Fall Auction

eBay Report - August 2005

It was a reely good month, with many nice reels offered and sold, including a couple at the last minute.

Reels:

Ben will probably cover this in his spinning reel report, but I was amazed when a Whirlaway #85 reel and handle only, that was new in the box/papers received 28 bids and sold for $375. That's the newer model without the pivoting handle.

Leading off the scarce reels found this month was the Heddon 4-18 "windshield wiper" level wind reel pictured to the right. This example, which was in EX condition in a fitted leather case, drew 17 bids before selling for $2651. Another unusual reel was a NY style S handle brass reel that was marked "H. Wilshire NY." This reel was in VG condition and reached $710. A J. C. Conroy & Co. NY ball handle reel in German silver and VG sold for $565.55. On the last day of the month a buffed and polished F Vom Hofe & Son "S" handle NY style reel in G-VG (how do you grade a buffed reel?) reached $1500.

A Meek & Milam #6 (large) reel in EX condition also drew a lot of interest and sold for $4094. Another Meek & Milam, but the more common #3 size and in G-VG condition, brought $887.70. A Horton Meek #2 wide spool tournament reel sold for $775. It was jeweled and had a small tournament handle and was in EX condition. A B.C. Milam #3 with 12 o'clock half handle and EX topped out at $1235.12. A Meisselbach Deluxe Takapart #685, (German silver, jeweled, and free spool) in VG sold for $805. A scarce George Gayle #3 raised housing reel with V L & A markings in G-VG brought $1875.

Ambassadeur reels included a 5500 gold colored one in VG which brought $820. A week later another in VG-EX received 22 bids and sold for $787. An ABU 2000 that was about as nice as you could get - new in box wasn't an exaggeration - brought $760. However, these were all topped by a Record Ambassadeur 5000 SG, the first Ambassadeur version, that was VG with tools & case. It sold for $966.99. An EX German silver level wind J.A. Coxe Model 15, that was mislabeled "Jaleoxe" in the title, still reached $178.58. A Winchester #4253 non-level wind casting reel in VG brought $168.50; and a #4254 in VG+ sold for $260.

Big game reels were led off by a Hardy Alma, of which there were 18 made between 1925-37 according to the seller. The reel was in VG and sold for $6320. It is pictured to the left. An Edward Vom Hofe 3/0 hard rubber and GS reel with some cracks at the screws, which sold for $374.09. It had an 1883 patent. A Holzmann Tarpon Reel with mother of pearl inlays that were engraved "E. T. Boswell" which was in VG condition brought $2938.

Fly reels of interest included a Julius Vom Hofe 4" diameter GS/HR in VG, that brought $711.78. A Pflueger Medalist 1492 with Diamolite line guide and VG reached $227.50. A Dingley 3" Perfect style fly reel in VG brought $219. Knowledge is valuable was again illustrated when an 80 yd German silver and hard rubber Montague generic fly reel, missing a bearing cap and only VG brought $480.50. A brass Abbey & Imbrie fly reel in VG sold for $244.49. A 60 yard Cozzone Trout Reel in VG reached $432.78.

An Allcock "Ring Back" Nottingham reel in wood and brass that was 5" in diameter and VG sold for $376. A Hardy Match Fisher pivoting fixed spool reel in VG/papers brought $875.

Lures:

Among the many nice Heddon lures was a wooden River Runt with glass eyes that drew 18 bids. It was in EX condition and sold for $1313.88, and is shown to the right. A 210 in green scale with 3 hooks (NJ rig) and L rig and EX sold for $715. A 150 round body minnow in red crackleback (looked like sienna to me) and VG topped out at $371.86. A really nice mint in EX box/papers Salmon River Runt came up for auction. It was silver scale with blue back and sold for $1036.11. A Harden's Whiz in green scale and VG brought $593.27. Plastic Heddon's included a Tiny Punkinseed in blue & silver scale that was NIB and brought $360.67. An EX Indy checkered flag Sonic brought $276.60. A Midget River Run in Allen Stripey that was EX in an EX box sold for $445 and a Zara Spook, gold/yellow/black spots, and new in box received 20 bids before selling for $787.

Creek Chub Bait Co. was represented by a Wiggler in a color that was unknown to me. It was EX in a VG box ad drew lots of interest when it reached $1575. A Jigger in frog color and VG sold for $355. A Fireplug colored Injured Minnow that was mint in a VG box brought $381. A Mint Dingbat #5200 in a G box/papers in a pretty pearl color was bid to $535.98. A CCBC Shur- Strike 3 hook underwater minnow in rainbow with a blue back, GE and VG sold for $211.50.

A Shakespeare Rhodes Mechanical Frog in EX condition was bid to $376. A Revolution in acorn shape and VG sold for $639.98. A Swimming Mouse that was VG in a VG box/papers seemed to draw good action as it sold for $231.09. This was a pressed eye version in yellow & black tiger stripe. The month ended with an EX wooden Shakespeare Revolution, silver color, getting 25 bids before bringing $5100. A Pflueger Metalized Monarch Musky Minnow (say that three times fast) with three hooks and in VG condition brought $416.55, and a Monarch 5 hook minnow in green crackleback and EX in a VG maroon box sold for $797.73.

Miscellaneous maker baits included A Lane's Wagtail Wobbler that was greenback and gold. It was EX in an EX box and reached $1520.95. It is shown to the left. A Jensen Frog Legs in wood that was EX in an EX box and sold for $176.50. Another frog bait was Oscar The Frog in EX condition which sold for $1050. An Immell Chippewa Skipper in green crackleback and EX brought $886.06. An interesting lure was an Emmerson & Ruhren Musky Fish Lure. It was colored rainbow trout and was VG in a VG unlabeled box. It reached $375. A Moonlight Lady Bug Wiggler in red bug color and VG condition sold for $338. A Fred Young six pack of Balsa Big O's still packed in their egg carton and in mint condition topped out at $2125. A Keeling Expert 3 hook Minnow that was VG in a box I would rate poor or fair sold for $678.85. A wooden Bomber #407 yellow sides color, from the first year of production and VG brought $471.99.

UK Baits included a Gregory Flexible Jointed bait, c1880 and VG that sold for $765.50 and an Allcock Clipper Bait, which was mint in box, and brought $406.

Miscellaneous Fishing Stuff:

Some neat pins and medals came up to the block this month. Among them were a Long Beach Casting Club Medal for All Around Accuracy with yearly bars from 1947-50. It was gold and drew 18 bids before selling for $689. It is shown to the right. A Bellingham, Washington salmon derby pin from the 1920's brought $296. It was 5/8" in diameter and in EX condition. A Mint Fish Ohio Master Angler Pin from 1984 reached $91. A British silver fishing medal from 1926 with fishing scene that was EX in the box sold for $101.77.

A spool of Winchester "Vacation Special" silk fishing line in VG brought $155.02. A nice Winchester bamboo handled landing net in EX got 26 bids and sold for $456.

An Evinrude tin sign 14 x 25 inches and EX sold for $228.50. A carved perch from 1992 by noted lure maker Stan Gibbs, which was mint with a signed card from Gibbs reached $721.99.

The most unusual sale was a locked tackle box that "rattles" and was found in Maine, received 20 bids before selling for $83. I emailed the buyer to find out what was in the box, but never received a reply. Another dandy was a storage building full of reels, parts, etc. in Florida. It got 23 bids and sold for $4700.13.

Rods:

Bamboo fly rods included an Orvis 6'6" Deluxe, 2/2, 2 oz in EX that sold for $690. A Goodwin Granger Deluxe, 8', 3/2 and EX reached $1201. A Phillipson Premium, 8'6", 3/2, HDH and EX topped out at $426. A Sewell Dunton Premium 6' fly rod 2/2 and mint sold for $351, while an E. C. Powell 8'6", 3/2 that was also mint brought $1000.

A Tycoon Tackle Royal Hickory square bamboo big game rod in EX brought $818.67, while the same maker's Bimini King model in EX got 14 bids before selling for $1890.

An Orvis 6'6" light spinning rod, 2/1, EX reached $331.05.

A Harnell black fiberglass spinning rod #804, 9' long and EX sold for $155.55. Fiberglass fly rods included a Hardy Zephyrus, 7'7", 3/1 for a 3 wt line and EX at $350 and a Scott 6'9" 1 of 100, 3/1 also for a 3 wt and EX, which reached $404.

Just to prove that Featherweight rod handles still sell - a Blue Champion in EX brought $267.50.