For sale here is a very scarce brass crank-wind trout winch from the 19th Century. Stamped PHIN MAKER EDIN on reel foot. My bit of research turned up Phin's Fishing Tackle Warehouse in Edinburgh. Mr. Phin was regarded highly as a rod maker as early as 1819. From the archives of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine in May 1819, "Without offence to our other excellent friends, we pronounce him the prince of our metropolitan rod-makers"........."Mr. Phin never dresses flies. But his wife has a complete mistress-ship in the art."......."- and if these excellent people do not get rich, it will be because the articles they sell last for ever." [emphasis added]

I digress. How much do I enjoy spending time researching the origins of a $400 reel? Plenty, trust me. I think it should be worth at least double that in my opinion simply due to its rarity. The ad in the photo section is from 1862. This reel could be dated as late as approximately 1880.

The reel is in fantastic condition for its age, still has a nice clicker mechanism, is sound structurally, has its original bulbous treen handle on its waisted crank winding arm. The foot is full length and not filed.

Try finding another.....