Little old fishing reel

[recondigger]

Found this today and can't find a match to age it. Any if you have an idea I'm guessing late 1800's but no clue

 

[bigfoot1]

lookin...looks like early hendryx....

 

[bigfoot1]

is the handle curved or straight?also a straight on foto of bottom of mounting foot can help alot

 

[MinnesotaStateUniversity]

I'm jelly

Nice find man. I'd toss that on a pole & take it out kayakin

 

[recondigger]

The handle is straight. I'll post a pic in a few min of the bottom.

 

[recondigger]

I'm jelly

Nice find man. I'd toss that on a pole & take it out kayakin

The cool thing is it still works. I'm going to restore it so I can use it

 

[recondigger]

More pics

 

[bigfoot1]

ty for photos....I believe you have a hendrxy stamped bird cage reel...appox 1910.close examination of the bottom of foot may provide a makers mark and may not.it is one piece foot and attachment and riveted construction,straight arm and size is right.they made like 2 million of em.least expensive and most popular.they started in 1870s and actually made bird cages."for the birds"yup...coined by them.

yours is(or was)likely nickle plated if I have the year near right.Its super cool and I am truly jealous....cool find...

edit...as I notice even the arm is stamped it is likely earlier than 1910....looks alot like the 1890 to 1900 handle.I'm no expert it must be said.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Very cool find love that it still works. Probably nickel or brass, I noticed a lot of the older reels were made with those 2 metals, not for sure but good starting point.For your restore, white lithium grease is a good reel lube.

 

[recondigger]

ty for photos....I believe you have a hendrxy stamped bird cage reel...appox 1910.close examination of the bottom of foot may provide a makers mark and may not.it is one piece foot and attachment and riveted construction,straight arm and size is right.they made like 2 million of em.least expensive and most popular.they started in 1870s and actually made bird cages."for the birds"yup...coined by them.

yours is(or was)likely nickle plated if I have the year near right.Its super cool and I am truly jealous....cool find...

edit...as I notice even the arm is stamped it is likely earlier than 1910....looks alot like the 1890 to 1900 handle.I'm no expert it must be said.

That is great help thank you very much.

 

[woodstock]

This maybe worth some bucks . There is a market for vintage reels like this ! Great find !!! Woodstock

 

[steelheadwill]

Very nice Find
Contrary to his statement Bigfoot1 sounds quite knowledgeable on this subject
Being single action qualifies this as a fly reel I believe.
There may have been a decorative cabochon stone/glass at the end of the pinion.
Prior to the sale of Hendryx Mfg to Winchester in 1919, the use of his 1876 patented U shaped rivets
(designed for his bird cages) for attaching the seat to the pillars is the only design I can find.

Hendryx would usually be stamped on the side,
and line capacity/reel size on the top or sometimes bottom of the foot.
I'm opining that if it's not marked Hendryx, it's a copycat. not an uncommon practice, and likely a rarer item.
Looking forward to hearing feedback on this. HH all

 

[recondigger]

Well I have looked the reel over after cleaning it and its not marked.

 

[CoilyGirl]

That's a great find! There is just something about old fishing equipment that attracts me.

 

[Mich. Wolverine]

Nice find. This is the Hendryx boys reel that I found a few years ago. You can see the patent dates on the part that attaches to the pole.The patent dates are- March 21 1876 and July 10 1888. On the other end it is stamped Hendryx.

Wolverine.

 

[steelheadwill]

Nice find. This is the Hendryx boys reel that I found a few years ago. You can see the patent dates on the part that attaches to the poleView attachment 794517View attachment 794519View attachment 794520View attachment 794521.The patent dates are- March 21 1876 and July 10 1888. On the other end it is stamped Hendryx.

Wolverine.

There's those 1876 patented 'U' birdcage rivets, his first patent, probably very proud of them, neat example.

 

[recondigger]

More pics

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

It's not a Hendryx. The sideplate with the crank was never that crude on Hendryx reels and there would be a stamped (or raised) name on the foot. Usually a number as well.

 

[recondigger]

It's not a Hendryx. The sideplate with the crank was never that crude on Hendryx reels and there would be a stamped (or raised) name on the foot. Usually a number as well.

I believe you are correct I think the solved was hit to soon. I'm still looking around and can't find any thing

 

[bigfoot1]

I will say that I am not an expert in such items.I found a hendryx a year ago and researched it.This thread got me going again on these reels.I will humbly submit these points for research consideration.
1)if it isnt a hendryx,it is a knockoff.....I submit that the hendryx(later winchester)was the least expensive unit in existance....hardly a prime target for a knockoff.
2)virtually all of the stamped and pressed riveted reels of the era are not really close.
3)it is known that many of the reels produced,especially during ownership transition(1918) had no markings.sometimes yes....someties not...known deal.
4)hendryx had a buttload of models from very crude(cheap)to really very nice.no one made more choices and more in total number.
5)the closest known manufacturer(after hendryx)may well be van hofe.they are easily identifiable and this simply isnt one.

So we are left with someone copying the least expensive reel ever produced...or it is one of the unmarked hendryx reels known to exist.Anyones guess I suppose,my money is on hendryx....about 1905ish and of the low end models.remember....they made quality also...this aint one of em.

respectfully submitted.....pat

I sure hope someone can provide difinitive photo evidence and solve this for good....