The Fishing Reel Patent Archive

The mechanical heart of American angling

Brake lever

Patent drawing showing a fishing reel with a coiled-wire spool mounted on a rod, an internal casing revealing a spring-driven gear and pinion mechanism, and detail views of the brake lever and pinion shaft.FISHING-REEL.Hiram Leroy Joslin · July 7, 1885Patent drawing of a Gibson fishing reel showing a round case with internal gear wheel, a swinging yoke holding the driving wheel, a brake lever, handle crank, and mounting foot, along with cross-section and end-plate views.FISHING-REELHenry B. Gibson · October 4, 1887Patent drawing of a fishing reel showing a circular end view with crank and gears, a longitudinal cross-section revealing the internal spool and brake mechanism, and an inner face view of the detachable end plate with ratchet and pawl.FISHING-REEL.Ernest Holzmann · March 4, 1890Patent drawing of a fishing rod segment with a reel mounted underneath, showing a mechanical brake attachment with curved arms and a lever positioned to press against the reel spool.FISHING-REEL ATTACHMENT.William H. Atkinson · December 9, 1890Patent drawing sheet showing six technical figures of a spring-driven fishing reel with internal gear train, ratchet drum, brake lever, and folding hand crank, labeled with reference letters A through P.FISH-LINE REEL.Charles B. Corbin · May 29, 1894Patent drawing showing a cylindrical fishing reel with a winding spool mounted on a fishing rod, plus internal gear and brake mechanism views labeled with reference letters.AUTOMATIC FISHING-REEL.Fayette J. Boyle · February 15, 1898