Any Info on John Lauterbach Co. of Philadelphia?

[Teal]

This one is KILLING me. Have tried to nail this guy down for some time, he made fishing reels in Philadelphia from 1921-1927, and apparently a LOT of them. Anyone have ANYTHING on him? I know when he was born and when he died and what he did in between, but I'll be d***ed if I have ever seen a reel of his. And from what the records suggest, he made a lot of them.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Dr. Todd

[Dale Noll]

Doc,

Don't have any with that name. Do you have any other name he might have used when marking reels? Also, any idea as to type of reel, i.e., raised pillar? level wind? nonlevel wind? Time frame in early 20's could be both types if he had use of the marhoff patent or had a unique line guide.

I have a lot of reels by undetermined maker. Almost all have a name like BASSCASTER etc. Also most of these are nonlevel wind. I have just included these types in my Orphan Montague box for now.

Will keep looking. Regards.

Dale.

[Teal]

Dale,

He held a patent for a fishing reel in 1925. Will try and get a copy and put it up. He built his own factory to make reels and apparently it was a big one, even though he got out of the business in 1927.

I would like to fill in some gaps for an article on the company that purchased his factory, so more background info on this guy would be great.

Cheers,

Dr. Todd

[Steve]

His patent was the basis for one of Ocean City's most salient reel features--the lever-operated freespool clutch that was used on umpteen gazillions of their reels. Ocean City was the assignee.

[Teal]

Hi Steve,

This is partly what's killing me; he assigns O.C. rights to his patent, but builds his own reel factory and then sells to a competitor of O.C. who then eventually sells out itself to O.C.? Weird.

For at least three years he was making reels on his own with no connection to O.C. (1925-1927). It was a large enough company that the firm that bought them out (subject of my upcoming sketch) offered TWENTY different models in the first year they owned the old Lauterbach factory.

Lauterbach was primarily a plastics guru who helped formalize the plastics industry in America.

So where the heck are the Lauterbach reels?

Dr. Todd

[Steve]

Hypothesis: Lauterbach was one of the mysterious sources of Ocean City's earliest reels.

If Lauterbach produced that much, his reels, like those of Star Reel Works, for example, are among us.

[Teal]

Steve,

Good hypothesis. Maybe there is a deeper connection to OC and Lauterbach; it is possible it was Lauterbach who made SOME early OC reels, which would explain why OC was so hot to buy the Lauterbach factory in 1932 (they moved all the equipment to their factory too so it must have been worthwhile).

So who are the Ocean City experts?

Dr. Todd

[Tom R]

Dr Todd,

Not sure of the path your research took you but I’m attaching some photos of a reel marked: Manufactured by J Lauterbach Phila Pa. It has the features of a Winchester skeleton fly reel. Now I’m curious about his connection with Winchester. Anyone have any information?

[Biggamereels1988]

That reel you posted is amazing! I absolutely want one of those for my collection..

I have been searching for Ocean City Mfg. Co. Information for along time. I'm addicted to it for some strange reason. Does anyone have any new info or collectables they've encounted on this guy, Stephen G. Hirsch, and the Fox Gun Company. I found these 2 unique reels called the Kingfisher and the Chikatee - They have Ocean City Characteristics and somewhat of the same spool as the Fox reels.

Here is that patent.

[Biggamereels1988]

OK this is outside of his fishing reel company but after I found out who Lauterbach was. I wanted something with his name on it. Turns out - Something was on eBay with his name. Plus here is the patent for it. He moved to Utica NY after leaving Philadelphia.

[Tom R]

I have been researching John Lauterbach, Ansley H Fox, Fox Gun Co, Tryon and Ocean City(M&H) for several years attempting to determine what connections if any, there are between these individuals and companies. What I can say for sure is the more I learn the more questions I have! One key piece of information I found was a help wanted ad in The Philadelphia Inquirer, dated Friday, February 2, 1923 that reads "BOYS wanted, excellent opportunity to learn a good trade. Apply J. Lauterbach. 1347 Noble Street, fourth floor" The two significant pieces of information garnered from this ad is the address, which is Ocean City's address and of course the date of the ad, 1923. I think this leads some credence to Steve Vernon's hypothesis. If in fact Lauterbach was producing reels for Ocean City at this time then the assignment of his 1925 patent #1,523,983 would make logical sense.

Hypothesis: Lauterbach was one of the mysterious sources of Ocean City's earliest reels.

If Lauterbach produced that much, his reels, like those of Star Reel Works, for example, are among us.

Another of Lauterbach's patents was #2,227,265 for a Hydraulic Molding Press. This device would have greatly improved the speed of forming bakelite parts, mainly side plates for reels. See below.



My research doesn't indicate Lauterbach ever moved out of the Philadelphia area, in fact his obituary lists a local Phila. address at the time of his death, 944 E Haines St, he was 53 years old. He is buried in Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, Cheltenham Ave, Phila PA. Lauterbach had a son also named John, I can't say for sure where he lived. But they were partners in John Lauterbach & Son Co at the time of Sr's death. This company was located in Phila at 438 W Sedgley Ave. Well that's enough for now. Oh and Richard Lodge has the right of first refusal for the J. Lauterbach reel, the only one in existence possibly.

[Biggamereels1988]

Here is another Product I found with his name on it.

[Biggamereels1988]

And I looked up the Patent for that dental floss thing. This fella holds it - Vernon Getz.

So John Lauterbach was mainly in the business of selling anything that could be molded easily and this fella Vernon sought him out to make that. This is Vernon's other inventions.

[colby sorrells]

Not sure how deep you fellows want to go on Jahn Lauterbach but there is a book A.H.Fox by Michael McIntosh that shows some of the details and plenty of other stuff on books.google.com and hathitrust.org.

Keepin' It Fun!

Colby

[Tom R]

Thanks Colby, I have that book and yes it is good source of information, there is a section devoted to Fox’s reel manufacturing business. Another resource is The Double Gun Journal where I found an article about Lauterbach and the high grade shotgun made for him while he was employed at Fox Gun. Lauterbach was a talented machinist, engineer and inventor. Thanks again.

[Biggamereels1988]

Id love to be able to read anything on John. If you have the time to post anything here would make my day! I’m over here spending $40 on whistles…