Otto Zwarg, St. Petersburg, FL
World War II brought about the end to a lot of the great fishing tackle companies including Edward vom Hofe. Otto Zwarg was the head reel maker at the vom Hofe company. After it went out of business, he acquired the rights to the designs. He set up production for one year in Brooklyn, NY in 1946. He then moved the business to St. Petersburg, FL in 1947. The reels were made up until 1960, which was 3 years after Otto Zwarg's death. The reels came in three basic models - Model 300 Saguenay Fly/Salmon Reel, Model 400 Laurentian Multiplying Fly/Salmon Reel and the Model 600 Maximo Salt Water Reel. The Maximo was named after Maximo Point in St. Petersburg, FL. This was a famed fishing spot since the first local settler Antinio Maximo established a "fish ranch" on the point in 1843. The Saguenay was named in honor of the celebrated salmon river.
Dating the year of manufacture of Zwarg reels is easy. The first year of production was 1946 and the serial number begins with the Prefix letter A. The first reels made in St. Petersburg was 1948 and the serial number prefix is C. This sequence continues up until the last year of production in 1960 and have the prefix letter O. All Zwarg reels are collectable and the ones marked Brooklyn are the most scarce.
Otto Zwarg Reels and Catalog
Otto Zwarg Fly Reels and Salmon Reels
The Model 600 Maximo Reel - St. Petersburg, FL, circa 1950
The Model 400 Laurentian Reel - Brooklyn, NY, circa 1946
The 1-0 Model 400 Laurentian Reel - St. Petersburg, FL, circa 1946
Otto Zwarg Catalog Page