The Perfection Fly Reel Company
The Perfection Fly Reel Company, based in West Cornwall, Connecticut, is a boutique maker of classic-inspired, hand-crafted fly fishing reels. Founded and operated by maker Fred Balling, the company specializes in meticulous, bench-made click reels that replicate or pay homage to historic vintage designs. Each of the reels below is Fred’s personal example, or what he referred to as “Maker’s Keepers” and “Mother Reels”.
All reels are in excellent condition, showing (at most) only light general wear from handling as the reels were sometimes used as demos at shows.
~ Click On Pictures Below To Enlarge ~
A Homage To The Edward vom Hofe Model 423 “Restigouche” Was The First Reel Produced By The Perfection Fly Reel Company. Twenty Were Made And All Were Sold To Bass Pro Shop.
This Example Is 3/0, Measures 3-5/8″ In Diameter And Is Left Hand Wind. Fewer Than A Dozen Were Made.
The Plates Are Ebonite And The Hardware Is Nickel Silver.
The Second Reel Made By The Perfection Reel Company Was Their Take On The William Mills & Son “Fairy Reel”
The Fairy Is 2-3/8″ In Diameter, Has A Spool Width Of 5/8″ And Is Constructed Of Ebonite With Nickel Hardware And An Aluminum Spool
In My Opinion, Fred Balling’s Reimagination Of The Mills “Fairy” Is Superior To The Original. The Fairy Is Out Of Production And Only Two Remain In Fred’s Inventory.
Fred’s Next Recreation Was The First Model Meek 44, With A Flat Back And Dog Leg Handle
This Reel Is Solid Nickel Silver With A Diameter Of 2-1/2″ And A Titanium Spool. Note The Fanciful Pillars, The Knurling And The Bone Knob.
Made With The Same Tight Tolerances As The Original, The Perfection Fly Reel Company 44 Is Faithful To The Original. This Reel Is Out Of Production.
Fred’s Vision On His Take Of The William Mills & Son “Beaverkill” Was To Create A Reel Very Similar In Style, But More Durable And At An Affordable Cost
The “Beaverkill” Is Constructed Of Delrin, Has Nickel Silver Hardware And Uses Aluminum For The Foot And Spool. The Diameter Is 3″, Including The Pillars.
The “Beaverkill” Is The Perfection Fly Reel Company’s Most Fishable Reel And Was Designed To Hold A 4, 5 Or 6-Weight Line Along With A Suitable Amount Of Backing. Fred Plans To Build Approximately Twenty More Examples Of The Beaverkill, Which Will Exhaust His Available Parts.
The Final Offering From The Perfection Fly Reel Company Is A Tribute To The Edward vom Hofe Aluminum “Peerless”, Of Which Only A Few Exist
The Peerless Is Constructed Of Aluminum With Nickel Silver Hardware. The Aluminum Parts Are Tumbled In Granite Chips To Give Them A Pleasing Tone And A Vintage Vibe. The “Peerless” Is 3″ In Diameter.
Fred Plans To Build Approximately Twenty Examples Of The Peerless, Which Is His Latest Model, The Culmination Of 20 Years Of The Perfection Fly Reel Company
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This collection is available for $6,500.00, payable to Fred Balling. Each reel will include a quality block-leather case and Fred will provide a letter of provenance. The reels will be available for inspection at the upcoming ORCA Nationals at Bolton Landing.
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The Following Pictures Are From The Perfection Reel Company Archives
~ Click On Pictures Below To Enlarge ~
Fred Balling
Assembling Beaverkill Reels
Machining A Click Gear
Turning An Arbor
Peerless Plates
Fairy Reel Working Drawing
Fairly Reel Rear PLate
Lots Of Spools
A Batch Of Arbors
Restiogouche
Peerless
A Group Of Beaverkill Reels
The Original Shop
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I Buy Old Tackle ~ Click Here
reelsmith@aol.com
©
All Rights Reserved
A Homage To The Edward vom Hofe Model 423 “Restigouche” Was The First Reel Produced By The Perfection Fly Reel Company. Twenty Were Made And All Were Sold To Bass Pro Shop.
This Example Is 3/0, Measures 3-5/8″ In Diameter And Is Left Hand Wind. Fewer Than A Dozen Were Made.
The Plates Are Ebonite And The Hardware Is Nickel Silver.
The Second Reel Made By The Perfection Reel Company Was Their Take On The William Mills & Son “Fairy Reel”
The Fairy Is 2-3/8″ In Diameter, Has A Spool Width Of 5/8″ And Is Constructed Of Ebonite With Nickel Hardware And An Aluminum Spool
In My Opinion, Fred Balling’s Reimagination Of The Mills “Fairy” Is Superior To The Original. The Fairy Is Out Of Production And Only Two Remain In Fred’s Inventory.
Fred’s Next Recreation Was The First Model Meek 44, With A Flat Back And Dog Leg Handle
This Reel Is Solid Nickel Silver With A Diameter Of 2-1/2″ And A Titanium Spool. Note The Fanciful Pillars, The Knurling And The Bone Knob.
Made With The Same Tight Tolerances As The Original, The Perfection Fly Reel Company 44 Is Faithful To The Original. This Reel Is Out Of Production.
Fred’s Vision On His Take Of The William Mills & Son “Beaverkill” Was To Create A Reel Very Similar In Style, But More Durable And At An Affordable Cost
The “Beaverkill” Is Constructed Of Delrin, Has Nickel Silver Hardware And Uses Aluminum For The Foot And Spool. The Diameter Is 3″, Including The Pillars.
The “Beaverkill” Is The Perfection Fly Reel Company’s Most Fishable Reel And Was Designed To Hold A 4, 5 Or 6-Weight Line Along With A Suitable Amount Of Backing. Fred Plans To Build Approximately Twenty More Examples Of The Beaverkill, Which Will Exhaust His Available Parts.
The Final Offering From The Perfection Fly Reel Company Is A Tribute To The Edward vom Hofe Aluminum “Peerless”, Of Which Only A Few Exist
The Peerless Is Constructed Of Aluminum With Nickel Silver Hardware. The Aluminum Parts Are Tumbled In Granite Chips To Give Them A Pleasing Tone And A Vintage Vibe. The “Peerless” Is 3″ In Diameter.
Fred Plans To Build Approximately Twenty Examples Of The Peerless, Which Is His Latest Model, The Culmination Of 20 Years Of The Perfection Fly Reel Company
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This collection is available for $6,500.00, payable to Fred Balling. Each reel will include a quality block-leather case and Fred will provide a letter of provenance. The reels will be available for inspection at the upcoming ORCA Nationals at Bolton Landing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Following Pictures Are From The Perfection Reel Company Archives
~ Click On Pictures Below To Enlarge ~
Fred Balling
Assembling Beaverkill Reels
Machining A Click Gear
Turning An Arbor
Peerless Plates
Fairy Reel Working Drawing
Fairly Reel Rear PLate
Lots Of Spools
A Batch Of Arbors
Restiogouche
Peerless
A Group Of Beaverkill Reels
The Original Shop
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I Buy Old Tackle ~ Click Here
reelsmith@aol.com
©
All Rights Reserved
Fred Balling
Assembling Beaverkill Reels
Machining A Click Gear
Turning An Arbor
Peerless Plates
Fairy Reel Working Drawing
Fairly Reel Rear PLate
Lots Of Spools
A Batch Of Arbors
Restiogouche
Peerless
A Group Of Beaverkill Reels
The Original Shop
