Horton Rods and Horton reels

tree · Post by **tree** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 7:43 pm

Good evening,
I am just starting out in the collecting of fishing tackle. I recently finished my basement to resemble a fishing river cabin and to decorate it I acquired a few fly rods at a yard sale(non descript Shakespeare & Union Hardware bamboo).
I needed to get a couple reels to complete the rods when I kinda got hooked (pun intended) on some specific rods and reels.

My last name is Horton and upon discovering the existence of Horton Manufacturing of Bristol Conn, I thought hey, why not focus my limited collection on Horton Rods and reels.

I have picked up a couple Bristol telescoping rods (1 fly rod with a Pfluger medalist 1930's reel, and 1 ? baitcasting rod). I also picked up a Horton mfg pat 1897 4 piece steel fly rod with cloth case.

I have come to the quick realization that the rods in most cases are more available and much less expensive than the corresponding Horton reels.
Perhaps reason to shift now to collecting shakespeare equipment. Too bad my name is not shakespeare.

Now my question(s).
In the event I find myself able to afford some reels (assuming I stumble accross some garage sale jewels ...
1. Does there exist a book which focuses on Horton rods and reels?
if not, and I can't get access to catalogs...
2. Would anyone be willing to correspond with me to give me insight into the full range of Horton & Bristol reels which would be matched up with rods with specific patent dates?

There are a couple web sites which have some information. They focus more on the reels. I was hoping for a bit more.

Thank you in advance for any assistance.
Best regards
Tree.

Post by **Brian F.** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:05 pm

Howdy do Tree, and Welcome. You've stumbled on the right place to learn about Horton tackle. I can't help you specifically but there are a few others that frequent this board who collect Horton. Stick around a little and maybe they'll come out of the woodwork!

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:36 pm

some fly reels you can look for on the low end are Bristol 63 and 65

on the high end, Meek 54 and 55.

here's a guy you may want to talk to
http://orcaonline.org/images/pixel.gif?jy&146897.html

send me an e-mail, and I'll send you a couple of scanned ads from 1917.

Harvey · Post by **Harvey** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 9:44 pm

Tree,
As Brian mentioned, welcome aboard. If you go to the top of this page, you will find a "search" link. Type in "Horton" and you will find 48 diffrent threads that contain that name. Amoung them you may find questions answered, answers questioned and probably some information that will give you an idea how helpful others are. If you have an interest in old reels, My suggestion is to join ORCA. We do have a members Library but sorry to say, we have very little Horton or Meek information.
(Hint, Hint, to others that have something that Tree could use after he joins)
Harvey

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:00 pm

I have collected Horton rods, reels, catalogs, and posters/calendars/advertising for many years. I have sold almost all my reels recently. Our ORCA VP Bill Muth is very knowledgeable about the reels. About 4 years ago, I wrote a three part article on the Horton Mfg. Co. for the Reel News. If you join our group, you can get these back issues, and many catalog copies that are in our library. I have somewhere around 20-25 Horton Bristol rods. If you have some specific questions email me. If you've searched the internet, I hope you found my web pages about the Horton Mfg. Co. http://www.oldreels.com/horton.htm my email address is on that site. For the benefit of our readers that don't often read web sites, this photo shows the Bristol Deluxe casting reel, which sold for $20 back in the teens. It came in the pictured case, which is glove leather with a pigskin lining. The Philip Goodwin ad (shown) and calendar were painted to celebrate that rod. Horton rods were the most popular casting rods in the country in the early 1900s.

Bill Muth · Post by **Bill Muth** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:11 pm

Welcome to the board! I also collect Horton reels pretty seriously, in addition to the link that Ron posted above here a couple pics of indiviudal reels from the collection. Email me and I'd be happy to answer any questions, I've also got a couple duplicate reels out of my collection for sale.

tree · Post by **tree** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:39 pm

Brian, Ron MC, & Harvey Thanks for the welcome, info on the Bristol fly reels and meek fly reels, and search feature.

I have been tempted to purchase the bristol fly rods, #65 & #63, however, I am not sure the date of mafg of the reels would match up with the rods I have. I will get some eventually. I lost out on an ebay bristol Model 66 & 67.

I had previously checked the search feature and reviewed several posts. Interesting stuff.

Reel Geezer, Thanks for the info and yes, your web site is book marked in my favorites. I refer to it often. I would love to stumble across the bristol deluxe. My rods to date are a bit more modest.

I think I have read almost everything on your website covering all the manufacturers.

I gravitate to the Horton & Bristol portion the most though. Your website has been invaluable covering reels and I enjoy looking at the advertisements, especially the calanders.

My favorite is the 1917 and I have been tempted to get a reproduction sign for the family room.

I bounce the stuff I see on ebay against your site to educate me.

I think catalog copies would be a great resource, as well as Bill Muth and yourself.

I will check out what it takes to join ORCA.
Belonging to other sporting organizations, I know the releative benefits they offer. I can assume ORCA membership would be a plus.

I hope there is no blood oath.

Not that it may be of interest to anyone else but I think I read

Everett Horton is a decendent of the brother of the Horton (Barnabas) I am a decendent of which came to Conneticut colony from England in 1640. I know its a long way to go to show some connection.

Thanks again for the info so far.
Best regards,

Tree

tree · Post by **tree** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:41 pm

Thanks Bill. Your post snuck in while I typed the last one.
I'll be in touch.

tree

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:25 am

Hi Tree,

With a name like Horton, ORCA would seem a natural for you. You'll find the membership to be extremely knowledgable and incredibly helpful, and you will likely find yourself coming to appreciate what you have even more. I believe strongly there are few (if any) organizations that offer as much to their members as ORCA does for just $30.00 a year. You get the outstanding bi-monthly Reel News, access to 15 years of past issues of the ORCA publications, access to the ORCA Library which has [at]10,000 pages of copies of original catalogs, manuals, etc., and the ability to connect with nearly 1000 like-minded individuals. Hope it sounds as good to you as it does to me as I write this...

Welcome to ORCA.

Cheers,

Todd

tree · Post by **tree** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:55 pm

Todd, Orca membership does sound very appealing.

Quick question: Is the resources, bi-monthly Reel News, access to 15 years of past issues of the ORCA publications, access to the ORCA Library which has [at]10,000 pages of copies of original catalogs, manuals, etc. available electronically for down load to members?

If so, that would make research much easier.

One down side as I see it though is that I will learn too much and not be happy with just collecting Horton rods and reels.
I have already had to stop myself several times from pursuing interesting Meisslebach & Shakespeare reels. I am not sure how I could contain the temptations if I actually became knowledgable.

Thanks for the welcome.

Tree

hurdpete · Post by **hurdpete** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:17 am

Tree:

Welcome to the board! In your last post, you worried about the possibility of sliding off the edge and expanding your collection targets- YES, IT WILL HAPPEN! I started out with the firmest of intentions to collect only one brand of post WWII combos, and have slowly but surely been led astray into other areas; it's gotten so bad that I'm even looking at lures!
As your knowledge increases, you'll almost certainly go off in more dirctions than you originally anticipated , and it's FUN!

As one source for Horton/Bristol/Meek, you might pick up a copy of "Great Fishing Catalogs of the Golden Age", which has several Bristol/Horton catalogs, plue a lot of other neat stuff to tempt you.

Again, welcome!

Pete Appel

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:05 am

1917 Outside magazine.
those prices are some serious change. The complete set for $172. $33 for a Meek No. 3, $25 for a Bristol rod. 1917 dollars.

(and sorry, I don't have a higher resolution scan of this after all).

tree · Post by **tree** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:58 am

Pete, Thanks for the confirmation that this hobby could avalanche into an obsession. Thanks also for the book recommendation. I have written it down and intend on getting a copy. There seem to be quite a few around.

Ron, Thanks for the 1917 graphic. Very cool.
Thursday is trash day, perhaps I will stumble on someone clearing out their garage with representative samples of each rod and reel.

Well a fellow can day dream anyway.

Is it just me or is there something about those turn of the century baitcasting reels that just screams class and craftmanship?

I would love to get a single copy of just one of Bills overflow reels.
Ahh who am I kidding, 1 will lead to 2, two to 3, etc.

I should quit before I get in over my head.

In all seriousness, thanks for the info and eye candy.
Best regards,
Tree.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:31 pm

I like the Meek No. 2 and Bluegrass No. 5 hanging underneath fly rods.

tree · Post by **tree** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:59 pm

Ron,
Regarding the 4th and 5th rod/reel (bottom two):

Are the two meek reels baitcasting reels?

Is that set up correct on what would appear to be fly rods? (reel at the heel end of the rod) Or were they just showing off the line of reels they picked up with the addition of the Meek Company the year before?

I am a bit confused to wonder if there was a standard setup for fly rod vs. baticasting rod, or if it was common to use baitcasting reels on fly type rods.

I seem to recall reading that some of the early rods were designed to shift the handle position depending on what a fellow would fishing.

Thanks,
tree

hurdpete · Post by **hurdpete** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:52 pm

Tree:

The pictures in the ad may be the result of artistic license and/or ignorance - often the drawings were done by folks with zero knowledge of the items they were illustrating (hey, they're artists!). It's also possible that the rod handles were meant to be installed from either end, making them convertible from casting to fly use. I seem to remember that many of the earlier rods, not just the Bristols, were made that way - if they were supplied to the illustrator broken down, the artist had a 50/50 chance of being right, or just mixed them up to make the picture more interesting. The reels mounted on the fly rods are also mounted backwards (crank is usually on the right). Just to be even more confusing, though, casting reels were often fished under the rod for those who followed the Henshall school of bait-casting in the 1883-1915 range.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 3:40 pm

all 5 rods and all 5 reels were sold together as a complete outfit from Horton.

Above, the 4th reel down (first on a flyrod) is a Bluegrass No. 5
Next down is a Meek No. 2.

I have a second ad from 1917 that shows the same thing:

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:16 pm

Many of the smaller Kentucky reels were used as fly reels, rather than as casting reels. The use of the #5 on a fly rod seems rather odd, however.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:21 pm

they're showing it on their 10' fly rod, and I see what they did:

there is a long Bristol 11 all-purpose rod at the top and it shows the Bluegrass No. 33 in the drawings, but the text talks about the Bluegrass No. 5.

Likewise, the 10' fly rod drawing shows the No. 5, but the text lists the No. 33

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