SLATER WALNUT 'Patent COMBINATION' REEL. c. 1905. 4'', Medium width drum (1 1/8'' between the plates). Figured walnut front flange and backplate, aluminium back flange, brass annular line guide and pillars, attractive dome topped horn handles on delicate brass oval escutcheon plates, 3-screw brass centre plate incorporating a brass quick spool release mechanism, brass foot and star back with incorporated check lever operating a trademark blued steel check pawl with offset spring grooves and trademark brass bracing strap and steel caliper check. In overall very good order, free spinning and working properly, the wood may have been lightly re-varnished in recent years, it generally bears a patina commensurate with its age.
David Slater was the doyen of reel makers between 1883-1917 inventing the annular line guard, the 'Zephyr' pattern reel along with a host of other revolutionary designs and patterns including this famous 'Combination' reel. Using the very best materials allied to innovative designs and highly skilled workmanship he produced reels of the highest quality. Beginning c.1883 he wiped the floor with the competition at the London Fishing Tackle Exhibition of that year. They were renowned the world over and used by almost every celebrated angler of the period: On July 27th 1904, no less a celebrity than F.W.K. Wallis said, "I am now more than ever convinced your reels have no equal. I was first in the float casting, any style – 235 feet. I will take this opportunity of saying that I am delighted with the reel you made specially for me, Yours Truly F.W.K. Wallis". On December 28th 1895 R.B. Marston, writing as editor in 'Fishing Gazette', said, "In the make of Nottingham reels are greatly renown, the reels being models of perfection'. In his 1887 work 'Modern improvements in Fishing Tackle and fish hooks', the celebrated angler, author, naturalist and poet, Henry Cholmondelry-Pennell, complemented Slater's work on reels, especially the 'Patent Combination'.
Perfectly usable and practical, a piece of genuine high quality angling history.
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