Vintage metal Fishing Rods

Richardson Rod & Reel Co. - Chicago, IL

In 1920, Richardson Rod & Reel Co. bought out and took over Talbot Reel & Mfg. Co. The tooling and residual reel parts were moved from Kansas City, MO to Chicago, IL. There they made standard Talbot reels and also made unique free-spool reels for competition casting. The reels offered because of the organization had been a restricted production. The reels had been assembled mainly by parts obtained from Talbot Reel & Mfg. Co. Aside from the reels, the organization made an array of fishing equipment including rods and landing nets.

Talbot Background - The earliest Wm. H. Talbot reels had been built in Nevada, MO from about 1895 to 1913. 1st designs produced in Nevada had been marked # 2, 3 or 4 together with four screws connecting the head plate into reel frame. Talbot obtained a patent in January 22, 1901 for a design that included only three screws to add the top dish. The top the range design ended up being marked No. 50. This design had clear sapphire jeweled bearings and an ivory knob. The forerunners of this good quality reel were the Levison specialized while the Talbot specialized. These models are very scarce. Other scarce models were the Talbot No. 60 and No. 75. The Niangua is also a high quality reel and was made with and without jeweled bearings. The absolute most desirable reel for collectors may be the Ben Hur fly reel. It emerged in two sizes and they are considered very scarce. their bottom of this line of reels (if you have a bottom of the range for Talbot) tend to be known as after heavenly figures like Meteor, Mars and Comet. These reels can also be found with and without garnet jewels for spool bearings. Talbot in addition marked their standard reels using the brands of sporting goods and equipment stores shops like Gus Habich in Indianapolis, VIM in Chicago and Schmelzer Arms Co. in Kansas City.

In 1913 the company name Wm. H. Talbot Reel Co. ended up being altered to Talbot Reel & Mfg. Co. and was relocated to Kansas City, MO. The top the line reels were the No's 52, 53 and 54 because of the second digit becoming the reel size. Talbot also made the size No's 2X, 3X and 4X series reels. The 2nd digit "X" on these reels signified just what choices came with the reel. The Niangua, Meteor, Comet and Star models were also created by the organization whilst in Kansas City, MO.

The RICHARDSON Wm. STANLEY MODEL TALBOT Free-Spool Reel, Chicago, IL, circa 1922

The RICHARDSON #2 Size Narrow Spool Tournament Reel, Chicago, IL, circa 1922

The RICHARDSON TALBOT METEOR Reel, Chicago, IL, circa 1922

1921 Advertisement The RICHARDSON ROD & REEL CO. TALBOT Reels, Chicago, IL

1922 Ad For The RICHARDSON ROD & REEL CO. TALBOT Reels, Chicago, IL

The RICHARDSON TALBOT METEOR Container, Chicago, IL, circa 1922

The RICHARDSON Landing Net, Chicago, IL, circa 1922