United States Net & Twine Co. - New York, NY
United States Net & Twine Co. fishing reels are now considered to be one of the great reels made by early era craftsmen. The business was established in 1866 according to their 1880 catalog. At first, they were a wholesale tackle company selling, as the name implies, fishing nets and twine. The company came into prominence when they purchased the fishing tackle business from A.G. Spalding & Bros. in 1894. This included the KOSMIC line of fishing tackle and the Spalding tackle factory in Central Valley, NY. The United States Net & Twine Co. are probably best known for their high quality KOSMIC fly rods. The rods were pricied from $45 up to $500. The latter was furnished with gold and ivory materials. United States Net & Twine Co. continued to sell the KOSMIC rods and reels up until around 1898 when they were bought by Montague City Rod Company.
One of their most popular line of fishing tackle, in addition to the rods, was their reels. They sold German silver and hard rubber fly reels and casting reels made for the by Julius vom Hofe marked "KOSMIC." They also sold an inexpensive line of reels that were popular among fishermen at the time. The person associated with these inexpensive reels was Frederick Moog. Moog is listed in the late 1880's New York city directories as a reel maker. He received a patent for reel foot design on Aug. 14, 1894. He assigned the patent to United States Net & Twince Co. Previously, the company registered a trade-mark for the name "CLIMAX" on July 3, 1894. The name was stamped on the reels they sold with the Moog patented foot design. United States Net & Twine Co. reels are considered to be made by one of the great New York state reel makers.
The UNITED STATES NET & TWINE CO. Special Exposition Display 60 Yard Fly Reel
U.S. Net and Twine Display Description at the 1896 NY Sportsman Show
The KOSMIC Ad in May, 1894 "American Field" Magazine
The KOSMIC Reel Ad in the May, 1895 "Forest and Stream" Magazine
The FREDERICK MOOG AUGUST 14, 1894 Reel Foot Patent
The UNITED STATES NET & TWINE CO. July 3, 1894 Trade-Mark