The Fishing Reel Patent Archive

The mechanical heart of American angling

Antique fishing 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 reel mounted on a wooden post, showing a spool of line, a crank handle, and a sliding bar mechanism (Fig. 1), alongside a circular end view revealing the internal gear train (Fig. 2).IMPROVEMENT IN FISHING-REELS.Mark S. Palmer · February 28, 1860Patent drawing of a fishing rod reel showing a metal reel-case with an internal geared spool, a folding crank handle that pivots into the rod, and a sliding line guide along a slotted case, with a separate close-up of the detachable crank and screw shaft.IMPROVEMENT IN FISHING-LINE REELS.George Trowbridge Copeland · September 25, 1877Patent drawing of a cylindrical fishing reel with a crank handle, showing internal spool, double-threaded transverse shaft, and a sliding line guide mechanism, along with several detailed cross-section figures of the gear and dog components.FISHING-REEL.Andrew B. Hendryx · October 26, 1886Patent drawing of a fishing reel showing the winding drum with crank handle, an internal grooved cylinder mechanism for laying line evenly, and separate detail views of the tension yoke, guide bar, and pinion gearing.FISHING-REEL.Joseph Patrick Costigan · January 22, 1889Patent drawing sheet showing a fishing reel's internal gear train, spiral spring barrel, ratchet mechanism, brake levers, and the reel mounted on a fishing rod, with hand-labeled parts and inventor's signature.FISHING-REEL.Frank Carey · May 7, 1889Patent drawing of a fishing rod handle in cross-section showing an internal spring-driven winding spool, gear train, threaded shaft, and sliding control band, with six labeled figures illustrating the mechanism.REEL.Edgar J. Hill · April 5, 1892Patent drawing of a wire-frame fishing reel showing the spoked spool with wire loops, the stirrup-shaped side frames, crank handle, and detailed hub and ratchet mechanisms in separate small figures.FISHING-REELAndrew B. Hendryx · June 7, 1892Patent drawing showing a cylindrical fishing reel with two side plates connected by pillars, a crank handle, and an internal spider-shaped brake mechanism with toothed jaws visible in cutaway face views.FISHING-REELEdward Charles Vom Hofe · July 14, 1896Patent drawing sheet showing a wooden fishing reel assembly in cross-section (Fig. 1-2) mounted on a fishing pole with a stud, cones, and ball-bearing races, plus detail views (Fig. 3-11) of the crank-plate, adjusting cones, nuts, collars, and stamped sheet-metal ball-race components.BALL-BEARING FISHING-REEL.August F. Meisselbach, William Meisselbach · March 9, 1897Patent drawing showing a fishing reel mounted on a pole with exploded and sectional views revealing the internal spring-loaded brake lever, ratcheted mainspring drum, and line-spool components labeled with reference letters.FISHING-REEL.Herman W. Martin · November 30, 1897Patent drawing of an automatic spring-wound fishing reel showing a side elevation mounted on a rod section with numbered pillars, screws, and a brake lever, plus cross-sectional views revealing internal gearing, ratchet wheels, and a coiled mainspring.FISHING-REEL.Philip H. Yawman · August 1, 1899Patent drawing showing a man fly-fishing from a small boat with a pivoting reel labeled Fig. 1, plus three detailed mechanical views (Figs. 2-4) of the reel's spool, crank, pivot post, and coil spring assembly.FISHING-REEL.Oscar Allen · November 17, 1903