You have perhaps seen the last post earlier this month, a little aside about the American Rods section of the Museum. Still working on this as time (and Millie) permit, but wanted to show you a couple of things that arrived during June.
For some time now I've been looking for an item from the output of William Phin, an Edinburgh tackle maker active from 1810 to 1894, though from 1832 -58 his widow ran the business until his son C A Phin took over the reins. The reel on the right of the picture is marked on the face in a simple shield-shaped cartouche "PHIN MAKER EDINR". It is a 2 3/4" reel, all brass, with hand cut steel screws and a turned hardwood handle. The 2 1/2" reel on the left came in soon after the first. It has an ivory handle and is marked, in a shield-shaped cartouche, "HOGG MAKER EDINR." Interesting eh? Francis Hogg had a succession of shops in Edinburgh from 1837 to 1887, latterly operated by HIS son, Fraser. Phin was well known for the quality of his rods which he made himself, but little is known of the source of reels sold in the city at this time and I hope to be able to discover more in the future...
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