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The Amateur Reel
This was the very first reel produced, and patented, by Gus Meisselbach, back
in 1886. It was made in three basic sizes, and two forms (Horizontal or
Vertical) . The Amateur was initially offered with a front mounted click,
but this was dropped in the 1890s. The usually Amateur reel has a spring drag to
keep the spool from over-running. The reel evolved through these many changes
including knob shapes, but basically remained the same for 30+ years.
After
patents ran out the design was copied by Ocean City (Hermos), Yale, and Pflueger
(Captain and Taxie). As the least expensive and earliest of all the Meisselbach
reels, it seems that Amateur boxes are non-existent. I have yet to see a box for
an Amateur reel of any type. Somewhere there must be one out there.
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Here are four different models of the smallest Amateur.
These reels have a 2-1/4" spool |
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These are the medium size (3" spool) Amateurs. The
reels with a click are rare. |
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These are the largest Amateurs. They were used for
Trolling. The lower right reel is the most common. The two vertical ones
in the rear are scarce. New information has shown how little we know
about these larger Amateur reels. Several were only made for a year or
two. |
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Notes |
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The Amateur Reel is
the first reel ever manufactured by A. F. Meisselbach and was patented
in 1886. At that time it was named the "Gogebic" reel. I
would like to purchase a box for an Amateur reel. |
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