The Redifor Rod & Reel Co., Warren, OH
The Redifor Rod & Reel Co. was started about 1904. George W. Upton was the design lead and Treasurer of the company. In 1908, Benjamin F. Flegel joined the company and was the the company Secretary. The first reel made by the company was the Model B. It is shown in the 1905 Abercrombie & Fitch catalog as a 3X multiplier. Upton received a patent for the Model B design on May 8, 1906. In 1909, the company listed 5 models in the 1909 edition of The Angler's Guide. Shown are the Special Tournament, the Darling-Flegel Double Tournament, the Model D, the Model F Redifor-Flegel self-thumbing and the Model X. With the exception of the Redifor Flegel, all the reels were aluminum alloy with nickel silver hardware. The Model X looks similar to the Model B except it has cutouts in the revolving crank disk and does not have the rim controlled free-spool mechanism.
Redifor introduced its Beetzsel level-wind reel in 1915. It was marked Warren, OH until about 1921 when it was changed to Washington, DC. It was during this time that the Beetzsel was probably being made by Shakespeare and subsequently marked with their name. Similarily, the Redifor-Flegel self-thumbing reel was being made by Pflueger. The reel would eventually become the Pflueger Redifor. The first Pflueger Redifor was advertised about 1916.
1909 Ad for Redifor Reels
The Redifor Model X, circa 1909
The Redifor-Flegel Self-Thumbing with Bishop Spooler
The Redifor Beetzsel, Warren, OH, circa 1919
The Redifor Beetzsel, Washington, DC, circa 1921
1905 Ad for Redifor Model B Reel
1905 Ad for Redifor Rod & Reel Co.
1919 Ad for Redifor Beetzsel Reel - Warren, OH
1921 Ad for Redifor Beetzsel Reel - Washington, DC