Edward Vom Hofe George Eastman's Model 423 Fly Reel - Size 4/0

For sale here is a very special reel with amazing provenance. George Eastman's second model Edward Vom Hofe Model 423 fly reel (before it was called the Restigouche model, which was coined circa 1911). In this time period, the model was referred to as the "Celebrated Salmon and Grilse Click Reel". Size 4/0. The reel is in excellent original condition with one slight crack in the hard rubber on the back plate. Other than this, the reel is in excellent condition with a very strong drag. It comes with its original leather case with initials "GE" engraved on top.

This reel carries the Sep 2, 1879 patent on the drag adjustment knob under the handle arm, as well as the Jan 23, 1883 patent mark for the sliding click drag. German silver safety bands and pair of roller bars, one single and one double. The reel has a strong click and fully functional adjustable drag under the handle (this was the second model with seven detent flat arrowhead pointer, after the pin in detent system of the first model, and prior to the drag knob moving to the back plate in later models). This reel has a screw-in S-handle reel with a german silver counterbalance. Full-length and un-filed foot with two extra holes, also representing an early feature of these reels. It is believed that they started stamping the serial numbers on the feet circa 1908.

A truly remarkable early example for the Vom Hofe fisherman/collector!