Collector and Author Karl White paid $31,350.00 for a Snyder bait casting reel made in Kentucky. The Snyder reel was the first bait casting reel ever made. The reel is now worth $150,000.00. White has been collecting vintage fishing items for over 50 years, since he was 8 years old. Karl currently has a column called " What's it Worth" in Bass Master Magazine. In 2002 he donated his fishing tackle collection to the Oklahoma Aquarium. His items can be viewed in the 'Karl and Beverly White National Fishing Tackle Museum' of the Aquarium.
You may not find the first reel ever made in your basement or attic, however you may find an old reel of surprising value. This Pflueger 2800 recently sold for $1,210.00 on eBay, and vintage Hardy Bros fly fishing reels typically sell for $150.00 - $200.00 with many selling for over $500.00. A reel that is commonly found in an old garage is a Mitchell 300. Early models in good condition with the original box, can sell for close to $100.00. Some of the earliest models 40's - 50's are not marked with the "300" and are of value to many collectors.
The problem I have with the old Mitchell reels is that I have a hard time giving them up. My first spinning reels were Mitchell's, and I still love to fish with them. My 60's Mitchell 300 has outlasted many reels over the past 40 years, and still works great.
If you are an avid fisherman, and you decide to start collecting and selling vintage fishing items...be prepared to be hooked.
Patrick
i have at least two that still work but i have found that too many people say to spool it with the line coming off the spool clock wise but they say to do it in the same way on as off. so witch way is right for a reel that turns counter clock wise?
ReplyDelete4 clockwise north
ReplyDelete9 counter south
Aka Garcia