For sale here is a fine example of an ebonite-rimmed fly reel made by Julius Vom Hofe. Size 3 1/2 with a diameter of 2 3/8", pillar length of 1" and weight of 4 1/4 oz. Excellent original condition.

Features an early and rare "Read" head plate stamp for retailer "Wm. Read & Son" of Boston, MA. Read's were a sports outfitter dealing in a wide range of sporting goods, guns and fishing tackle. This reel's vintage is approximately early 1900's.

On the backplate also features Julius Vom Hofe's Oct. 8, 1889 patent stamp as well as the Brooklyn, NY stamp. 

Clean and simple click/pawl operation. No cracks exist in the hard rubber, just light scratches. This reel would clean up very handsomely with very minimal polishing effort. The one-off clicker works as intended. The shouldered pillars and spider washer on the backplate looks absolutely stunning, an example of the design genius from the era of names such as the Vom Hofe's and others.

A timeless classic that looks and functions fantastically after nearly a century!