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Early Julius Vom Hofe Hand Made German Silver and Hard Rubber Salmon Reel. While very faint, the traditional "A&F" circular logo is stamped into the hard rubber head plate at 12 o'clock of this 3 1/2" diameter (measured pillar to pillar), 1 1/2" wide spool reel. With an unusual drag adjustment on the tail plate that functions well, consisting of a 5/8" diameter disk of nickel silver with an arrow indicator pointing to "on" and "off", this early Julius reel is configured as right hand wind. With the usual hole in the foot as found on Julius Vom Hofe reels, this one is marked with an unusual 12/00, and does not appear to be an overstamp. The condition is very good with fading to the hard rubber side plates, full unaltered foot and ding free nickel silver rims, as well as screw heads showing little use. The tail plate houses a sliding click switch that functions well, in addition to a knurled and removable end cap, and a lightly stamped "Julius Vom Hofe - Patent - Oct. 20, 1903" and "Patent Oct. 8, 1889". A seldom seen raised pillar salmon reel from Vom Hofe.
Since the 1892 opening of the first waterfront store in Manhattan, New York, founder David T. Ab¬ercrombie had but one goal; to provide the highest quality equipment to the outdoor enthusiast. As a former trapper, prospector and topographer, Abercrombie was intimately familiar with the gear his new store provided, including designing much of the camping gear personally. By providing only the best hunting, fishing and camping items, he quickly became a favorite retailer of professional guides, explorers and trappers, including one Ezra Fitch. Leaving a successful law prac¬tice in Kingston, NY, the avid fisherman negotiated a partnership with Abercrombie and bought into the business in 1900. By 1904, the business had moved to a new address on Broadway and was incorporated, with the name officially changed to Abercrombie & Fitch. By 1906, the business again relocated, expanding to an entire warehouse that allowed room to both manufacture and display their wares. Differences between the two partners culminated in David Abercrombie leaving the business, resigning in 1907. Ezra Fitch continued to expand the business with his vision of bringing in not only the professional outdoorsmen, but the casual outdoorsmen as well. His expansion included displays of items as if in use, with camp scenes set up in the store, not packed away in boxes or on shelves. His business plan was a huge success, and the business once again expanded and relocated, this time to the corner of Madison Avenue and 45th Street. Claiming the location "Where the Blazed Trail Crosses the Boulevard", Fitch provided a literal outdoorsman's playground directly across from the famed Grand Central Station. Becoming the largest sporting goods store in the world, complete with a log cabin on the roof of his 12 story building, as well as a casting pool to allow anglers to test the gear they would purchase. They also provided a rifle range in the basement, giving hunters the same opportunity to test the equipment they considered purchasing. Boasting famous clientele such as Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway, Abercrombie & Fitch became the destination of sportsmen worldwide, and throughout its entire history, provided only the finest quality gear, with many exclusive items from notable companies such as Talbot, Winchester and many, many others. The line continued to expand to include absolutely everything related to the outdoors, including hot air ballooning, falconry, yachting, golfing and fencing. Leaving the business in 1928 to pursue his love of the outdoors, Ezra Fitch left behind a thriving business. For today's collectors, the name Abercrombie & Fitch is synonymous with high quality outdoor equipment. Imagine if you will standing at the head of the casting pool on the roof of a NYC building that housed the greatest sporting goods in the world as you browse through these 162 lots. ImagesClick on thumbnails to see larger images:
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