The Fishing Reel Patent Archive

The mechanical heart of American angling

19th century patent reel

Patent drawing of a fishing reel in longitudinal section, showing the wound spool B inside frame A, with a bevel-pinion D, spring E, sliding hollow crank-shaft F, bevel-wheel G, and an offset crank handle H attached at the side.REEL FOR FISHING-RODS.John A. Bailey · August 5, 1856Patent drawing of a fishing rod whose hollow cigar-shaped butt conceals two chain-connected bobbins and multiplying gearing, operated by a finger ring protruding from the side of the butt, with a detailed cutaway showing gears, chain, crank, and a separate perspective view of the mechanism.FISHING ROD AND REEL.Abram H. Dailey · February 9, 1886Patent drawing of a fishing rod butt in longitudinal section showing an internal ferrule packed with stacked flanged rings and coiled springs connected by bevel gearing to an external cross-shaft spool, with a separate brake plunger mechanism and a cross-sectional view of the spring rings.FISHING-ROD AND REEL.Edward P. Follett · November 19, 1889Patent drawing of a cylindrical fishing reel mounted on a rod, showing an external winding wheel with radiating spokes and teeth on one end, internal gear train and coiled spring barrel visible in cutaway views, and a separate brake pin mechanism, with a modified deep-water version featuring a line guide and cam assembly.FISHING-REEL.Herman W. Martin · July 26, 1892Patent drawing of a fishing rod butt with an internal reel mechanism, showing cross-sections of the cylindrical shell with a coiled spring, shafts, bevel gears, a ratchet wheel with pawl, and lever and button controls for engaging or disengaging the spring-driven reel, with a signed inventor's name and witness signatures at bottom.FISHING ROD AND REEL.George H. Newell · April 18, 1893Patent drawing of a spring-powered fishing reel showing an exploded end view with internal gears, a spring barrel, a centrifugal pawl-and-ratchet clutch disk, a brake lever, and a side elevation of the assembled reel attached to a rod section.FISHING-REEL.Arthur E. Peck · February 5, 1895