The most valuable reel I own

[Tups]

Tiger: nice collection. Of the 3 black reels, left and center appear to be Ocean City 36 and 35 respectively. On the right is likely also an OC 36, with an unusual spindle screw. If you open them up you should see a small makers mark stamped on the back plate and the spool; looks like “PC”.

 

[mt_flyfisher]

Some vintage bling i acquired at yard sales over the years. None super $. Every one is neat in its own way. All fully functional.

Nice collection!

Several of your reels look similar to this, which was my very first fly reel that I bought sometime in the mid-1950’s. It is not labeled except for a stamp on the reel foot that says (proudly) ”Made in U.S.A.”

I don’t recall ever catching a trout with it, but maybe I should get it out and fish with it - like your’s, it is fully functional.

While that was my first fly reel, here are a couple of the last ones I’ve bought.

Some might look at the contrast between these reels and claim “That’s progress.”

But, is it really?

 

[use2wuz]

Mine is a Hardy Marquis Fly Weight from the early 80's. It is my got to reel. I have fished it hard and often. Probably not worth much in the marketplace. but it has 40 years of memories. I got a small bonus from my senior partner. I as single so a friend and I drove to Atlantic City to play blackjack. I played all night long at a $10 table and was down to my last $30.00 or so. The deck caught fire for me and when I was done my initial $150 stake was almost $500.00 . Thank the saints that they closed the casino and threw us out. I called Barry Beck who put together a Hardy, a Sage 8'6" four weight GLS and a double taper line for under the bankroll that I had. I'm not sure, but I believe that I actually drove to Benton, Pa to pick it all up. I broke the GLS some 20 or so years later in Utah, but I still have the Hardy and still fish it regularly. That click drag can make you deaf if you are lucky enough to get a nice big trout. !

I worked the Somerset show as a Sage dealer and Barry came over our booth and paid full retail for 10 Sage hats that I had in back stock (he had run out of them). He wouldn’t let me sell them to him at cost - just the kind of guy he is - true story!

 

[use2wuz]

Nice collection!

Several of your reels look similar to this, which was my very first fly reel that I bought sometime in the mid-1950’s. It is not labeled except for a stamp on the reel foot that says (proudly) ”Made in U.S.A.”

I don’t recall ever catching a trout with it, but maybe I should get it out and fish with it - like your’s, it is fully functional.

View attachment 1641226906

While that was my first fly reel, here are a couple of the last ones I’ve bought.

View attachment 1641226907

Some might look at the contrast between these reels and claim “That’s progress.”

But, is it really?

I appreciate Abel, Hardy and the like - I could never afford them though - I usually buy for function and durability with aesthetics a distant third. None of my gear gets used very hard anymore but I keep ALL of it in rotation and we’ll maintained.

 

[Tigereye]

Nice collection!

Several of your reels look similar to this, which was my very first fly reel that I bought sometime in the mid-1950’s. It is not labeled except for a stamp on the reel foot that says (proudly) ”Made in U.S.A.”

I don’t recall ever catching a trout with it, but maybe I should get it out and fish with it - like your’s, it is fully functional.

View attachment 1641226906

It's bit difficult to tell from one picture,

Possibilities would be Hendryx, or one of its successors ie Winchester of Horrocks Ibbotson- though the knob handle is a bit different. What does the back look like? Is it possible some other identifying marks are worn away. I have a similar model that again except for the lack of manufacturing ID it would lead me to believe they are of Winchester or HI origin.

 

[Tigereye]

It's bit difficult to tell from one picture,

Possibilities would be Hendryx, or one of its successors ie Winchester of Horrocks Ibbotson- though the knob handle is a bit different. What does the back look like? Is it possible some other identifying marks are worn away. I have a similar model that again except for the lack of manufacturing ID it would lead me to believe they are of Winchester or HI origin.

 

[Tigereye]

Tiger: nice collection. Of the 3 black reels, left and center appear to be Ocean City 36 and 35 respectively. On the right is likely also an OC 36, with an unusual spindle screw. If you open them up you should see a small makers mark stamped on the back plate and the spool; looks like “PC”.

Yup though the one on the right is an OC 306. I think the spindle screw was a replacement at one te or another, but it works!

 

[Tigereye]

Can you I'd those? I have some that look similar. Would like to know what, where, when if you or anyone else knows. Not interested in value. They're just decorations in the man cave.

The skeletons can be traced somewhat in the book Skeletons: a collectors guide
See post above.


Some are pretty clear cut IDs but others are a bit iffy. Companies jobbed reels for other companies to put their name on and market. The geneology gets bastardized as the marketing companies usually tweak the design abit to distiguish themselves from the competion.

The others in the picture are a Martin 63 and South Bend 1122 and SB Finalist.

 

[mt_flyfisher]

It's bit difficult to tell from one picture,

Possibilities would be Hendryx, or one of its successors ie Winchester of Horrocks Ibbotson- though the knob handle is a bit different. What does the back look like? Is it possible some other identifying marks are worn away. I have a similar model that again except for the lack of manufacturing ID it would lead me to believe they are of Winchester or HI origin.

Thanks for the pictures and information.

My reel looks identical to yours, and could very well be a Hendrix, if they were still making reels in the 1950’s when I bought mine, or one of its successors.

Our family was camping at one of the NY state parks in the Finger Lakes region at the time I bought the reel, perhaps Letchworth or Watkins Glen, but I don’t remember for sure. All that I remember is seeing another man fly fishing, and I could see a lot of trout in the clear water, so I had my parents take me to local store where I bought the reel, and probably a few flies.

I don’t remember ever using the reel again after that, or catching a trout with it, but somehow it’s stayed with me all these years.

Looking at that reel does bring back some memories, but it isn’t even close to being my most cherished fly fishing related possession. (I’ll post a picture of that possession shortly.)

 

[mt_flyfisher]

Fishing roots run deep in our family. Both my wife and I can trace those roots to rivers that flow throughout Pennsylvania, from the Allegheny, the Susquehanna, the Delaware, and to their tributaries. Some of those ancestors were among the first settlers in Pennsylvania.

Two of my great grandparents came to this country from Bern, Switzerland in the 1870’s, and eventually settled in Warren, PA, where their home overlooked the Allegheny River. My great grandfather carved this fisherman, probably over 100 years ago, and I acquired it from my great uncle in the 1970’s. (He too was a fisherman.).

This is my most prized fishing-related possession.

 

[salmo]

I worked the Somerset show as a Sage dealer and Barry came over our booth and paid full retail for 10 Sage hats that I had in back stock (he had run out of them). He wouldn’t let me sell them to him at cost - just the kind of guy he is - true story!

He was a gem to deal with.

 

[Tups]

Martin 65. Light caliper clicker but plenty of space for a DT6 and 50 yards of backing or more.