Reel Manufacturers & Major Distributors - A
ABBEY
& IMBRIE. New York City tackle retailer and wholesaler. Formed in 1875 by
the buyout of Andrew Clerk & Co. by L. H. Abbey and Charles F. Imbrie. They were
originally located in the Clerk shop at 48 Maiden Lane. A&I soon moved to 18
Vesey Street, where the shop remained for many years. Abbey & Imbrie retailed
many Julius vom Hofe reels which were usually marked
Abbey & Imbrie, N.Y.. They also
contracted for reels from many manufacturers over the years. Many of their
earliest reels were manufactured by Conroy and Crook. In 1930 A&I was sold to
Horrocks-Ibbotson of Utica, N.Y.
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH. Famous New York City
retailer of high quality sporting goods. Formed shortly after 1900 by David T.
Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch it lasted until the 1970s. Originally located on
Reade Street, the store moved to the corner of Madison Avenue and 45th Street,
where it remained. Abercrombie & Fitch retailed some tackle under its own name,
but they also sold the finest of the era - vom Hofe, Hardy, Talbot, Meek,
Redifor, Meisselbach and Carlton reels graced their showcases and catalogs.
ABU. This Swedish Company is the
manufacturer of the famous Record and Ambassadeur casting reels, the Cardinal
Spinning Reels, and much other tackle. Abu was founded in Svangsta, Sweden, at
the Mörrum River in 1921. Initially a watch factory, the company's expertise was
redirected toward the development of precision fishing reels in the late 1930s
by the founder's son, Göte Borgstrom. The generation of world famous Ambassadeur
reels got its start in the early 50’s. The Cardinal spinning reel was introduced
in 1965.
AIREX. In 1947 Airex was the first U.S.
Company to delve into the manufacture of the “new” fixed spool, or spinning,
reels. The initial force behind spinning reels in the U.S. was famous sportsman
Bache Brown, who had been importing fixed spool reels from Europe in the 1930s.
The first spinning reel manufactured in this country was an American version of
the French Luxor, which evolved into the Bache Brown Mastereel in 1947. In the
late 1940s, Airex was purchased by the famous toy train manufacturer, the Lionel
Corporation, of Long Island City, NY, and they were soon the major manufacturer
of spinning reels in the U.S. As competition became more intense in the U.S.
sales of Airex reels declined. In 1964 the company was sold to Fuerer Bros. Of
White Plains, NY.
AIRLITE REEL. An all plastic closed face
spinning reel manufactured Airlite Plastics of Omaha, Nebraska in the 1960s.
ALCEDO. Manufacturer of high quality
spinning reels, located in Torino, Italy. Their reels were imported into this
country by Firearms International in the late 1940s and 50s, and are still
highly sought after today. The Alcedo Micron was perfection in an ultra lite
spinning reel when introduced around 1950.
ALLCOCK. This large British fishing
tackle company started up shortly after 1800, and manufactured all kinds of
tackle for almost 200 years. They manufactured many reels in brass, hard rubber,
and combinations of metals and rubber. Their Aerial reels are works of art.
Alcock also produced fly reels, multipliers, and Nottingham style wooden reels.
Allcock was gobbled up by those conglomerates in the 1960s, and at one time was
owned by Shakespeare.
ALVEY. Queensland, Australia. The
pivoting Alvey spinning reel is undoubtedly the most famous Australian reel to
collectors. In 1920 Charles Alvey began manufacturing an oak version of the old
Malloch reel on a treadle lathe. By the mid-1930s the family business was
producing 25,000 reels per year. Alvey began manufacturing reels with Bakelite
spools in 1936. These reels are produced in many sizes and configurations. Alvey
also manufactured Nottingham style reels, and big game reels.
AMERICA COMPANY. Rockford, Illinois.
(1900-1910s). Manufactured a variety of quality casting reels starting with the
patented quick take-down, ball bearing reel of William Sutton. Reels were made
in German silver, aluminum, and nickel plated brass in a variety of sizes. The
America Company reels were available with the Richardson Level Winder [see
entry] These reels are scarce. [See also America-Meek below]
AMERICA-MEEK REELS. These reels were
manufactured by the American Company [see above] under the supervision of
Sylvanus Meek, son of B.F. Meek. According to antique reel authority, Ron Gast,
it is not known if Meek made these reels himself, or just supervised the
production. These models are marked
America-Meek. These reels are quite scarce.
AMERICA REEL CO. Indianapolis, Indiana.
1880s company that produced a New York style ball handle reel. It was unique in
that it had a 10:1 gear ratio. This reel was patented on Jan 31, 1882.
APPLETON & BASSET. Boston, Massachusetts
retail firm from early 1880s until 1901. Their name is stamped on reels usually
manufactured by Julius vom Hofe.
AQUA
SPORTSMAN. Information needed.
ARJON. Swedish Reel Company best known
for their high quality and innovative bait casting reel, the Fighter. This reel
was imported to the US in 1958 by Walter Stutz Inc. of New York City. The Arjon
Fighter had an innovative line guide, an aerodynamic brake, star drag, and easy
take down. The reel failed in this country due to its high price and poor
marketing.
ARMAX. A trademark of the Winchester
Repeating Arms Co., and used on fishing tackle from 1922 until c1930. Most of
the Winchester reels were available to sporting goods jobbers with the Armax
label, so this trademark can be found stamped in fly reels, multipliers, and
salt water reels. Although identical to the Winchester models Armax reels are
usually worth quite a bit less than those marked Winchester.
ARNOLD-BIVANS. Information needed.
ASHAWAY SLIP-CAST REEL. An unusual open
faced spinning reel that was used on top of the rod. The reel was manufactured
by Ohio Tool Co (OTCO) of Cleveland, Ohio, and sold by both OTCO and Ashaway
Line & Twine Mfg. Co. of Ashaway, Rhode Island. The reel went into production
in 1947, and only lasted for a few years.
ATKINSON, WILLIAM. William Atkinson of
Fairhaven, Washington patented an automatic reel built into a rod handle. The
reel was patented in 1904. It is not known if this reel was ever produced for no
examples have been found. MORE
ATWOOD REEL. Leonard Atwood of Farmington
Falls, Maine was a prolific inventor , who patented the “variable tension reel”
on Oct 29, 1907. This was a fly reel with a unique drag system that had very
limited production. It was made in both single action and multiplying versions
and several sizes. This reel is rare.
