Montague City / US Net & Twine nickel silver fly reel - size 60yd

VFT3868


For sale here is a very rarely seen trout reel. Made from German silver and hard rubber, the reel dates from either right before or right after the turn of the 20th century. The maker was either US Net & Twine or the Montague City Rod Company after the merger of the two companies. The diameter of the reel is 2 1/8" and the pillar length is 1 1/16". The reel will hold a five-weight line plus backing. The clicker drag mechanism works flawlessly, as does the sliding click switch. When disengaged, the spool will spin forever when given a tap! All screw heads are in fine condition with a few showing slight marks. No cracks or chips exist in the ebonite sideplates. The rims are in very fine condition as well. The reel foot is full length and includes the "60 yd" capacity designation.

Don't miss this chance to acquire a very important piece of American reel making history! These reels are extremely hard to find in such well-preserved condition.

The following excerpt can be found in A.J. Campbell's wonderful book on the history of fishing tackle, titled "Classic and Antique Fly Fishing Tackle". Everyone should own this book!

"After three or four years in rod manufacturing, Spalding decided to get out of the tackle making business and sold its Kosmic label and inventory to U.S. Net & Twine.The most famous U.S. Net & Twine reels were the Kosmic-marked models sold between approximately 1894 and '98.In 1899, U.S. Net & Twine went out of business and sold its Brooklyn reel factory to the Montague City Rod Company. Montague City continued to make and wholesale the reels, adding a multitude of newer models."

Shipping Information
We ship at cost to the buyer and in the majority of cases do so via UPS with full insurance and signature. There are cheaper options but our experience has been that you get what you pay for and that it's not worth taking risks when shipping what are often one-of-a-kind items. Your shipping estimate will be calculated at checkout and if you have any questions please contact us. Please note the buyers are responsible for any applicable import duties or fees that may levied. Due to the importance of packing items carefully please allow up to two weeks for arrival (depending on how busy we are) though we certainly do our best to get items to you as expeditiously as possible.
Other Terms
Unless otherwise noted, all items come with a 3-day inspection period during which they can be returned to us for a full refund (provided that they are in the same condition in which they left our shop). Return shipping is the responsibility of the buyer. If an item is returned, we will issue a refund within 10 days upon receipt. Refunds will be either administered by providing a check or, when possible, by canceling a credit card purchase.