Redifor Bait Casting Reel
This antique reel is 100 years old, the Redifor Bait Casting Reel. This great example is made of a German Silver with rigged tops of the end caps and jeweled center end caps. The free spinning handle adorn with the traditional tan/brown bake-lite handle. The antique reel has no stamp on its foot but has the desirable Jeweled End Caps option. The reel spins freely and is in nice condition. There is quite a bit of speculation as to the history of why Redifor, from Warren Ohio who would later be bought by Pflueger.
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Borrowed from ORCA: REDIFOR ROD and REEL Co. was a manufacturer located in Warren, OH. The reels were creations of two gentlemen responsible for numerous patents. George Upton and Benjamin Flegel started the company circa 1908. The first reel was the Flegel Self-Thumbing Reel, but by 1910 there were five reels listed in ads including a couple of fly reels. Redifor Rod and Reel Co. was eventually bought out by Pflueger. In 1914, the famous Redifor Beetzsel was also found in ads. Some believe the reel was made by Shakespeare and eventually the rights were turned over to the company. The Beetzel first appeared in the Shakespeare 1925 catalog. other baitcasters include a free spool models and a couple of tournament models with unusual spool systems. One side of the divided spool held the line and the other was used for thumbing. An add-on level wind device called the Flegel Redifor Spooler was sold early in company history as well. For more information, see Frank Stewart’s article in the Reels News, back issue Spring1998. Picture below courtesy of Brian Purrone – Redifor Beetzel with correct box and leather case
