The Shakespeare/Pflueger Archives.
At the 2001 ORCA Convention in Columbia, SC, ORCA
members were fortunate to to be able to view a Shakespeare display consisting of material
from the Shakespeare and Pflueger archives. The reels on display were
overwhelming. The exhibit included all types of reels from modern
production reels to prototypes that were never put into production, to
early reels and catalogs. The importance of many of the items on display
was overwhelming.
Members who were not in attendance missed the
opportunity of a lifetime by not attending their convention. Most in
attendance could almost feel the presence of William Shakespeare Jr.,
and the Pflueger brothers when looking at some of their personal reels
and thoughts and ideas that they tried out but never put into
production. The display was awesome.
Roxanne Coleman and her helpers from Shakespeare
deserve our profound thanks for helping ORCA members gain a better
perspective of reel development by two of the major manufacturers of the
twentieth century. ORCA also owes Stu Lawson and Craig Barber a great
deal of gratitude for sorting through the reels and selecting a nice
variation of items to study and observe.
All photos are thumbnails. Click on the photo to
see a larger image.
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The wonderful display assembled by Shakespeare
covered the whole front wall of the show. It was really a great
display. |
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This pair of red and gold spincast reels were made
for the U. S. Marine Corps, with the tag dated April 27, 1955. |
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An experimental aluminum baitcasting reel prototype |
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How's this for a lineup of wierd spincast reels. All
Shakespeare prototypes. |
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This one looked like a test of a gearing system and
star drag. It was untagged. |
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This tag read "Shakespeare design crank controlled
salt water model. Never in production." It was a very slick and
interesting reel. |
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Another direct drive casting reel prototype. |
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"W. H. Readle, San Bernadius, California - Readle
Drag Handle" Dated 6/8/23, samples were seen in two sizes. |
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"S. Bonriant, St. Amand Morand, France" dated
4/30/30. An Obvious copy of the Pflueger foot and the Meisselbach
frame on this raised pillar fly reel. |
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This Meisselbach-Catucci Symploreel fly reel is all
black; pillars, foot, and spool screw. The tag was dated 4/22/25. |
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"Wepel Fishing Reel Co. Ilion, NY, the Brooker Reel
- 4/11/27" Ever seen one of these? |
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This is the original Shakespeare Miller Autocrat. It
is a hand made prototype. |
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Some of the catalogs and ephemera on display. |
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Sample parts from the Pflueger Topic reel that show
how the reel was manufactured. |
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These are "model tension oil cups" all mounted on
head plates and are dated 7/1/21. Look close and you will note that
each has a different tension device. |
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"Enterprise Dixie Reel with..." (part of the tag was
missing. I would assume it was going to say with star drag. This is
a rare reel. |
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"Model Lake Trout Single Action Reel", 2/20/26. This
reel has a Williams drag handle, anti-reverse stop, and is gigantic.
It was as dark as it looks in the photo. |
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"Application of McKinney free spool idea. We made
six models applying idea to level wind reels." Note the bell shaped
spool flange on the headplate end. I was dying to take it apart and
see what it looked like. |
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"Model Crossplates, W. A. Adams - 10/18/21." Shown
here are some experimental Pflueger foot (crossplate) styles. |
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"Plaintiffs 1916 type Level Wind. Defendants exhibit
1077." This was apparently from the Shakespeare-Pflueger lawsuit,
but what it has to do with hook riggings no one seemed to know. |
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"Model cheap level wind reel." This was a Pflueger
Niftee with a level wind attached. Apparently it was never produced. |
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This is a Prototype Pflueger Superex Automatic Reel
#778. It is trolling size. |
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How about a whole string full of test patterns of
etching for the Akron reel - Not the Summit. "Development Akron
Reel" 11/11/24. |
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This experimental reel looks more like a bowl of
vanilla ice cream than a spinning reel. |
