Yawman & Erbe Manufacturing Company

The first commercially successful automatic reel was patented in 1880 by Francis A. Loomis of Onondago, NY. Phillip H. Yawman & Gustave Erbe of Rochester, New York, purchased the rights to the Loomis & Plumb reel in the mid 1880s. Early Y&E reels were identical to the Loomis & Plumb reels, and were stamped with the Loomis patent dates (1880 & 1881). In 1888 Yawman patented a stronger gearing system; in 1891 he received a patent for a reinforced brake lever; and in 1899 he patented the famous key wind mechanism. Y&E produced a full line of automatic reels: the "old reliable" Keyless reel in three sizes and fives finishes. These reels are scarce. The key wind reels were manufactured only in aluminum, and also in three sizes. Yawman and Erbe sold their automatic reel business to Horrocks-Ibbotson Co. of Utica, NY shortly after 1910, but continued in business, manufacturing a wide variety of products, until 1961. H-I continued the manufacture of both the Old Reliable until about 1920, and the Key Wind reel into the 1930s.

For those interested in more details about the history of Yawman & Erbe and Loomis, Plumb & Co., I have written a book about these companies and their reels. For more details click this link: Yawman & Erbe Book