Need info on Fishing Reel

packerbacker · Oct 2, 2014

I found this at a thrift store for $5. It had an old, beat up wooden fishing rod stuck in the end of it and held in place with electrical tape. It has a few things molded into it like "WRIGHT MODEL A UNI-MATIC REEL"...."J.S. NORTON" "PAT. NO. 341612" "1955973 OTHER PAT. PND." It's about 14-1/2" long and 1-1/4" in diameter. The line is stored inside the unit and is dispensed through a small hole near the cranking handle. It even has a drag setting mechanism built into it. I googled pat. no. 341612 and came up with a Candian Pat. Drawing dated Oct. 13, 1932 indicating that John S, Norton was the inventor. It said his country of origin was unknown but I've found he was an American from San Francisco. I'm wanting to find out a little more about it like possible value, how many were made etc., etc.

calisdad · Oct 2, 2014

Neat find packerbacker.

nhbenz · Oct 2, 2014

Was this the same as what you learned from the other patent number? Patent US2144635 - Fishing reel - Google Patents. -although it doesn't answer your real questions anyway.

Boy, that's a tough one... I can't find another example (aside from patent info) of anything close using either name on it or by general description... 1930's automatic fishing reel Bakelite?

packerbacker · Oct 3, 2014

Is it bakelite? I was wondering.....it doesn't feel like regular plastic and it's not metal. Yeah, this reel seems to have been lost in space, I can't find anything else on it. I posted in a "reel collector" forum so maybe I'll here from them.

tamrock · Oct 4, 2014

Did the rod look like it was made to go with this odd looking reel? It sure gets difficult when you can't find more info online about something. It looks like it was mass produced and one would expect to find some sales history on those kind of things. Methinks it's an early attempt to the wold famous Pocket Fisherman by RONCO. You can still buy those I see. Pocket Fisherman - Ronco Pocket Fisherman

ARC · Oct 4, 2014

Super rare find. Could be worth a few bucks... been to many fishing museums in my days... never saw that one.

diggummup · Oct 4, 2014

ARRC said:
Super rare find. Could be worth a few bucks... been to many fishing museums in my days... never saw that one.

I agree. It's a new one on me too.

packerbacker · Oct 5, 2014

Yeah, I'm not a collector of fishing reels although my wife would disagree with that statement. I'm with you folks, I've seen a lot of reels, many of them pretty old, but I've never seen one like this. I've been reading the various patents applied for and this one seems to fit in the middle somewhere. One of the patents referred to adding an "inspection plate" and this one has one. I had to use it to put it back together after "stupidly" taking it apart.

packerbacker · Oct 5, 2014

The fishing pole that was in it was wooden and the same diameter of the hole in the reel. It had a "slight" octagon shape to it, not completely round. It's a 3-piece rod but the tip wasn't original, it didn't match the other 2 pieces and it is fiberglass. I'm not sure what was supposed to hold the pole in the reel as there aren't any screw holes or the like for that purpose. When inserting the rod into the reel, it goes in about 1-1/2" and stops where the crank handle shaft goes through the reel. Maybe it was for a snugger fitting rod??.......................and tape.

calisdad · Oct 5, 2014

packerbacker I think it might be an ice fishing reel. I've looked at lots of pics and it seems to fit this category best. Didn't find the exact one but that's where I'll put my 2 cents:

RARE Dickey Ice Fishing Rod Reel Combo Very Unique See descr 1950's Jig Pole | eBay

packerbacker · Oct 6, 2014

I don't think this would work very well for ice fishing. I think the gears and line would get all iced up pretty quick. There isn't any referrence to ice fishing in the patents either. I will have to agree that the "nose" shape is similar to the one you posted.

nhbenz · Oct 6, 2014

The patents mentioned manipulating the pole, which doesn't seem applicable to ice fishing.
One of my searches, which also found nothing pertaining to these, was for old advertising for your reel. There sure was no shortage of inventions in that period for reels trying to do the same thing. But it seems like this one didn't make it to the advertising stage, which I assume means they didn't have a whole lot of them made.
The folks at the following site seem like they would be very interested in your reel: FishingReelResearch.org - Home
They have pictures and listings of a lot of oddball reels in their Makers section, but mention neither Norton nor Wright.

packerbacker · Oct 6, 2014

That's funny benz, I've posted this reel on their site and nobody has come up with anything other than the patents and one guy mentioned that a reel similar to this was displayed at some big O.R.C.A. show they had. No other help on it.

releventchair · Oct 6, 2014

Maybe a prototype the war sidelined. Or similar designs were not well accepted enough to find a co. to build a similar one.
There is/was a Norton Mfg. Co. in Bristol Conn. U.S.A. . I found patents like others have on yours but no actual manufacturing of them, a guy named Horton designed a similar item but after yours . Others too had patents . Hey I tried.
Edsall/Bristol Combo

wainzoid · Oct 6, 2014

Could the 'Wright' have something to do with 'Wright & McGill' aka Eagle Claw. I don't know, just thinking out loud.

releventchair · Oct 6, 2014

It could though that duo started postwar.

packerbacker · Oct 7, 2014

I've seen some of the most obscure things identified on this site and yet, even with all of the information we have, all we got is patents. You'd think there would be more info on the internet than just that. Driving me crazy!

....but I appreciate everyone's help!! Thanks!

Oregon Viking · Oct 7, 2014

There are a lot of vintage fishing reels/lures collectors around here...I showed them the pictures, they are curious and claim they are researching.
A few of these gentleman are fanatics! So let's hope for some info. :icon_thumright:

packerbacker · Oct 19, 2014

Viking....your guys having any luck with this? I have to look at it every day sitting here by my computer.

rock · Oct 19, 2014

Id say its a prototype for a possible invention he was trying to get passed. It might be one of a kind imo. Not all patented items ever make it to the market for further production. It does resemble the pocket fisherman. Might of been where the pocket fisherman came from. I have collected fishing reels my whole life and have never seen one like it. Quite possible its worth a pretty penny. List it on e-bay and see what offers you receive on it. Id bet you get a few. Nice find, rock