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Dating a Smith & Wall reel
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 3:53 pm
by Leon Hoogendijk
Hi guys. I just won this 4" Smith & Wall starback reel on Ebay. It looked so beautiful, I just couldn't resist. I may put some line on it and try doing some margin float fishing for carp with it. Has anybody of you an idea when these reels were built???
Leon
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Re: Dating a Smith & Wall reel
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 4:00 pm
by Dave Burr
Can't help you with dates Leon but wow, what a stunner!
Re: Dating a Smith & Wall reel
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 4:04 pm
by Mark
I have one of these reels Leon, I too would be interested in a date.
I have put 10lb line on mine and they are great for margin fishing for carp.
Re: Dating a Smith & Wall reel
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 5:30 pm
by Loop Erimder
I have no wooden reels but if I did I'd want one like that
Re: Dating a Smith & Wall reel
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:34 pm
by Harry H
Lovely reel got a picture of one in a 1919 Farlows catalogue
Re: Dating a Smith & Wall reel
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:58 am
by Leon Hoogendijk
Does anyone know what kind of wood was used for this reel?
From when till when Smith & Wall build these (kind of) reels?
Harry would it be possible to scan the page of your catalogue and send it to me (or post it here)?
Thanks in advance
Leon
Re: Dating a Smith & Wall reel
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:13 am
by Wallys-Cast
Leon Hoogendijk wrote:Does anyone know what kind of wood was used for this reel?
From when till when Smith & Wall build these (kind of) reels?
Harry would it be possible to scan the page of your catalogue and send it to me (or post it here)?
Thanks in advance
Leon
Leon, I believe most of these better quality reels were made from well seasoned Walnut.
Wal.
Re: Dating a Smith & Wall reel
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 1:02 pm
by Ljm183
I was told recently that Smith & Wall reel,s had the date stamped on the brass starback, unfortunately it,s on the underside and you have to strip the reel to see it.
Re: Dating a Smith & Wall reel
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 1:09 pm
by Marc
Good grief that's pretty.
Re: Dating a Smith & Wall reel
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 2:28 pm
by Nobby
I've an idea that the water resistance wasn't high on the makers agenda...this was a time when people looked after a possession, not left it to rot and then complained when it did.
My own similar reel turned out to be made of a very fibrous and light wood, unlike anything I've seen in the UK outside of mahogany, which is what I was told they
were made from, though I have no idea if it's actually true.
I decided to strip the reel right down and bored holes through the arbour to lighten it. The wood disappeared in a trice, the drill bit barely seeming to touch it and the resultant pile of woodchips weighed nothing.
A check on my brewers hop scales revealed the fact that I had lightened the reel by a mighty 1 gram!
So perhaps, economy, ease of working and light weight were the requirements? I'd also hazard a guess that the thin coat of varnish on the reel was all that kept it from re-cycling itself into something green again at the sight of a raincloud on the horizon.