Year Patent No. Patent
1873 388 Mutiplying Gear Train Provisional Patent.
1884 3250 Strike From the Winch.
1884 7989 Collapsible Landing Net Rings.
1884 9052 Fishing Rod Joints.
1885 13388 The Sun Nottingham Reel.
1888 7019 Fishing Reels. This Patent was deemed too ambitious(abandoned).
1888 18817 Spindleless Reel.
1892 17212 Collapsible Landing Net Rings, improved version.
1897 8957 Patent Drum Catch.
1898 1577 Fishing Reels. Nice try but had to be abandoned due to inexactitude.
1899 1050 Line Director for Rod End Pulleys.
1907 19296 Patent Line Guard.
1907 27858 Fishing Rod Rings.
1912 23338 Line Drier.
1913 29187 Improved Line Guide.
1958 855677 Improved Check Mechanism.
As you can see Reuben Heaton & Sons, established in 1857 have played a bigger part in British Angling History than many have realised...up 'til now!
The main problem with identifying Heaton Reels is that they mostly made tackle for other more lauded manufacturers as they were Wholesalers to the British Angling Industry and left off their own manufacturing labels to allow for the seller to put their own company logo on. Hardy, J.W Youngs, Allcocks, Milwards, Army & Navy, Farlows, Rudge, Homer, Sealey, Pownalls, Craddocks to name but a few and probably just about any other 'maker' of reels from 1857 - 1971 had reels and sundry other tackle manufactured by Reuben Heaton & Sons at some stage
To put the 'cat amongst the pigeons' it would seem from a part of my research into this fabled company that many, many Reels and Angling Ephemera, cherished and gloated over by collectors of 'well known' expensive brands have one thing in common, a small corner that is forever Birmingham....Reuben Heaton & Sons!
I hope this is of interest!!!
Mole Power!!!
