vom hofe star drag

GaryD · Post by **GaryD** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:54 pm

Good morning folks;

I'd like to learn more about the Vom Hofe Star drag and other adjustable drags used on their fly reels. Can any one refer me to books, articles or supply pics and desrciptions of the inner workings of these several reels? I have collected copies of the patent documents for the star drag (563964) and others but can find no descriptive info on those reels having drag adjustment knobs under the handle or on the back plate.

Post by **john elder** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:55 pm

Here's a pretty good site for Vom Hofe history lesson.

http://orcaonline.org/images/pixel.gif?ed ... e_main.htm

Re the star drag, there have been a couple excellent articles and follow-ups in the Reel News. Check with Phil's main orca board and there should be a list of the issues and subjects covered...he just indicated awhile back that the itemization of subjects in each issue has been expanded.

GaryD · Post by **GaryD** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 2:10 pm

Thanks for the lead. There seems to be a couple back issues of Reel News that may be interesting. Vol IV, Winter 1994, An outline of early ... salmon reels and Vol V, Summer 1995 for Edward VomHofe & Co.
I'll keep trolling the web for details and pictures that will allow me to understand how these drags work.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 2:12 pm

Gary, the patents themselves have the best descriptions of how EVH's various drags work. These include #219,328 (1879), #563,964 (1896), and #700,424 (1902). The last is a forerunner of the star drag, but the earlier drags are quite different.

The 1879 and 1896 drags, as used on single-action reels, work similarly. Here's a cross-section from the 1879 patent. The adjusting dial (1) turns an internal cam (2) against an apposed cam (3), which varies the pressure of a spider spring (4) against the spool flange. The 1896 drag works the same way but has little hooks that prevent the drag from applying pressure while cranking line in. The springs in fly reels have two arms, while those in saltwater trolling reels have four.

The 1902 drag is a friction clutch mounted on the crankshaft of a multiplying reel, and it's adjusted by a special wrench. Eventually, the adjusting function was handed over to a star-shaped nut. There's a history of the star drag in the Nov., 2004, issue of The Reel News.

GaryD · Post by **GaryD** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:08 pm

Steve;

Thanks for the clarification. My copy of the 1896 patent (obviously) does not show the detail that is on the 1879 document. Just as an aside, could you have made a typo on the 1879 patent number? The number in the previous post addresses a locking nut, not the Vom Hofe drag.

Thanks

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:21 pm

Humblest apologies. Correct # is 219,328. This will save you some time:
http://orcaonline.org/images/pixel.gif?srchnum.htm
That's not just an aside, it's the crux of the matter.

While we're on the subject, the actual drags you find in the reels are not exactly the same as the patent designs. EVH used apposed crown gears instead of smooth cams, for instance. But it's the thought that counts.

GaryD · Post by **GaryD** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:06 pm

Hmm... opposed crown gears. You would'nt have a pic or sketch handy that might describe these? Crown gears change the directon of the input rotation by 90 degrees. The picture in my head does not work the same as the rotory cams in the patent.

Post by **john elder** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:54 pm

Steve...what's up with the "extra" screws in the face plate on El's Zwarg? Is that an indication of some changes he made in the internal drag workings?

His reels are so similar to the EVHs...that's why the apparently random question.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:07 pm

Gary, my understanding is that a crown gear is defined as having teeth that extend parallel to the gear axis. Obviously, such gears can be used to transfer power at a 90-degree angle, but I think they're defined by their shape, not by that usage. Nevertheless, maybe "crown gear" wasn't the most accurate term, as the teeth in the EVH things are cams, rather than symmetrical teeth. Here's a pic of one in an 1879 drag. Howzabout "crown ratchet wheel?" Or EVH's far more memorable term: "cooperating inclined planes," which he nicknamed "clutch-jaws?"

John, the time will come when curiosity gets the best of El. She'll open the reel to see what those screws do and I hope will let us know. I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to why they're there.

GaryD · Post by **GaryD** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:53 am

Steve;

Your picture says it all! Looks like a double rotary cam. Makes sense as the fly reel has a two leg drag caliper. Thanks for the time spent here, its' appreciated! Now, off to the drawing board, or computer as it were. We're going to see if I can make one that works. One (last) question, what do the three screws in the pic do?

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 5:07 am

Gary, the adjusting wheel doesn't lie smack against the rubber on the outside, so there's hardware beneath it, probably a retaining ring of some kind that's held by the screws. Disassembly would be required for a more precise answer to your question.

GaryD · Post by **GaryD** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 9:00 am

I see. It makes sense that a spacer would be located beneath the finger wheel. Such a part would not only provide a bearing surface but would allow an airspace into which the finger tips could protrude so as to make for a better grip on the wheel. Three screws arrayed at 120 degrees would efficiently retain such a part. The brittleness or low tensile strength of “hard rubber” would prohibit the use of a press fit spacer in such an assembly, hence the screws.

In your experience, do examples of VH reels having this drag adjustment type exhibit a “handedness” to the adjustment? I.e. drag wheel adjustment for increased tension is the same direction as handle rotation?

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:49 am

Yup. Increasing drag and line retrieval both require clockwise rotation. Now it's just a question of cutting the cams with the wrong slant, swearing, and never making the same mistake again.

GaryD · Post by **GaryD** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 3:22 pm

Good afternoon Steve;

I wonder if you might know the thickness of the spring spider material used in the reel from which your pic was taken? Material technology has changed remarkably in the last 100 years. As I look into this it is difficult to conclude if the builder intended a stiff or soft drag effect. The color or finish or the spring may also suggest clues as to what material is is made from. Blue colored spring tempered steel, green or coppery phosper bronze or tempered nickle silver looking rather like pewter. Each
material would impart a kind of different feel.