Granville Medley's 20th Century Kentucky Reel, Medley Reel Co. - Hopkinsville and Gracey, KY
Medley's Kentucky reels were made for only a few years when he received his patents for an automatic fly reel and then for a free spool casting reel. Even though he was a dentist by trade, his interests were in mechanical design and the outdoor life. He was born in Kentucky on May 5, 1854. He attended the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery and graduated with his doctoral degree in 1878. His first practice was in Baltimore, but he moved to Hopkinsville, KY in 1882 and practiced there. Granville was granted 8 patents in his life. Medley, the reel maker, had three of his patents related to fishing reel design. The free spool reel and automatic fly reel models were eventually produced. Granville Medley reels were very unique for there time.
The automatic fly reel was truly an innovative design. The patents for this reel were granted in 1892 and 1895 while Medley lived in Hopkinsville, KY. Medley's "20th Century Kentucky Reel" included his November 26, 1901 free spool patent. The name implies he's bringing the classic Kentucky reel into the next century. The 1901 patent was subsequently acquired by B.F. Meek & Sons and incorporated into their product line about 1915. The "Free Spool" feature and marking can be seen on a B.F. Meek & Sons No. 3 and Horton Mfg. Co. Meek No.'s 2, 3 and 4. The Horton Meek No. 6 also had the free spool feature. A letter written in 1945 by Mrs. Ora Medley to the owner of the reel below gives insight into Granville's life. The letter can be seen at the bottom of this page. Dr. Medley died in Hopkinsville, KY on October 5, 1930 at the age of 76. Medley was one of the great Kentucky reel markers.
The B.F. MEEK & SONS and MEDLEY Free-Spool Reels
The MEDLEY'S 20th CENTURY KENTUCKY REEL, circa 1902
Unmarked MEDLEY Automatic Free Spool Reel
The MEDLEY AUTOMATIC REEL, circa 1897
THE MEDLEY REEL CO. Catalog, circa 1895
G.E. MEDLEY 1892 and 1895 Fly Reel Patents
G.E. MEDLEY 1892 and 1895 Fly Reel Patents
Classified Ads in the April and October 1886 "Semi-Weekly Southern Kentucky" Newspaper
DR. G.E. MEDLEY Patent Description in the 1916 B.F. Meek & Sons Catalog
G.E. MEDLEY November 26, 1901 Patent
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