
verses inscribed on the stone, which are appropriate to one who " foUowed the sea." They are
as follows : —

Though Gusty winds, and gulfy waves
Have tost me to and fro,
By God's behest.
The port of rest
I'm laid in here below.
Where I must my moorings make,
Among the mortal fleet.
Till heaven shall hail
Us all to sail
Our adm'ral Christ to meet.

Wlien God ordains the final blow,

The heart may wish, ye t«ar may flow.

But can't the dead restore.
Yet comfort dawns from realms above
When kindred souls in endless love
Shall meet to part no more.
Qualis vita finis ita.

(3) On West side :— " Sacred to the memory of John Weaver Price, Gent., of GarthfeHn in this
parish, who departed this hfe the 27th of May 1839, in the B6th year of his age."

[Jim Schottenham]

Stef,

When was the first US side-mounted reel introduced?

I'm afraid there is no clear answer to that question. We do know that the first to receive a patent was the Billinghurst reel, c1859. However, a contemporay gunsmith from nearby Utica, NY could well have built a reel earlier - Morgan James:

Others, very few in number, are also candidates for that distinction, though all are unmarked, such as this little "pillbox" style reel:

Are there any examples of clamp side-mounted reels?

Yes, I have one that was listed in a Squires catalog:


Also, as part of Hoagy Carmichael's collection, a reel with a clamp foot was listed in the April 2000 catalog, lot #15. I'm trying to track that reel down, if anyone knows where it lives now.

Of course, I believe all of these were at least in part influenced by the Skinner Archimedian:


Feel free to browse my site for other images:
www.sidemountreels.com

[RAM]

Ed: Great reel! I also really liked the tombstone inscription. Nice poetic farewell.

Bad Bob

[RonG]

Hey Jim, You've got some nice reels. Question: How many Archimedian reels are known? What a great reel.

[Stef Duma]

Many thanks for the replies.

Regarding the Archimedean reel, when I first started collecting, I ran an ad in the local paper and was called by a guy who had some tackle for sale. I was invited in and offered a cup of tea when I got to the house.

I noticed two reels on the mantlepiece above the fire: a Malloch side caster and an Archimedean. I asked if these were the reels, and the guy said no, I like them and will keep both. I bought the rest of the items and checked back a few times, but it was a no.

At the time, I had no idea what it was, but I liked it and wanted one. And every time I tried to buy one, it’s been out of my budget. I know of 6 other examples.

Who made the Squires reel? And is it on a spindle with a spindle nut? I guess the pillbox reel is similar.
I have an example of an 1880’s reel enclosed with an ebonite cover, and I have seen an alloy example from the 1920’s. Do you have any idea what the reasoning behind this design is? The 1920’s example was to control the line in windy conditions.

[RonG]

Thanks for the info Stef.

[Jim Schottenham]

Who made the Squires reel? And is it on a spindle with a spindle nut? I guess the pillbox reel is similar.
I have an example of an 1880’s reel enclosed with an ebonite cover, and I have seen an alloy example from the 1920’s. Do you have any idea what the reasoning behind this design is? The 1920’s example was to control the line in windy conditions.

Stef,

Each of the Squires reels in question lack a maker mark, though the majority of the reels shown in the Squires catalogs were made by John Kopf - could these be from his shop? Hard to say.


The pill box interior:


If I had to guess the reasoning behind the enclosed spool, it would be to keep the line from bellowing off the spool. Billinghurst addressed this in his patent text, touting his design of a ring to "prevent the escape of any loose coil if such shoud exist".

I'd love to see your 1880s reel with the enclosed spool. You can find my email address on every page of my site, www.sidemountreels.com

[Steve]

Jim, I nominate Edwin Judge for maker of your Squires clamp reel.