Wm. H. Talbot Reel Co., Nevada, MO
Wm. H. Talbot reels are perhaps some of the highest quality reels ever made. The earliest reels were made in Nevada, MO from about 1895 to 1913. In 1913 the company name was changed to Talbot Reel & Manufacturing Co. and was moved to Kansas City, MO. The first models made in Nevada were marked No. 2, 3 or 4 and had four screws attaching the head plate to the reel frame. Talbot received a patent in January 22, 1901 for a design that incorporated only three screws to attach the head plate. The top of the line models were marked with the numbers No. 50, 52, 53 and 54. These models had clear saphire jeweled bearings and ivory knobs. The forerunners of these high quality reels were the Levison Special and the Talbot Special. 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 for many years in both Nevada and Kansas City. The most desireable reel for collectors is the Ben Hur fly reel. It came in two sizes and are considered very scarce. His bottom of the line of reels (if there is a bottom of the line for Talbot) are named after heavenly bodies like Meteor, Star, Mars and Comet. These reels, as well as the Niangua reel, can be found with garnet jewels for spool bearings. Talbot also marked his standard reels with the names of sporting goods stores like VIM in Chicago and Schmelzer Arms in Kansas City. In 1920, the company was sold to Richardson Rod & Reel in Chicago. Richardson made standard Talbot reels and also made special free-spool reels for tournament casting. All Talbot reels are collectable and sought after by collectors.
The TALBOT BEN HUR Fly Reel, circa 1905
The TALBOT No. 3 4-Screw Reel, Nevada, MO, circa 1900
The TALBOT No. 50 Reel, Nevada, MO, circa 1910
The TALBOT No. 52 Reel, Kansas City, MO, circa 1915
The TALBOT No. 54 Tournament Reel, Kansas City, MO, circa 1915
The Talbot No. 60 Reel, Nevada, MO
Bearing Cap removed to show Violet Garnet Jeweled Bearing
The Talbot Premier No. 3 Reel, Neveda, MO, circa 1905
The Talbot No. 35 Reel, Kansas City, MO, circa 1915
Bearing Cap removed to show Saphire Jeweled Bearing
The Talbot Niangua Reel, Nevada, MO, circa 1905
The Talbot Niangua Reel, Kansas City, MO, circa 1915, made for Schmelzer Arms
Bearing Cap removed to show the Violet Garnet Jeweled Bearing
The TALBOT TOMAHAWK Reel, Kansas City, MO, circa 1915, made for VIM
The TALBOT COMET Reel, Nevada, MO, circa 1913
The TALBOT METEOR Reel, Nevada, MO, circa 1905
The TALBOT STAR Reel, Kansas City, MO, circa 1915
The TALBOT ELI Reel, Nevada, MO, circa 1906
The RICHARDSON ROD & REEL CO. TALBOT Free-Spool Reel, Chicago, IL, circa 1922
Wm. H. Talbot Catalog Pages, circa 1905
Wm. H. Talbot Reel Co. Catalog, circa 1910
