Marbleized Philbrook & Paine Raised-Pillar Trout Reel

Inventor Francis J. Philbrook assigned the rights to his 1877 reel patent to noted gunsmith and rod maker H. L. Leonard. Initially built by the team of Philbrook and Edward F. Payne, the raised-pillar frame reel featured a recessed plate to house the click mechanism and a raised rim that prevented the line from becoming tangled under the handle. The early marbleized finish is a favorite among collectors today, coupling tremendous aesthetics with equally impressive construction.

Courtesy of Tyler Thompson

Yearc. 1877Accession No.L2022.003.007Made byFrancis J. Philbrook and Edward F. Payne