ja coxe reels

jonny mack · Post by **jonny mack** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:34 am

can someone please give me a history lesson on ja coxe i know he merged with the bronson reel company did ja coxe start in michigan and end up in L.A.? Why is the L.A reels worth more?getting ready for the bass spawn here in florida jonny

Post by **john elder** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:07 am

Jonny: he started on the West Coast and the early reels are of much higher quality, as well as historically more interesting. they were made from nickel silver..the Bronson reels were plated and get worse as you polish out the flaws instead of better...and of course, the LA reels are fewer and thus rarer. Brian Funai just pointed out there is a small book about Coxe floating around...I bought it from Amazon..dont' know if there are any left or not, but you might check...around 15 bucks.

His reels originally were built to meet the needs of the heavy hitters of the time like Zane Grey and others that fished out of Avalon. Story goes that he was run out of town on a rail (basically) when he was found to be "borrowing" money from the tuna club. I haven't got to that chapter of the book, if it exists...from what I read at the first, it is a spin book put out by the Bronson contingent...first chapters have him heading for sainthood.

jonny mack · Post by **jonny mack** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:12 am

john thanks for info i could not find book at this time will keep looking did he build reels in bronson michigan after being run out of cali?or did the bronson reel co. buy his name right away?

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:23 pm

Jonny: Actually, there were some beautiful original Coxe reels made by Bronson. Many of the models were similar to, if not identical to, ones that were made in California. They were German silver and Bakelite and with the through bolt design. I had a Coxe Catalog from Bronson Michigan from 1938 and the catalog and reels were first class.

I don't believe it was until WWII era that the original Coxe reels were dropped and many of the so-called Coxe SW reels were just inexpensive reels of Bronson design.

jonny mack · Post by **jonny mack** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:31 pm

reel geezer thanks for info my last and final question i came across a 625 new in box with paperwork and oil and a 25c in great shape at a garage sale and they have bronson mi on reel seat but lawson book list them under ja coxe not bronson coxe so i assume my reels were made by the bronson company off the california reels of better quality?i will keep eye for book john wrote in his message thanks for the reply

Post by **john elder** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:51 pm

Jonny: The 625 reel and the 25 are still "Coxe" reels...just made after the move to Bronson (did he make freshwater reels in LA? ..don't think so)...if they are early, as Phil said, they are pretty nice quality reels, although I have not run across one that is Ni-Ag in the 625 and larger (saltwater) reels...all the ones I have seen are plated...that is ok if the one you might still be able to pick up is, in fact, NIB...if it has been used, then it will likely have salt burn on the reel seat that won't polish off. I have a 625 in box that is suffering that malady, but is nicely made. I believe the 25 is Ni-Ag and I bet those freshwater reels are the ones you mean, Phil? i was just thinking of the bigger salt reels.

The Amazon link for that book: "Men, Fish and Tackle" is

http://www.amazon.com/Men-Fish-Tackle-S ... 1930585349

also, if you google that title, you'll see that is at other sites, as well.

jonny mack · Post by **jonny mack** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:25 pm

thanks again john for info and book site i bought reels i could not walk away with reels in that great of shape i think i did well on price going by the lawson book. thanks for help.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:00 am

John: Bronson made a full line of Coxe reels for SW fishing. From a 16/0 Cradle reel down to 2/0 surf models. They also carried custom Tycoon rods for JA Coxe reels, fighting chairs, flying gaffs, etc. These were all in the 1937 "J. A. Coxe and Bronson Coxe Surf & Deep Sea Reels" catalog. I would guess all those reels were in their lineup until WWII. There are none of the freshwater reels in that catalog and their are no numbered SW reels. They are given a letter designation and a size, ie: 12/0CW, which is their largest standard reel, 700 yd capacity, 5-3/16 dia, 5" wide.

Post by **john elder** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:23 am

Wow...that sounds like a catalogue I'd love to have and/or look at. Is there a copy in the Orca library? If not, would love to get one! thanks, Geez, for filling some gaps in the hazy transition..at least for me! Sooooo, where are all those boffo SW Ni-Ag Bronson/Coxe reels? ...maybe I'm just too sheltered...or too impatient...have to finish reading that book!