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Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 8:55 am

100-yd Sterling. Plated reel with fancy markings on foot. Can't make out the markings on the face plate, but something preceeds the word Sterling. Any idea who sold this reel?

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:39 am

Hi Ron,

Your reel is an H.A. Whittemore of Boston trade reel. I am working on a column on Whittemore trade reels.

Cheers,

Dr. Todd

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:50 am

thanks, Doc (want some photos? - I can get some better macros of the foot markings; those were flash shots, haven't even tried the copystand)

Post by **Brian F.** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 6:54 pm

Todd, No connection to Montague?

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:57 am

Pflueger made some reels for Whittemore. I have a Seminole with the Sterling foot. That looks like a Pflueger made reel (foot and bearing cap). Bob PS Who else but Brian posts at 5 AM! Aloha!

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 1:01 pm

Hi Brian,

Definitely a MOntague conection, along with a Pflueger, Shakespeare, etc. Lots of companies made reels for Whittemore, as they were in business from 1901-1970s.

Would love any pics of Sterling reels for a "future" article. I put that in quotes because I have already mapped out the next three years of articles on trade reels...

I watched my friend Bob Miller buy a Seminole marked Sterling at the NFLCC Nationals this summer. I bought a Union Hardware marked Sterling from an ORCA member in Louisville too...

Cheers,

Dr. Todd

Dale Noll · Post by **Dale Noll** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:19 pm

Sure would be good to have an article on these reels. I have a few, but didn't know where the mark came from. Thought these were ofshore made.

Dale.

el Lawrence · Post by **el Lawrence** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 6:11 pm

Hey! I have some of these "Sterling" (for the "£" or Pounds Sterling marking) on the reels... I also have a box. Though the box doesn't seem to give any additional clues on the reels... the small reels I have are mainly cheap trade raised pillar type reels, though my bigger surf type reel is of fairly good quality... I would judge the box to be early 1900... maybe up to 1930 vintage from graphics and print type (so an early incarnation?)... Both of these reels are clean and have no real wear; as though they were not used... so are reflecting everything, as a result photo isn't the worlds best... Here is a sample:

BTW neither of these has the embossed foot marking but are only marked on the faceplates... Above and below the logo on the box are the words "Trade Mark" and in the banner to the sides the motto: Sterling Quality... maybe your unreadable is one of these Ron?

I would be interested in tracking down one of the Black GM Finish #4152 60 yd reels to fill the box...

el Lawrence · Post by **el Lawrence** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 6:20 pm

Well dang... where is my picture?

Ok now why wouldn't it do that before?

Reelman · Post by **Reelman** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 6:46 pm

Seeing the above box reminded me of one I had buried in a corner.

Merv
www.reelman.net

Post by **Brian F.** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 6:52 pm

Wow El, that saltwater reell really looks like a Pflueger (as mentioned by TEAL). Put a bulldog stamp on it and it could be a Dixie, Everlaster or Kihoga!

el Lawrence · Post by **el Lawrence** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:11 pm

Ok I notice the Conn. company spells it STER-LINE
while the box and reels I have are spelled (where the name DOES appear spelled out and not as a Pounds mark (£)) STERLING...

Same company or two with similar names?

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:49 am

Here's a Whittemore Go-With that I think is really neat. For you "youngun's" it's a celluloid letter opener. Letters are those things we used to use before email and message boards.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 12:05 pm

el Lawrence wrote:Ok I notice the Conn. company spells it STER-LINE
while the box and reels I have are spelled (where the name DOES appear spelled out and not as a Pounds mark (£)) STERLING...

Same company or two with similar names?

same company and two different reels. Note Sterling Company name on the box. Ster-Line is the model name for an aluminum fly reel.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 2:39 pm

I don't think there is a connection between the Torrington Sterling mftg. and the H.A. Whittemore Co. of Boston, who held the trademark to the Sterling line. Anything with Sterling and the Pound Sign is definitely Whittemore by trade, any number of makers by manufacture.

I guess this has always been a bit of a murky marking for trade reels, most people attribute it to a British maker. Nope. Made here in America and sold out of Boston, which although they speak with a wicked thick accent, was still American the last time I checked.

Starting to turn my short attention span on Boston...and man is it easy to get lost in the quagmire of Boston trade house history!

Cheers,

Dr. Todd

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:20 pm

that makes sense, thanks.

Dustnstuff · Post by **Dustnstuff** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:49 pm

I just checked out the Phil White web site and He has the Sterling reel listed as a trade name reel for Andrew Hendryx from New Haven Ct. Not to far from Torrington. They used the L pound sign also.
Dustnstuff

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:20 pm

Just goes to show what that Phil White guy knows.

That list was compiled several years ago and I didn't have the research facilities at hand that Dr. Todd has. I think Steve Vernon gave me that information...

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:56 pm

No, no, no! I told you it was made by some schmendrick in Connecticut.

You might wanna see if you posted any other "information" I gave you.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:58 pm

Steve,

Schmendrick is one of my all time favorite words.

Your friend the schmuck,

Todd

el Lawrence · Post by **el Lawrence** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:10 am

Soooooo... just to recap. The reels I have with the pounds sterling mark are sold by... which company?

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:45 am

sold by H.A. Whittemore of Boston

seems like they're probably made by whomever can supply them - just like it's easy to find examples of the same UK catalog reel, e.g., Allcock Ousel, Alex Martin Thistle, etc., with some examples made by Dingley and some examples made by Young.