Fall Auction

eBay Report - September 2006

Reel collectors had a great bunch of reels to chose from in September as a quality collection came to market. However, the auction I thought was the most unique was listed under rods for sale, and was a 1940's version Bristol steel telescopic rod that came with a reel. Almost as an afterthought the seller mentioned that the reel was a B. F. Meek & Sons #4. They did not mention that it was jeweled, but this was visible in the photo. The reel was tarnished but appeared to be in EX condition. This combo brought $610. The buyer might have said "you keep the rod".

Reels:

As mentioned a quality collection was pieced out, and created a lot of interest. Among these was a Kentucky style German silver reel marked "O.V.B. Kentucky" and reputed to be by Pflueger. This reel was jeweled and in EX polished condition. It sold for $999.90. A few weeks later a different seller listed a similar reel marked "Pflueger Kentucky" with screws missing and in VG uncleaned condition. It sold for $1525.99. The two reels are shown to the right in the order mentioned. The stamping made a world of difference. Other casting reels included a Heddon 3-35 left handed reel. It was EX in a marked leather case and brought $1055. A B.F. Meek & Sons #3 tournament narrow spool reel, with aluminum spool and handle in EX sold for $645. A Wm. Talbot, Nevada, MO #4 in EX- reached $920. An unusual Thomas Conroy GS/HR multiplier, engraved with the owners initials and "1884" reached $1312. A Frederick Vom Hofe small brass ball handle NY style reel in EX polished condition sold for $1526.99. A William Mills & Sons raised pillar multiplier with free spool lever, GS/HR, and EX sold for $787.99. It had John Kopf's 1885 patent date on it.

More modern casting reels were led by an ABU Sport 2100 that was EX in box and sold for $260. A gold colored ABU Ambassadeur 5000D in EX- brought $831. An Ambassadeur 2050 in EX in a VG box/papers topped out at $263.

Fly reels of importance included a hard rubber and German silver Edward Vom Hofe Colonel Thompson 1/0 multiplier in VG, which sold for $4775. An EX Edward Vom Hofe #423 1/0 reel topped out at $3600. Another EVH reel of interest was a M504 Tobique 3/0 salmon reel, EX in an EX box marked Philadelphia. It sold for $2375. A brass Pflueger Seminole in 100 yard size and VG reached $222. An interesting, one of a kind, hand made bi-metal Salmon multiplying fly reel marked only "RI51" in EX- sold for $395. A Hardy Perfect from 1912 with red agate guide, 3-3/8" and EX in an EX Hardy case sold for $1495. A brass single action reel marked Chapman & Sons with unbalanced crank and Silas Terry's 1871 patent, in EX- ended at $669.99.

There were many nice surf and big game reels including a George Garey 9/0 in EX for $687.77. A B. Bannister cradle reel in 2/0 size and VG sold for $525.99. A California J. A. Coxe 9/0 in VG reached $1282. A 400 yd. Pflueger Avalon GS/HR sandwiched reel, EX with Williams drag handle, sold for $999.90. A Shakespeare Miller Autocrat, 6/0 and mint in its hard case with papers sold for $670. A Meisselbach dial free spool surf reel, GS/HR and EX brought $585. A Kanto Bros. brass and Aluminum 2/0 reel in EX- reached $355.50. A Rochester Ocean King GS reel, with black paint removed and polished to EX brought $430. A 6/0 Julius vom Hofe GS/HR reel with Rabbeth-style drag handle reached $1412. A B. F. Meek & Sons #11, HR/GS and Rabbeth handle, in EX condition sold for $8,600. It is the reel shown on the left. A Hardy Tuna (pre-Fortuna) 6" big game reel in VG brought $2225. A Pflueger 4-Bros. Rubber City 400 yd reel with Williams Drag and polished to EX received 23 bids before selling for $449.

Lures:

Miscellaneous maker lures included a Thoren Minnow Chaser, W/RH that was mint in an EX box/paper. It reached $709 and is shown to the right. A Garland Cork Head Minnow in EX condition and Strawberry spot color, which sold for $449.99. A Jamison Struggling Mouse, chipmunk color, VG in a VG box with papers brought $306.89. A red Jamison Nemo in EX sold for $299.95. A Montpelier Bait Co. New Speckled Tipper, 2/RH and black spots, which was VG in a VG box sold for $525. A Martin Striped Bass lure #77 in mackerel color that was mint in a VG box brought $372.06

A trade version of the Pflueger Neverfail Minnow labeled "Simmons Single Spinner Minnow" that was VG+ in a G box and green back color, brought $403.98. Another Pflueger trade minnow, a version of the Monarch Minnow, labeled "Sure Thing Wood Minnow" that was EX in a VG wooden box, and green crackleback color, sold for $1625. 

Fly rod baits included one previously thought to be made by the seller's father according to family legend, but identified by a viewer as a Winter's Weedless, in EX condition, which sold for $690. It is shown here.

A Creek Chub Baby Wiggler #201 that was EX in a VG intro picture box, in perch scale, sold for $517. A Surf Popper #7502, W/RH and 7.25 inches long, VG in a VG box topped out at $460.

A Shakespeare Metalized #44 Minnow, 5 hook, EX in an EX wood box brought $760, and seemed undervalued to me.

A metal bait of interest was a J. T. Buel, Whitehall, N.Y. Kidney spoonbait with two 1850's patent dates in VG, which sold for $626.99.

Heddon lures started the month with an EX 1600 in frog scale in a fair down-leaping bass box which brought $750. A 2100 Crazy Crawler, luminous and EX in an EX box reached $775. A white colored Black Sucker (?), 1st version sold for $2000. A green crackleback c1905, high forehead 150 Minnow and in EX condition topped out at $2125. An EX closed leg Luny Frog in the rarer R&W color sold for $631.01. A black shore Crazy Crawler, VG+ reached $282.77. And the month ended with a Goldfish Shore Punkinseed in mint condition that reached $2500. It is shown to the right.

Rods:

Bamboo rods included an Orvis Battenkill, 9', 3/2, made in 1958 and EX sold for $789.88. An Orvis Mitey Mite, only 5', 2/1 and in EX condition brought $940. A Wright & McGill Granger Victory model, 8', 3/2 and EX reached $500. A 7' Leonard, 2/1 for a 4 wt. line and mint sold for $2551.51, while a Leonard Tournament, 7'6", 3/1 EX- reached $875. A Leonard 14' Spey rod, 3/2 and VG sold for $424. A Heddon Black Beauty #17, 9', 3/2 and mint sold for $875. A Heddon Bill Stanley Favorite #20, 8', 3/2 and mint reached $1237. Not in the same league, but interesting was a J. C. Higgins (Sears) by Horrocks-Ibbotson, 7', 2/2, VG which brought $197.50. A Hardy Palakona big game bamboo rod, refinished to EX and 7' sold for $750.

Fiberglass rods included a Fenwick Yellow Jacket 6' light action casting rod in EX sold for $395.25. A Phillipson 3M Bass Tamer 6' rod in VG brought $610.01. An Abercrombie & Fitch fiberglass big game rod, 6'6" long and mint condition reached $183.50.

Miscellaneous Fishing Stuff:

A limited edition, leather bound copy of the book on Bud Stewart in VF condition sold for $175. A Pair of Edwardian 14 x 18" trout prints, c1910 and EX brought $689. They had a 3D type effect. A Tycoon-Fin-Nor catalog from the early 1950s in VG sold for $202.50. Ernie Schweibert's two volume cased Trout books in VG reached $177.50. A Heddon Dowagiac Bait Casting Equipment catalog #19 in VG sold for $386.99. The nicest paper item was a VG W. D. Chapman & Sons trade card. It received 20 bids and went for $1313.

A rare Hendryx galvanized minnow trap, patented in 1903 and VG sold for $685. It seems odd that as common as their reels and bird cages are that this item should be so scarce. It is shown to the left. A Hartford Minnow Float with 1905 patent and a galvanized finish in VG brought $119.49.

An unusual William Taber spring gaff, with wooden handle and VG sold for $304.99. A Winchester bamboo handled net in VG sold for $377.55.

A Pearl Bethel double jointed decoy, 9.75", with a nice rainbow trout finish and VG, brought $550. And finally... an unusual Field & Stream sterling silver fish medal or watch fob in EX sold for $517.