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C. Gayle Fishing Reels

Clarence C Gayle reels

Clarence Gayle - Frankfort, KY

C. Gayle reels were made after Clarence took over the G.W. Gayle & Son company in Frankfort, KY when his father George’s died in 1896. Clarence continued to make the reels that he and his father had made up until the late 1940’s. His reels can be found in sizes ranging from small fly reels up to large big game reels. Clarence also made reels for the famous tackle companies VL&A of Chicago and William Mills & Son of NY. The William Mills & Son models were named "Intrinsic". "Intrinsic" bait casting reels came in the "Standard" and "Frankfort Reel" styles and had extra fancy knurling. They also made Tarpon and Salmon "Intrinsic" reels for William Mills & Son.

C. Gayle, the reel maker, started marking his reels “HAND MADE” in about 1930. The last reels were marked “HAND MADE” and the maker’s name “C. Gayle” in script. Clarence did make some reels using B.C. Milam & Sons parts that he had acquired when that company dissolved in 1928. Typically, these reels have Milam marked head plates with Gayle handles and Gayle style knurling. The last Gayle reel ad can be found in a 1946 issue of "Kentucky Happy Hunting Grounds" magazine. Gayle also made an inexpensive fly reel named the "Simplicity." It was made in several models and was mass produced. Clarence died in 1948.

Early Gayle History - George W. Gayle was a silversmith and watchmaker by trade. The 1850 Frankfort, KY US Census shows George did work for Benjamin F. Meek as an apprentice. George went into partnership with his son in 1883 and that is when they made their first reels. The first reel were solid brass. George and Clarence went to work for one of the major reel manufacturers in Brooklyn, NY in 1886 and 1887. When they returned to Frankfort in 1887, the first reels they made for sale were German silver with hard hard rubber end plates. Clarence Gayle was the main person involved in making the Gayle reels found today. His reels can be found made of solid German silver and of aluminum alloy. The "Standard" Gayle reel has a flanged head plate that looks like a man's top hat. The "Frankfort Reel" style Gayle reels are the most ornate and heavily knurled reels. They are of the highest quality. The reels can be found marked G.W. Gayle as well as Geo. W. Gayle. Clarence also made a reels for the famous tackle companies VL&A, Chicago and William Mills & Son, NY. The William Mills & Son models were named "Intrinsic". "Intrinsic" bait casting reels came in the "Standard" and "Frankfort Reel" styles and had extra fancy knurling. They also made Tarpon and Salmon "Intrinsic" reels for William Mills & Son. The Gayle fly reel is made of aluminum and is also sought after by collectors. George died in 1896.



Clarence C Gayle reels

A Pair of Reels by Clarence Gayle, circa 1937


Magazine Ad

1937 Field & Stream Magazine Ad

(Notice the similarity to the Clarence Gayle Reel above made with B. C. Milam parts)


Clarence C Gayle reels

Clarence Gayle Reels


Clarence C Gayle large reel Clarence C Gayle large reel Clarence C Gayle large reel Clarence C Gayle large reel

Large Clarence Gayle Reel


Clarence C Gayle small reel Clarence C Gayle small reel Clarence C Gayle small reel Clarence C Gayle small reel

Narrow-Spool Tournament Casting Clarence Gayle Reel


Geo W Gayle fly reel Geo W Gayle fly reel Clarence C Gayle fly reel Clarence C Gayle fly reel

The G.W. GAYLE & SON Fly Reel, circa 1935


Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels

The GAYLE INTRINSIC Tarpon Reel


Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels

The GAYLE INTRINSIC Tarpon Reel Click and Drag


Intrinsic Style Gayle reel Intrinsic Style Gayle reel Intrinsic Style Gayle reel Intrinsic Style Gayle reel

The GAYLE INTRINSIC Style HAND MADE Reel


Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels

The GAYLE INTRINSIC Salmon Reel


Variations in the "STANDARD" Gayle Reel

Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels

Variations in the "STANDARD" Gayle Reel


WILLIAM MILLS 1909 Catalog Image of The GAYLE INTRINSIC Tarpon Reel

WILLIAM MILLS 1909 Catalog Image of The GAYLE "INTRINSIC" Tarpon Reel


Clarence C Gayle reels

The GAYLE Reels


Clarence C Gayle reels

The GAYLE "Standard" Style Reels


Clarence C Gayle reels Clarence C Gayle reels

The GAYLE SIMPLICITY No. 6 Reel


1929 GAYLE SIMPLICITY Fly Reel Ad

1929 GAYLE SIMPLICITY Fly Reel Ad


lure lure

The GAYLE Lure


The 1935 GAYLE Reel Catalog

The 1935 GAYLE Reel Catalog 1 The 1935 GAYLE Reel Catalog 2 The 1935 GAYLE Reel Catalog 3 The 1935 GAYLE Reel Catalog 4

The 1935 GAYLE Reel Catalog


1946 Geo W Gayle Son Ads 1 1946 Geo W Gayle Son Ads 2

1946 Geo. W. Gayle & Son Ads


1929 Clarence Gayle Flyer Sent to Customers

1929 Clarence Gayle Flyer Sent to Customers


To see the January 2017 ORCA Newsletter article by Ron Gast about Clarence Gayle, click on the link below.

Link to ORCA Newsletter Article about Clarence Gayle


To see a September 16, 1945 Louisville "The Courier-Journal" Newspaper article about Clarence Gayle, click on the link below.

Link to Newspaper Article about Clarence Gayle


To see articles about Geo. W. Gayle & Son in the April, 1946 "The Kentucky Sportsman" and the May, 1946 "Kentucky Happy Hunting Ground" magazines, click on the links below.

Link to 1946 Kentucky Sportsman Article

Link to 1946 Kentucky Happy Hunting Grounds Article


To see photos of Clarence Gayle from the Kentucky Historical Society's website, click on the links below.

Clarence Gayle 1890 Portrait


To see article about Clarence Gayle's son Coburn making GI dog tags during WWII, click on the links below.

Link to "The Courier-Journal" Newspaper July 1, 1951 Article


To see magazine articles written about the history of the Kentucky Reel, click on the links below.

Outing Magazine, "Evolution of the Kentucky Reel", by Dr. James A. Henshall, Dec. 1900

Forrest and Stream Magazine, "History of the Kentucky Reel", Interview with J. L. Sage, Jan. 1915

Forrest and Stream Magazine, "More About The Kentucky Reel", Dr. James A. Henshall, Feb. 1915

Field & Stream, "The Kentucky Reel", by Robert Lincoln Page, March, 1930

Field & Stream, "My Old Kentucky Reel", by A.J. McClane, January, 1953



If you have a vintage antique fishing reel or lure, I can tell you what it's worth.

For any questions about vintage antique fishing reels, lures or tackle, please feel free to Email or Call me. I always like to talk about old tackle.

Remember, I'm always buying old vintage fishing lures and reels!

Email me at: ron@luresnreels.com or Call or Text me at: 407-496-7940

Thanks!

Ron Gast

Frostproof, FL



To see another great vintage fishing tackle website, click on the link below.

Link to reelsnlures.com Website


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