Reels
I seem to like small, early, English, alloy fly reels …especially ones with white and yellow knobs. I particularly like those by Reuben Heaton and Walter Dingley. Reuben Heaton founded his business in 1857 and it is still in operation today. I only collect examples of Heaton reels that are 2.5″ in diameter and have a very distinctive, bulbous knob, which is rarely seen. As for Walter Dingley, he left Hardy Brothers around 1911 or so to build reels on his own. The Dingley reels I collect are all 2.75″ in diameter. Needless to say, my reel collecting is far more disciplined than my paraphernalia collecting.
~ Click On Pictures To Enlarge ~
- 2.5″ Reuben Heaton For The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited. Note The Sliding Line Guide.
- It Is Unusual For A Reel This Small To Have A Click Switch
- 2.5″ Reuben Heaton. Possibly A Variation On The Model 210. Note The Coin-Edge Rims On Both Heatons.
- There Are No Markings On This Reel Other Than “XI” Scratched Into The Inside Of The Frame And Back Of The Spool
- 2.75″ Walter Dingley With “Uniqua” Style Latch
- This Reel Is Marked “D13″ On The Inside Of The Frame And “13″ On The Foot
- 2.75″ Walter Dingley For Alex Martin
- This Reel Is Marked “D16″ On The Inside Of The Frame And “16″ On The Foot
- 2.75″ Walter Dingley For JJS Walker Bampton & Company. Note The Steel (Rather Than Brass) Spindle, Which Makes This The Tightest Reel I’ve Ever Come Across.
- This Reel Is Marked “3″ On The Inside Of The Frame And “III” On The Back Of The Spool And On The Foot Pillar
