America Ball Bearing reel found

[GUEST]

Hello All, I just found this reel seems to be a nice old reel. Kentcky style, It is marked as #2 . I am at work so I do not have all the details. It is a quick take down reel and still has most of the plating. Any one collect these? Thanks & Best Paul D Narlesky

[Steve]

Paul, the ball bearings and quick-takedown construction were patented in 1902 by Wm. Sutton, Belvedere, Ill. The America Co. built the reel, but it's not one of their "America Meek" series, based on Sylvanus Meek's designs. Nevertheless, it's a scarce reel. Not sure, but I think the No. 1 had straight-cut gears and the No. 2, spiral-cut gears. I know you didn't ask for all this drivel, but you can add it to your sales pitch.

[Jim Schottenham]

Since I was taking pic's for another post, I thought I'd snap a few of this America #1. Steve, can you tell if these are the gears you thought were on a #1?


Great reels, nice find Paul!
Jim S

[Steve]

My bad! Just opened a No. 1 and found it has spiral gears (see pic). Used to have another one that had straight gears, and Jim's has straight gears. Also have a No. 2 with spiral gears.

In a flash of inspiration, I actually looked at the 1 and 2 at the same time , and Lo! they are slightly different widths! An America Co. package brochure says they made "America Take Down Reels" in both 60yd and 80yd sizes, so it looks as if the No. 1 is the smaller reel. Otherwise, I can't see any differences at all. But I don't know why some of these have straight-cut gears, unless the Meek-based spiral gearing made its way down from the America-Meek reels to the cheaper America models later.

[Dr. Rob]

Wow. That is a cool reel.

Helical, by the way, if anyone cares. Proper gear nomenclature = //////// = helical gear. IIIIIIII = spur gear.