Issued the fourth fishing-reel patent in the U.S. and the first for what would be considered a fly-fishing reel, the invention of William Billinghurst influenced reel makers throughout the northeast and beyond for more than seven decades. Introduced in 1859, the compact and lightweight frame reel offered anglers several innovations, from line-drying capabilities to rapid line retrieval. The overall look of the reel has prompted collectors to refer to them as “birdcage” reels.
