A Wealthy Man’s Fly Reels

Jacob Weidmann

Jacob Weidmann

If you hunt for old tackle long enough, every once in a while you will come across something really special …something more than just an extra nice rod, reel or lure. In this case something special is a group of early fly reels and a salmon reel, each engraved with the owner’s name. The fly reels are in rare Kosmic reel cases which are also marked with the owner’s name and the salmon reel is in a case by the same maker.

The best part …being able to trace the name to a face and his history.

Jacob Weidmann was born in Switzerland in 1845 and at the age of 22 moved to the United States. Weidmann started his company in the silk dying business in Paterson, NJ, in 1870. By the early-1900s The Jacob Weidmann Silk Dying Company was the largest silk dyeing works in the country, employing approximately 3,000 workers.

In 1909 Weidmann sold the business and retired. A member of the Spesutia Hunting and Fishing Clubs Of Harford County, Maryland, Weidmann died In 1911 while on a fishing trip in Canada.

Below are pictures of Jacob Weidmann’s reels and their cases.

~ Click On Pictures To Enlarge ~

The Rear Is Engrave "Jacob Weidmann". More On Weidmann Below.

A Very Artistic Inscription

This Reel Was Likely Made For Crook By US Net & Twine or Montague

This Reel Was Made For Crook By US Net & Twine/Montague And Is Essentially A Kosmic 925 Without Raised Pillars

This Reel Is Signed "J.B. Crook, Makers, NY" And Is 2" In Diameter

This Reel Is Signed “J.B. Crook, Makers, NY” And Is 2″ In Diameter

This 2″ Reel Is Engraved “Jabob Weidmann”

This Reel Measures Just 2″ In Diameter”

Weidman's Reel & Case

Weidmann’s Reel & Case

Weidmann's Reel In It's Kosmic Reel Case, Signed "Jacob Weidmann, Patterson, NY, 1897"

Weidmann’s Reel In It’s Kosmic Reel Case, Signed “Jacob Weidmann, Patterson, NJ, 1897″

Weidmann's Julius vom Hofe Salmon Reel. Note The Adjustable Drag And Rosette Washers, Whish Are Rarely Seen On JVH Fly Reels.

Weidmann’s Julius vom Hofe Salmon Reel. Note The Adjustable Drag And The Rosette Washers, Which Are Rarely Seen On JVH Fly Reels.

This Reel Has A Fixed Drag Inside The Front Plate And Is 4.25″ In Diameter

This Reel Has A Fixed Drag Inside The Front Plate And Is 4.25″ In Diameter

Weidmann's Salmon Reel In It's Custom Fitted Leather Case

Weidmann’s Salmon Reel In It’s Custom Fitted Leather Case

This Case Was Made By The Same Maker As The Kosmic Cases And Shares The Same Makers Mark

This Case Was Made By The Same Maker As The Kosmic Cases And Shares The Same Distinctive Decorative Tooling, Stitching And Makers Mark

A Kosmic 925 Fly Reel With Case

A Kosmic 925 Fly Reel With Case

This Reel Would Make A Very Nice Present.

This Reel Would Make A Very Nice Present.

Jacob Gifted This Reel To His Daughter, Esther.

Jacob Gifted This Reel To His Daughter, Esther.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I Buy Old Tackle ~ Click Here

reelsmith@aol.com

©

All Rights Reserved