Fishing Reels. 197 



and Arkansas, but spent their summers in Kentucky. Two 

 of the Meek reels shown were made for such parties. One 

 for Mr. E. Higgins, of Lexington, a Mississippi planter, 

 the other for Mr. D. Vertner, a Louisiana planter. The 

 latter reel is now in the possession of his granddaughter, 

 Mrs. Alexander Jeffrey, of Lexington, Ky. 



These reels, it will be observed, are improvements in 

 some respects on the Snyder reels. There is a collar 

 around the crank-shaft ; the ends of the spool-shaft do not 

 project, and the alarm and drag-springs are operated by 

 sliding buttons, as in the modern reel. 



Fig. 28. Fig. 29. 



Vertuer's J. F. Meek Eeel, Vertner's J. F. Meek Reel, 



Front View. Back View. 



It seems that about the time that Jonathan F. Meek 

 made his first reel, in 1833, or soon after, at least one 

 reel was made by Theodore Noel, also a watchmaker of 

 Frankfort. 



J. F. Meek continued to make reels until about 1840, 

 when he formed a partnership with his brother, Bfenjamin 

 F. Meek, who was likewise a fine watchmaker. After this 

 the reels were made by B. F. Meek, and stamped " J. F. 

 & B. F. Meek." 



Fig. 28. — Solid silver reel made by J. F. Meek about 1840. In 

 good condition. Diameter, 1% inches; length, 1 15/16 inches. 



Fig. 29. — Back disk-plate of No. 28. Geaxing about same as 

 No. 27. The pillars are made arching instead of straight. 



