H.L. Litchfield's Personal Reel ?

[Ray Hencken]

Attached are pictures of a Julius vom Hofe #3 fly reel with the retailers stamp on the faceplate -H.C. Litchfield Boston. On the backplate the initials H.C.L. are engraved and the initials HCL are on the foot. I believe that it is reasonable to think that this was Litchfield's personal reel. It seems like too much of a coincidence for it not to be his reel. Any input from our members would be appreciated.

[Steve]

Litchfield's name was Henry. It's a reasonable bet that the reel was his, but there were many other HCLs in Boston, including such upstanding citizens as Harvey C. Litchfield, of Gates, Litchfield, & Co., electroplaters. Skim through the L's in any Boston directory of an appropriate year, and you'll probably find a dozen or so HCL's.

I've had the same problem with a Style C Shakespeare with two sets of initials engraved, both ending in S. I've been trying for years to prove these folks were Shakespeare relatives.

[reelsmith.]

Hey Ray.

It's certainly a plausible theory and I think odds are it was his.

Now you just need find a picture of him holding it ...and with the back-plate exposed so you can see the initials

How hard could that be ?

Dean.