logo
logo
  • About
    • About Us
    • Visit Us
    • Ways to Give
    • Ambassador Program
    • Award Recipients
    • Contact Us
    • Tackle Inquiry
  • Collections & Exhibitions
    • Our Collection
    • Current & Past Exhibitions
    • Online Collections
    • The Stream
  • Journal & Film
    • The American Fly Fisher
    • Traver Award
    • Film Projects
    • Fishing The Collection
    • Online Screening Room
    • Webinars
  • News & Events
  • Online Store
  • Membership
    • Member Portal
    • Become a Member
  • Sign Up
  • Search

J. F. & B. F. Meek Trout-Size Casting Reel

Beginning in the late 1830s, brothers Jonathan F. and Benjamin F. Meek produced some of the finest multiplying reels ever made, offering small sizes such as this #1 model for use by trout fishermen. Confident that their reels were simply better than any potential competitors, they never applied for any patents, believing that none could do better.

Courtesy of Tyler Thompson


Yearc. 1840Accession No.L2022.003.003Made byJ. F. & B. F. Meek

You May Also Like

Unmarked Brass Birmingham-Style Trout Reel

The Birmingham style of reel has been called the “prototype of the modern fly reel” by author Jim Brown in A Treasury of Reels, in which Brown…

Julius Vom Hofe Perforated Trout Reel

The Vom Hofe family of reel makers produced some of the finest fly reels ever made in the United States. Julius Vom Hofe, son of reel maker Fritz and…

A brass side-mount reel. Large holes are cut through the sides to allow air circulation to help dry the silk lines used at the time.

Side-mount Fly Reel

Diameter 3 3/4 inches, depth 1/2 inch, weight 8 1/8 ounces The popularity of the Billinghurst reel resulted in the manufacture of other side-mount…

Ready For More?

If you love fly fishing as much as we do, you're going to love this.


PLAN A TRIP

Visit, fish, explore & more

VISIT

DROP A LINE

We are happy to hear from you

CONNECT

COME TO EVENTS

Check out the latest events

EVENTS
© 2026 American Museum Of Fly Fishing. All rights reserved