A:
AERIAL REEL. A classic British type of
reel, invented in 1896, by champion caster H. Coxon. This reel was perfected by
Allcock’s. Aerials were a light weight single action reel used for casting. The
U.S. “Indiana Style” reels were similar, but lacking the quality. These reels
were manufactured by Allcock’s until the 1960s.
AGATE. A variegated stone used in line guides.
ALUMINUM. A bluish-silver malleable metal, noted for its lightness.
Expensive in reel use in the 1800s, but commonly used in the 1900s as it became
inexpensive.
AMERICAN ANGLER. America’s first sporting
newspaper devoted entirely to fishing. It was founded in 1881 by William C.
Harris of Forest & Stream newspaper.
This weekly tabloid ended publication in 1900, and was then revived from
1916-1921 as a monthly magazine. American
Angler is a great reference source for fishing tackle historians.
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF FLY FISHING.
Manchester, Vermont. Features a large collection of fly fishing artifacts,
including reels, and a large reference library. It is suggested that advance
arrangements be made to do research at the museum.
ANTI-BACKLASH DEVICES. Many mechanical
devices were patented to reduce the possibility of casting reel backlashes, or
overruns. Probably the most famous was that of Henry Baumgartel on Feb 5, 1907.
This patent was purchased by South Bend, and used on their reels from 1910 until
the 1950s. There were many “add on” ABL devices patented and marketed up until
the 1960s.
ARCHIMEDIAN REEL. Thought to be the first
patented fly reel, this reel was patented on April 25, 1848 by Frederick Skinner
of Sheffield, England. This was a full decade before the Billinghurst reel
received those honors in the U.S. Skinner’s horizontal fly reel was very
innovative featuring a ventilated spool and adjustable drag. The Archimedian
reel is naturally very rare.
AUTOMATIC REEL. A reel in which the line
is retrieved by a clock type spring unwinding, rather than by the fisherman
cranking the handle. The first successful version was patented by Francis A.
Loomis of Onondaga, NY in 1880. Over the years most major American reel
manufacturers have had an automatic reel in their lineup at some time. This type
of reel has endured controversy and always had a following. They are still
manufactured today.
