Take a look at this JF & BF Meek Prototype

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 10:56 pm

Here's a counterfeiter that has very little imagination. EB # 3648169119

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Fri Dec 26, 2003 4:57 am

The markings are nicely symmetrical, just like "factory". 73/74 discriminating eBayers can't be wrong.

Jim Schottenham · Post by **Jim Schottenham** » Fri Dec 26, 2003 7:33 am

I've noticed that "Prototype" has become the favorite word of sellers these days. This one just figured out that by putting that right on the reel, it must be so! If they really want to make big bucks, they should stamp the word RARE on the back plate too! Now that's one for the collection! A marked RARE PROTOTYPE!
Jim

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Fri Dec 26, 2003 8:39 am

Great suggestion, Jim. Adding "Old antique" wouldn't hurt, either.

Stephen Barnes · Post by **Stephen Barnes** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 5:46 pm

can't beleive mike murphy is bidding on this item

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 8:58 pm

And I can't believe that he bid over $2000.00 for it. Holy Moly!

reelsmith. · Post by **reelsmith.** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 10:41 am

Pathetic.

Completely and totally pathetic.

The boys at Meek couldn't turn out a piece of crap like that even if they had drank a gallon of bourbon first, blindfolded themselves and then built the reel with their feet!

Anyone that buys that reel thinking they have purchased the reel deal must be smoking the same stuff as the guy that stamped it.

Dean.

Harvey · Post by **Harvey** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 12:01 pm

No offence to Murphy but a fool and his money are easily parted! It is a shame to see some crook get by with that and then take some other's fools money. I know we all have made bad decisions when it comes to buying things but this is one of the biggest scams that I have seen for a while.
Harvey

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 9:32 pm

well if you punch in item 3648169119, the seller has made it (not avalible) wonder why? oh well at least it woke up a lot of folks! thanks Jim Garrett, and others, someone best study how proto types were marked in those days! Col. M. lorens aka SWIM JIG

mortepa · Post by **mortepa** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 11:16 pm

Is it possible that Mike knows something about this reel that we all don't? Sure, it is not a Meek, but I have never seen that reel ever before. What the heck was it anyways? Kind of looked like it could have been English to me.

- Paul

reelsmith. · Post by **reelsmith.** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 10:25 am

I don't know Mike, but if you watch what he buys and sells it's hard to imagine that he does not know what he is doing.

Maybe he was just making sure that no one ended up with the reel and had no intention of buying it. Maybe he's the one that got it pulled?

Remember the movie Kelly's Hero's, when Oddball said...

"Don't hit me so early in the morning with those negative waves"

Let's think good thoughts.

Dean.

mortepa · Post by **mortepa** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 12:31 pm

I wouldn't doubt it a bit if that is what Mike was doing. I have seen other folks do this with other auctions in the past. Yes, I agree Dean. It is entirely possible and more than likely that he was protecting the less knowledgable collectors out there. Good for him if that is the case!

- Paul

Stephen Barnes · Post by **Stephen Barnes** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 5:41 pm

I emailed Mike as to several peoples missgivings that I had talked to,not to mention the comments here, about the auttenticity of the reel and he sent back one saying he did not understand how someone like me felt they knew more than someone like him that had been doing this for 30 years and that I had paid too much for many of my reels and that whomever I had been talking to must be real "experts".I think he thought I was trying to diss the reel because I wanted to buy it.I sent back that it was just a freindly heads up and that I had no intention of bidding on the reel.I would certainly appreciate any such suggestions from others,and I may decide to follow it or not,but it would certainly not anger me in any way.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 6:09 pm

I'm not sure what dream world you guys are living in that think someone bids $2000 to make sure that some unsuspecting novice doesn't get stuck with a counterfeit reel. Some of our members have an email of Mike Murphy's opinions and beliefs about the reel, and they aren't altruistic. There are some strange things going on here.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 8:33 pm

My guess is some discerning, expert collector offered some enormous price to the seller, with the stipulation that he close the auction.

The importance of the reel obviously can't be overestimated. Clearly, the Meeks designed what was to evolve into the British centrepin reel about 15 years before it finally arrived in Britain, probably when it was inadvertently included in a shipment of some of the earliest Meek & Milam reels to baitcasting enthusiasts across the Pond. Even more intriguing is that a drawing of the reel, made by an astute teamster as the shipment passed through Newark, N.J., found its way eventually into the Meisselbach household, where it inspired the creation of the Amateur and Expert reels.

The design also throws open the question, once again, as to whether or not Conroy actually invented the counterbalanced handle.

The Meeks were forced to mark their prototype as such because their dull-witted apprentice, B. C. Milam, continued to build complicated little geared casting reels, using a Snyder as a model. The Meek brothers simply needed to draw Milam's attention to the model they wanted produced.

reelsmith. · Post by **reelsmith.** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 8:47 pm

I only have one question, Steve.

Is your tounge firmly implanted in your cheek?

Dean.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Tue Dec 30, 2003 8:53 am

Stefan Duma · Post by **Stefan Duma** » Tue Dec 30, 2003 1:57 pm

English? certainly not, unless it was made by the Newark forgers in the last few months.
Centrepin? If you split the word CENTREPIN into CENTRE and PIN it will explain how this reel works. The prototype meek has neither.
Anyone know when the centrepin was invented? Answers on a post card please.

Stefan Duma

bill bailey · Post by **bill bailey** » Tue Dec 30, 2003 4:21 pm

wasn't it about 8 centuries after the battle of hastings?

Stephen Barnes · Post by **Stephen Barnes** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:46 am

the fellow selling this reel now has a synder for sale.the person who said he ended up with the reel contacted me and said the seller had never sold anything on ebay before.i went back and checked the feedback and this is not his first time selling at all.i am not sure if this is just some bad info, but i wanted to make everyone aware in case something is not above board.

Post by **Brian F.** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 6:51 am

Am I seeing things on the Snyder reel (#3650339648 ) or is the "George" stamped OVER the scratch?

Stephen Barnes · Post by **Stephen Barnes** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 10:51 am

it looks as if it was stamped after the scratch.hard to tell from the photo for sure

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 11:07 am

Thanks to my grandson and his computor skill, he set me up with some high quality vidio card and software with fine tuned resolution, and boy does it show the (flaws) yes under close look the one leter is almost into the scratch and the movement of the metal towards the scratch is sloped down into the scratch! Darn these young kids can do wonders with these new computors! Heck, what he put in my machine was his old game vidio, wonder what it would do with the newsest card? would it magniflux? HMMMM ok folks lets see what else this bird comes up with , He may have a reel that was on the TITANIC carried by the captain in case they ran out of food! Nuf Folishness, NOW why dont this fraud get turned over to EBAY management? as it seems they are promoting this stuf! its their auction Site? col. Milton Lorens aka SWIM JIG

Stefan Duma · Post by **Stefan Duma** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:44 pm

Ebay will not do anything about it. I have had many run ins with them and they are not interested.
One item being sold had contravened a copywright owned by a friend. I politely asked the seller to acknowledge it and he told me to get lost. By the time I had submitted all the proof demanded by ebay the auction was over and all the seller got was a written warning from ebay not to do it again.
Report a fraud or potential fraud and they thank you but do nothing.

Stefan Duma

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 10:36 am

THIS is why I have a RULE, NEVER PAY BY ANY MEANS EXCEPT A PERSONAL CHECK! There are way too many fraud experts that use secondary and even third mailing address like postal drops, or third party bank accounts! No -Ebay wont do anything, their garrentee is as wothless The Old KOS KOT SCAM MAN of years ago, Anyone can set up a Ebay account, as geting a credit card( all you need to do is put up the front fees) anyone can open a bank account, over 18 years of age with no cosigner, and the fraud starts! I am certain the members of ORCA and NFLCC are decent law abiding folks, however anything can happen! This caracter now has admited to me a MONEY BACK Garrentee if the reel is not as what is suposed to be, ( he also has other reels now up for sale!) I wonder why the first one he claims was sold to a knowkedgeble Colector? HMMMMM , Now he has admited to breaking the Law in The Commenweath of KY, One he is now selling for a profitt, now has a business of selling, must in that case have a busness permit and Sales tax permit, and must report his income to Ky. and list personal property to Ky, SOOOO he will have to show whom gave him these reels and then Ky. can get them on Tax evasion! Yes the Wheels are in motion! Lets see what they do with this scondral ! Col. M. Loren aka SWIM JIG

Take a look at this JF & BF Meek Prototype

Take a look at this JF & BF Meek Prototype

Protype

Dreamworld

Snyder reel