Here are two real neat and well made lever drag trolling reels that believe it or not were made in the 1940s from what I have read. The first is a recent find for me that looks like an early Endicott Wilson 6/0 size reel however it isn't marked Endicott Wilson. It is only marked with a Patent number which was filed a by Inventor: George H Dumond in 1940. A friend of mine has a 6/0 Endicott Wilson marked reel with the same patent # 2,282,995 as on mine so I am assuming this is an early model possibly a prototype ? I found some old post on ORCA where Dr. Rob was looking for info on these reels and Ed Pritchard chimed in with a bit of info saying that they were made in Detroit Michigan in early 1940s to 1950s and that they came in 4/0, 6/0, 9/0, 12/0 and also a deluxe 2 speed 12/0. He also said that
"The reel's uniqueness was its drag which was inside the arbor of the reel spool and expanded out to apply pressure when the drag lever was thrown." A neat reel for 1940s !!!
Dr.Rob also said that they looked like they could be related to the Otco trolling reels also built in the 1940s made by Ohio Tool Company. This reel had a drag inside the arbor of the spool much like the Endicott Wilson ! These reels had a drag adjustment knob on the tail plate side of reel. I have know idea how to adjust preset on the Endicott Wilson although I read some where you could unpin drag lever which is on a splined shaft and change it's position to increase or decrease drag pressure I assume much like a windshield wiper arm on a car.
Anyway the second reel is a 4/0 Otco which is in about new condition maybe never used. I can see why Dr.Rob thought they looked alike !!! One thing I find unusual about the Otco is that it is always in a "click mode" and there is no release button. Also the Otco's came in 4/0, 6/0 and 12/0 size.
Well that is about all I know about the two reels I will say the both seem beautifully built and very rugged as well ! I hope maybe there is someone out there that can add to my description or correct any mistakes I made. I saw 3 beautiful Endicott Wilson reels a while ago on eBay a 4/0, 6/0 and a 12/0. I bid on two of them and the next thing you know they were gone !!! I hate that I guess someone made seller an offer he couldn't refuse ??? Hope you enjoy them. John Taylor
Couple more pics
Beautiful reels and great story, John!
Very cool stuff! Thanks for sharing!
They're pure magic - love 'em!
The 12/0 must be a monster.
Thanks for sharing the pics and story John.
Cheers, Justin
Very nice John! Thats gotta be the cleanest Otco Ive seen
Here's some later Ohio Tool Company (OTCO) paperwork.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/26/17004_19_12_18_3_08_08_26711415.jpeg)
(http://alantani.com/gallery/26/17004_19_12_18_3_08_08_26711690.jpeg)
They also made a couple open face casting reel models that were designed by Ashaway for Ashaway.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/26/17004_19_12_18_3_08_29_267111050.jpeg)
(http://alantani.com/gallery/26/17004_19_12_18_3_08_29_267182056.jpeg)
They made them under the OTCO name, too.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/26/17004_19_12_18_3_09_08_2671862.jpeg)
(http://alantani.com/gallery/26/17004_19_12_18_3_09_56_267211875.jpeg)
Wow, what a find. Those are nice John, thanks for sharing them with us. From the looks and functionality, looks as we're going backwards.
Nice reels!
Sal
Thanks for looking every one !! Tommy I have the same pamphlet I got it off eBay a while ago and have owned a few Otco spinning reel they are nice reels ! Thanks again !! John Taylor
Such a clean no frills design, great find, thanks for posting
I never tire of looking at all these great examples of early reel designs you keep bringing us John, thanks for sharing.
Mike
Thanks John for sharing your pictures. These reels were basically hand made, the patient seems to say the reels must have been planned for production. These were hard times for most folks in the war period.
Most of us have never experienced what went on back then, myself included.
As with so many things, timing seems almost hereditary. 🤦♀️🤷♂️😇🏡
Good find and good luck finding more good stuff.👋
Here is a little bit more on OTCO ... Kool reels.
Tim
https://antiquefishingreels.com/salt-water-reels/ohio-tool-company-otco/
...and this is the thread that started it all, and later became an article in the ORCA magazine.:
http://reeltalk.orcaonline.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14299
I am still enamored by these reels. I just love the semi-teutonic, utilitarian design work.
(actually & coincidentally, one of the earliest posts on this forum might've been about one of these reels. Sort of a drive-by post nobody answered)
.
Another great find John. Thanks for sharing that. I haven't herd of either of this before.
Love the two lever drags. If you ever crack them open I'd love to see inside them.
The " Will Not Backlash " on the Ashaway spinner cracks me up... Jeff
Well since this post I found and bought 3 Endicott Wilson reels a 4/0, 6/0 and a 9/0 and I took all of them apart for clean and lube. I answered my own question about how to adjust pre set on there drags. The drags are unique on these reels they work inside the spools arbor. When you move drag lever forward there is a ramp unit that pushes against a rod that is inside the spools shaft. That rod has a rounded end which pushes two ball bearings apart expanding drag plates against inside of arbor. There are two sets of holes in the hollow shaft hence two sets of ball bearings and two rods that push ball bearings apart expanding drag plates and drag material evenly against inside of arbor. I am probably not explaining it good but once you see it it's pretty simple. Then on the tail plate end of shaft there is another rounded end rod that adjusts tension / preset on drag. It has a heavy set screw the more you tighten it the tighter the drag. Set screw is accessible by small plate with 3 screws on tail plate of reel.
Well that is the best I can explain it probably confusing if you haven't seen reel apart. I didn't take a lot of pictures but here are a few of the drag plates on the 6/0 and the bigger 9/0. you can see holes in shaft where ball bearings are pushed out. You can also see parts ball bearings, round ended rods and set screw in background. I should have taken more pics for a tutorial oh well.
Thanks John Taylor PS click on pics to blow them up.