New oldests

[Steve]

Believe everything you read.

New York Herald, 2/15/1918:


Richmond [Ky.] Daily Register, 5/9/1921:


Kentucky Advocate, 4/14/1905

[Midway Tommy D]

Astonishing that there are so many of the clearly the oldest reels in the US.

What is even more amazing is that evidently there was some form of climate change over 250 years ago that actually caused some geological change! Imagine that, amazing!

[Eric J]

Maybe the 1753 dated reel was actually a Shakespeare Standard Professional 1753!
Not the first time someone confused the Shakespeare model number for a date.
Just kidding

[Steve]

I would love to see how that "almost modern throw off idea" worked. The observation suggests that the reel may have been a multiplier...as early as 1753!

[john elder]

Wish we could fetch up pics of all three to compare side by side.

[kyreels]

Well, a Meek & Milam No. 2 is 1852 -1881, so that would not win. The Snyder "ocean" reel is not known to me, would like to see that. I will try to get a comment from Howard Fortune on that article.

This should be considered for Reel News. It might get some feedback.

I like the idea of "The oldest US Reel contest".

[Paul Roberts]

Apparently found in 30fow at the far eastern edge of the Bering Strait.

[Steve]

I will try to get a comment from Howard Fortune on that article.

Ask Howard what he thinks about that 1789 date.

FYI, there were only three sporting-goods dealers listed in a 1921 Lexington directory. According to the article, one of them exhibited the Snyder reel. The three:
Burke's Bicycle Shop - Advertised heavily, but mentioned "sporting goods" rarely around 1921, mentioned "base ball goods," but never specified "fishing tackle."
C.D. Callaway & Co. - Advertised "fishing tackle" at least as early as 1914.

Van Deren Hardware Co. - In 1920, the company decided to continue selling some unspecified Winchester products on a jobber's basis, though the arrangement was not deemed as very profitable. The company had a rough 1921, their sales dropping by a third. In 1926, a Van Deren interview explained that the company had been selling guns and ammo, but when business dropped off, around 1924 they "added sporting goods and fishing tackle departments."
The store that displayed the Snyder reel, then, was probably Callaway & Co. You can try to imagine what a Snyder reel might have looked like in a window here:

[Jim Schottenham]

So, do you think Mr. Glogan was closer with his "earliest" dates, or his goal of 1 million books sold?



This was reported in the 8/13/80 edition of the Fairport Herald-Mail,of Fairport, NY.

[Steve]

So, do you think Mr. Glogan was closer with his "earliest" dates, or his goal of 1 million books sold?

Jim, I have that article, too, but I figured it was one of your predecessors who squelched Grogan's erroneous blather. But then I'm not sure what "records accorded a Rochesterian" means. "According to?" "Recorded by?"

[Eric J]

Paul- I love the prehistoric Shakespeare Spin Caster.

[Paul Roberts]

Thanks, Eric. It was fun to make.

[kyreels]

I spoke to Howard Fortune. He thinks the reel in question for the 1905 Advocate article is the #5 George Snyder that appears on the front cover of the softbank edition of the Fortune's Kentucky Reels book. That reel was owned by George Snyder of Mt Sterling, and later by his daughter. It was purchased by Howard and finally ORCA member Bill Hinkebein. It is the largest known Snyder reel, but is not 3X the size of a number 3.

[Steve]

It is the largest known Snyder reel, but is not 3X the size of a number 3.

The article compared the Snyder to "the average reel," not a number 3. And "size" could refer to any dimension or weight. Who knows what an "average reel" was in 1921?

[john elder]

And keep in mind that the early # 3’s were closer to the size on #2’s.