B.F. Meek & Sons - Louisville, KY
B.F. Meek & Sons reels were made for 24 years from 1892 to 1916. Sons Pitman and Sylvanus are credited with making the early reels marked "B.F. Meek & Sons". Pitman had started making reels with his father when the business started as "B.F. Meek" in 1883. Pitman Meek died in 1896. With the loss of Pitman and his own declining health, Benjamin sold the company. Sylvanus had started reel making in 1886 and continued in the business until 1898 when the company was sold. For a 3 year period around 1900, they also made reels that were marked "Blue Grass Reel Works." This was also a time when there was litigation between the Meek company and the Milam company on who can lay claim to the title of "The Frankfort Kentucky Reel." The company was sold to the 3 Louisville, KY businessmen Sutcliffe, Carter and O’Conner in 1898.
There are three grades of reels marked "B.F. Meek & Sons." The earliest B.F. Meek & Sons reels had fancy knurling on them including the rim of the reel's rear plate. The most expensive were simply marked No. 2, No. 3, etc. The mid-grade reels were the Blue Grass line. They were marked Blue Grass No. 3, 4 or 5. The above numbered reels and Blue Grass reels were made of German silver (nickel silver). The inexpensive line were take-apart type reels and were marked with the No.'s 25, 33 or 34. William Carter received 3 patents for these take-apart type reels in 1904 and 1905. In about 1910, the hard rubber and German silver reels were introduced. They came in sizes marked No.'s 6, 8 , 10 and the largest size No. 11. The reels were marked "B.F. Meek & Sons" until 1916 when the company was sold to Horton Mfg. Co. in Connecticut.
The No. 44 fly reel is by far the most sought after by collectors. It's simple, yet elegant design makes it aesthetically pleasing. The other reels that are scare are the larger size reels like the No.'s 6, 7 and 8. The No. 10 and No. 11 were the largest reels made by them. A unique and scarce Meek reel is one marked "CLUB SPECIAL." It's a No. 2 size reel with a larger than normal 1 3/4 inch wide spool. Another scarce reel that was introduced in 1915 was the Free Spool model. It incorporated the Nov. 28, 1901 Granville Medley Patent.
Meek History - Benjamin F. Meek was a watchmaker in Louisville in 1883 when he established his reel making shop. He had previously been partners with his brother and made reels marked "J.F. & B.F. Meek" (circa 1839 to 1850) and later with fellow apprentice B.C. Milam and marked the reels "Meek & Milam" (circa 1853 to 1881). He is credited with making the first reel to incorporate spiral cut gears, jeweled pivot bearings and oil holes for the bearings. His reels were marked "B.F. Meek" from 1883 to 1890. B.F. Meek died in 1901. All Meek fishing reels are collectable and those marked "J.F. & B.F. Meek" or "B.F. Meek" are very rare.
The B.F. MEEK & SONS Reels
The B.F. MEEK & SONS German Silver & Hard Rubber Reels
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 44 Fly Reel, 1st Model, circa 1895
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 44 Fly Reel, 1st Model, circa 1895
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 44 Fly Reel, 1st Model, Engraved "Robt.T. Kochs"
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 44 Fly Reel, 2nd Model, circa 1900
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 44 Fly Reel, 3rd Model, circa 1911
Early B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 2, circa 1895
The B.F. MEEK & SONS Club Special Reel, circa 1910
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 2 CLUB SPECIAL Reel Marking Variations, circa 1910
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 2 CLUB SPECIAL Engraved "Mrs. Robt.T. Kochs"
B.F. MEEK & SONS "Robt.T. Kochs" Family Reels
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 2 Tournament Reel, circa 1910
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 2 Tournament Reel, circa 1900
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 3 Reel, circa 1900
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 4 Reel, circa 1906
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 4 Reel, circa 1906
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 3 FREE SPOOL Reel, circa 1915
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 4 Reels, circa 1905
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 5 Reel, circa 1905
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 6 Reel, circa 1901
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 8 Reel, circa 1899
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 8 and No. 11 Reels, circa 1901
BLUE GRASS REEL No's. 3 and 4 Reels made by B.F. MEEK & SONS, circa 1900
B.F. MEEK & SONS No's. 3 and 4 BLUE GRASS Reels, circa 1915
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 4 BLUE GRASS Reel, circa 1910
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 5 BLUE GRASS Reel, circa 1910
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 3 Tournament Award Reel
Engraving on a B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 3 Reel
B.F. MEEK & SONS Left and Right Hand No. 11 Reels
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 8 Reel
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 8 Reel
B.F. MEEK & SONS MEEK 44 and a B.F. MEEK Size 3 (No Number) Name Engraved Reels
Robt.T. Kochs was the President of Theo.A. Kochs Co., A Barber Supplies Manufacturer
B.F. MEEK & SONS BLUE GRASS No. 25 Reel
B.F. MEEK & SONS BLUE GRASS No. 33 Reel Marking Variations
B.F. MEEK & SONS Screwdriver and Oiler
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 99 Tackle Box
B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 99 Tackle Box
B.F. MEEK & SONS 1898 Reel Ad
B.F. MEEK & SONS Reel Catalog, circa 1899
B.F. MEEK & SONS 1900 Outdoor Life Ad for the No. 10 Reel
B.F. MEEK & SONS 1902 Magazine Ad
B.F. MEEK & SONS Reels in "1904 VL&A Catalog"
1907 B.F. MEEK & SONS Ad
B.F. MEEK & SONS 1910 Advertising Cards
B.F. MEEK & SONS 1911 Catalog
B.F. MEEK & SONS 1915 Ad in Forest & Stream Magazine
1916 B.F. MEEK & SONS Catalog No. 99 Tackle Box Description
1916 B.F. MEEK & SONS Catalog Free Spool Reel Descriptions
B.F. MEEK & SONS 1903 Letter
Link to B.F. Meek Interview in 1895 Frankfort Roundabout Newspaper
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
William Carter Reel Patents
William Carter Reel Patents
Granville Medley's 1901 Free-Spool Reel Patent
Granville Medley's 1901 Free-Spool Reel Patent