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

Victorian Era Birmingham Reel

This attractive Birmingham reel, featuring bas relief angling scenes on the plates, was commercially produced in at least two sizes, both as a crank handle reel and as a revolving plate reel. It appears to be a Victorian era British product. The design was reproduced in Germany during the 1970s and it is now difficult to differentiate the original reels from the reproductions.

The American Museum of Fly Fishing Collection
Gift of Frederic A. Sharf


Yearc. 1880Accession No.1986.028.261Made byunknown

You May Also Like

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…

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…

S. Allcock & Co. Ltd. Mahseer Reel

Henry Sullivan Thomas designed the S. Allcock & Co. Ltd. Mahseer reel for breaking the heavy runs of large fish, specifically the mahseer, a powerful…

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