Queen & Waterwitch reels, who made them?

Larry Moellman · Post by **Larry Moellman** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:09 pm

I picked up a couple reels I'm not familiar with. First is a 60 yard reel that has "Queen" on the faceplate side, nice looking little reel, and the second is a 60 yard reel that has "Waterwitch" on the faceplate side. I found Waterwitch in Lawson's Old Fishing Reels book, but don't know who was the maker. Thanks for any help! Queen is on the left side of picture.

Post by **Brian F.** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:14 pm

I'd say Montague?

Dale Noll · Post by **Dale Noll** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:44 pm

The Water Witch on the right has the Montague shaped foot. In K White book, there is a Water Witch reel shown on plate 216-0682, however, the reels are not similar. Maybe Montague made several reel designs with the same name.

The Queen reel on the left could be Montague, but... the handle design may lead to another mfg. Can't tell for sure, but looks like nob is an old Pflueger design. See K White's Pflueger Chief 222-0604 and 223-0598 Leader handle shapes. The long thin straight nob is somewhat scarce, as I have only found 3 reels in my entire collection.

Another check is to see if the Oil Caps fit another Pflueger. Some Oil Caps are interchangeable, so this alone would not be a positive ID. But, if these fit, measure the pillar diameters, and compare. Generally, the foot pillars will vary in diameter depending on the width of the reel, so compare with reels of similar width.

Hope this helps. Dale.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:53 pm

Hi Larry,

Waterwitch seems to me almost certainly Montague. As for the tradename, it is a very confusing one. Carrie Frost used the Waterwitch (one word) trademark in the teens and twenties (the company was briefly known by this name as well in the 1920s). Flies on cards and in boxes come up with that marking, as well as spinners.

Now to confuse things. Water Witch (two words) was used by Sears, Roebuck & Co. on a variety of tackle in the 1920s and 1930s. I know it was used on reels and carded spinners (spinners were not marked however).

Finally, Waterwitch seems to have been one of those "generic" trade names like Defiance and Mohawk used by a number of companies at the same time. I have found Waterwitch (one word) reels in at least five old trade catalogs. All appear to be Montague (i think one actually says Montague as well).

Sorry I couldn't pin down reseller, but manufacturer seems likely to be Montague. You might check with Jim Garrett and see if he has any Waterwitches in his Montague collection in the box that might verify it for you. PM me if you need his email.

Cheers,

Dr. Larson

Don Champion · Post by **Don Champion** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 10:51 am

Larry, Welcome to the world of Monague! Both of these reels are definitelly Montague! The Waterwitch was made in several models (as were most of the Montague reels). I have a 100 yd version that has a foot like the Queen that is also nickle plated brass/hard rubber. I also have a 60 yd. nickle plated brass model. Montague used a white handle knob exactly like the one on the Queen. The handle screws have the classic Montague look with the small radius on the outside. I'll bet the oil caps are interchangeable. They made several versions on oil caps, all of which were interchangeable except some had a smaller thread but would fit others with a smaller thread and vice versa. I have about 45 Montague reels.
Would you like to part with these?
Don Champion (ORCA member)

Post by **Brian F.** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:12 pm

Say Don, do you have other Montagues with handle knobs made of the darker material like the one in Larry's photo above? I was thinking it was a replacement? I have a Montague that has a knob made of similar material and definitely a way out, cone shape that I'm certain is not original.

Larry Moellman · Post by **Larry Moellman** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:36 pm

Thanks guys for all the info. Sounds like they are Montague! Larry

Don Champion · Post by **Don Champion** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 7:42 pm

Brian,
I have several with wood knobs painted black & one black hard rubber knob. The one above appears to be unpainted wood. Could you post a photo of yours?
Don

Post by **Brian F.** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:03 pm

Don,

Here's the odd little handle. I figured it was just too wierd to be original!

Dale Noll · Post by **Dale Noll** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:35 am

Don:
Can you give a little more explaination re your note:

"The handle screws have the classic Montague look with the small radius on the outside."

Are you describing the screw that holds on the CRANK? I am trying to get more skill on how to identify Montague reels that do not have the classic foot design.

Thanks for any help. Dale

Warren Platt · Post by **Warren Platt** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:21 am

Early Supreme lever wind idea that didn't go into production.

Don Champion · Post by **Don Champion** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 7:55 pm

Dale,
Yes, I did mean the screw that holds the handle on. It looks somewhat like a larger version of the Shakespeare end plate screws of the early 1900's.
For you other guys, I bought the reels from Larry. The wood handle knob is a replacement (I have an original used one to replace it with). Both reels are made by Montague. Now I have three Waterwitch reels from Montague, all different!
Don

Queen & Waterwitch reels, who made them?

Queen & Waterwitch reels, who made them?

Waterwitch

Test photo