Tight Lines Tuesday G H Mansfield & Co
by John Etchieson

The firm of G H Mansfield & Co. of Canton Massachusetts had already been producing some of the best hard braided silk fishing lines for 10 years when America celebrated the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876. This historic event, (the first official World’s Fair in the United States), was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from May 10 to November 10, 1876 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. George H Mansfield not only exhibited his superb fishing lines at Column A booth 26 in the Agriculture Building of the Fair (as noted on this rare 1876 advertising trade card), but also received both recognition and high praise for the exceptional quality of his fishing line products and a gold medal from the judges for his display.

The G H Mansfield firm made its superior fishing line products from 1866 to 1933 at their mill (which had been established in 1821) including this very rare “Gibraltar” brand line from the 1920s. The “Gibraltar” brand was just as solid as the “Rock of Gibraltar” illustrated on its label. It was considered to be the top of the product line manufactured by Mansfield and owed its strength to the nearly 53 miles of individual silk threads (the thickness of human hair) that were tightly and finely braided together to make up a single 50 yard spool. Less than a half dozen of these extremely rare spools of the “Gibraltar” brand lines like this one exist today, making it a treasure indeed to be found by any antique tackle collector seeking only the very rarest and the very best. Comments or questions may be sent to John at Johnsetch@aol.com

Tight Lines Tuesday G H Mansfield & Co

Tight Lines Tuesday G H Mansfield & Co

Tight Lines Tuesday G H Mansfield & Co