B.C. Milam, Frankfort, Ky., No. 5, GS, sn. 8201, there is a double strike on the number 4/5, the 5 is struck over a 4.

$1,900

Seamaster, 'Patented' on foot

P.O.R

Fin-Nor, fly reel No.1, marked 'Designed by Gar Wood, Jr.', Marked 'Frank Gaudiosi', sn. 107, with spare spool

$1,100

Abu Ambassador, 75 No. 644 of 1,000, new in the wood, unused, mint

P.O.R

Fin-Nor, 'Wedding Cake', No. 1, 2, 3, set of three, 'Direct Drives'  in presentation wood box, all with counter balanced handles

$5,200

The name Fin-Nor began in Miami's Finley-Norwood Machine Shop and its enterprising owner Fred Grieten became the world famous Fin-Nor Reel Company. The story of Fin-Nor, as it turns out, is pretty much the story of the popularization of saltwater big game fishing in America.

Grieten, a mechanical genius, cut his (gear) teeth tooling the incredibly huge Ed Knowles reel in 1934. Although not a fisherman himself, he took this experience and began to construct a reel that would change the world. The first Fin-Nor reels came out in 1936 and immediately began to alter the saltwater landscape. For the first time, anglers had reliable and powerful reels intended for the largest game fish that swim, and when paired with the great Tycoon Tackle rods--a firm that Fin-Nor developed a decades-long relationship--the combos became the chosen tackle of numerous angling icons, ranging from the legendary Captain Tommy Gifford to Alfred Glassell Jr. to Michael Lerner.  (Fin-Nor: The Legacy Years)

Edward vom Hofe, 423, 6-0, 'Restigouche', arrow head style detent indicator for seven red dot drag feature on back plate, Pat. '02

$1,800

Edward vom Hofe, 423, 2-0, 'Restigouche', pointer style detent for seven red dots drag feature on back plate, Pat. '02, orig. leather case, unmarked

 SOLD

Edward vom Hofe, 423, 4-0, 'Restigouche', arrowhead style detent indicator with seven red dot drag feature on back plate, Pat. '83 reel marked 'A.W.H.', orig. leather case, factory marked 'A.W.H.'

$2,200

A. W. (Alfred William) Hoyt, an engineer and investor in the Federal Union Mining Company and author of "Over the Plains to Colorado" written in 1867. Hoyt owned a large estate on Long Island "Red Maples" and was married to General William Tecumseh Sherman's niece.)

Edward vom Hofe, 'Tobique' 504, 2-0, multiplier with handle mounted in the center which is guarded by an extension of the GS rim, salmon reel designed to be fished under the rod, with lever style detent indicator for seven red dot drag feature on back plate, Pat. '02, with orig. leather case

SOLD

Edward vom Hofe, 423, 4-0, 'Restigouche, pointed style indicator detent for seven red dot drag feature on back plate, Pat. '96, orig. leather case, marked 'A.W.H.'

$2,200

A. W. (Alfred William) Hoyt, an engineer and investor in the Federal Union Mining Company and author of "Over the Plains to Colorado" written in 1867. Hoyt owned a large estate on Long Island "Red Maples" and was married to General William Tecumseh Sherman's niece.)

Edward vom Hofe, 423, 3-0, 'Restigouche', lever style detent with seven red dot indicators for drag feature on back plate, Pat. '02, factory marked 'C.S.K.'

  SOLD

Fin-Nor, fly reel No. 3, sn. 997

$995

Edward vom Hofe, 621, 1/0, Pat. '96, sn. 193. with leather thumb brake

$895

Fin-Nor, fly reel No. 3, sn. 546, with counter balance

$995

Edward vom Hofe, 'Islamorada' model 650, size 1-0, open top,  Pat. '96, sn. U574

$795

Model 650 was the Islamorada available in size 1/0 but in two widths, 2 and 2� inches. This again was based on the Star reel but unlike the model 560 had three pillars. This reel was intended for fighting larger fish because it had the Pilot Wheel (star drag) Adjustable Tension drag with a rim control free spool. There was no sliding gear rim controller as the gears were constantly engaged. (M. Duma)

Otto Zwarg, 300, 3-0, sn. D228, lever style detent and seven red dot indicator for drag feature on back plate.

  SOLD

Zwarg reels were first made in Brooklyn, before moving to St. Petersburg, FL where the bulk of his reels were made. As head of reel making for Vom Hofe, Zwarg worked with the world class fisherman who followed him when he was granted the right to make the Vom Hofe style reels under his own name. Only Zwarg made his reels even tougher. If you weigh Vom Hofe and
Zwarg reels of the same size, you will find the Zwargs are slightly heavier, owing to Zwarg's use of heavier internal gearing and braking. (Vintage Fly Tackle)

Fin-Nor, fly reel, No. 2, sn. 939, with counter balance

$995

Fin-Nor, fly reel, No. 2, sn. 875, with counter balance

  SOLD

Meek, No. 3, The Horton Reel Co., Bristol, Conn., sn. 9934 on foot, with a spare handle and wood arbor

$595

V. L. & A., No. 22T, 150 yds. Double multiplying, click and drag, w/original box

$250

Edward vom Hofe, rare early 423, 6-0, early drag setting under the handle on the front plate, six holes in the detent, engraved 'Walter Guttering / 1890, oil cap Pat. '83, and detent has Pat. '79 date.  There is no sn., no model #, early 'S' handle, owner name on brass plate on vom Hofe marked leather case

$2,495.

Rare first model Edward Vom Hofe Model 423 fly reel (before it was called the Restigouche model beginning circa 1911). In the late 1800s this size was designated as 5/0 (became 6/0 circa 1911). This reel has the Sep 2, 1879 patent on the drag adjustment knob under the handle, as well as the Jan 23, 1883 patent mark on the oil cap. This reel does not have the screw on counter balance. (Vintage Fly Tackle)

Edward vom Hofe, rare early 423, 6-0, Pat. '83, no sn., no model #, early 'S' handle early drag setting under the handle, metal arrow head detent indicator for seven red dots, '79 Pat. date on detent, and screwed handle as well as the counter balance, which is the earliest version.

 SOLD

Rare first model Edward Vom Hofe Model 423 fly reel (before it was called the Restigouche model beginning circa 1911). In the late 1800s this size was designated as 5/0 (became 6/0 circa 1911). This reel carries the Sep 2, 1879 patent on the drag adjustment knob under the handle, as well as the Jan 23, 1883 patent mark on the oil cap.  This reel does not have the screw on counter balance.  (Vintage Fly Tackle)

Edward vom Hofe, rare early 423, 6-0, early drag setting under the handle, six holes in detent, no dots, '79 Pat. date on detent.  Pat. '83 on oil cap, no sn., no model #, early screw 'S' handle and counter balance, engraved: 'E. E. Flint / '91', leather case is marked 'E. E. F.' on a brass plate

SOLD

Very rare first model Edward Vom Hofe Model 423 fly reel (before it was called the Restigouche model beginning circa 1911). In the late 1800s this size was designated as 5/0 (became 6/0 circa 1911). This reel has the Sep 2, 1879 patent on the drag adjustment knob under the handle, as well as the Jan 23, 1883 patent mark on the oil cap. This reel does have a screw-on S-handle reel with a screw-top counterbalance, a rare feature!   (Vintage Fly Tackle)

Julius vom Hofe, 'B Ocean', size 6-0, sn. B811, Pat. '11

$395