R.B. Meiser Reel Seats for Vintage Reels
… We do often get asked to supply reel seats for our rods that will fit non-conforming vintage reel legs typical of those found many of the pre and post war UK made Salmon reels …
We do offer two styles of reel seats for non-conforming vintage reel legs: The Ferguson and the Vintage series.
The Vintage Ferguson
The Vintage Ferguson style reel seats have a very distinct rounded machined threads and longer barrel. They have a very traditional and classic look, typical of the North American reel seats favored by the turn of the century Bamboo rod builders.
They will all have exposed fixed hoods, and can be configured as either up or down locking positions. They will all have double lock nuts with Delrin inserts to assure a snug reel leg lock-up.
All of the Ferguson Style reel seats are available with a nearly infinite variety of highly figured, stabilized wood inserts. We do offer (and have in stock) an extremely wide selection of wood inserts, the choices of which would need to be discussed at the time that the build schedule is being defined.
For a very traditional look, we can custom mill cork inserts, utilizing either conventional or various composite cork rings
The reel seat frames are uniquely designed so that the reel legs do not ride on the cork itself. Both reel legs are allowed to be seated on the metal skeleton, not on the cork itself. This unique capability assures that the cork insert will not compress from the weight and compression of the reel legs.
The Ferguson’s are available in two sizes: Medium and Large. They are available in Polished Bronze, Darkened Nickel Silver and bright Nickel Silver.
We do also offer much lighter-in-weight anodized Aluminum versions of the Fergusons. They are available in Darkened and Bright Nickel Silver colors. These are nearly 50% lighter then are the Nickel Silver and Bronze, but have equal durability and beauty … They are available in the same barrel sizes, and will take the same wood or cork inserts.
The image below shows our large sized Ferguson style reel seats. This barrel size will be suitable for most 8 to 12 weight two handed rods, from 14’0” to 17’0”. They are available in Polished Bronze (top) Darkened Nickel Silver (middle) and Bright Nickel Silver (bottom):
This image shows our medium sized Ferguson reel seats. This barrel size would be suitable for most two handed rods from 12’6” to 14’0”, in powers from 6 to 8 weight. They are available in Bright Nickel Silver (top) Polished Bronze (middle) and Darkened Nickel Silver (bottom):
The anodized Aluminum Vintage Fergusons are nearly 50% lighter in weight then are the solid Bronze and Nickel Silver reel seats, but have equal durability and beauty. This image shows (top) the Darkened Nickel Silver and the Bright Nickel Silver (bottom):
The Vintage Classic
…Like the Ferguson Vintage reel seats, the Vintage Classic reel seats will have adequate barrel length and thread throw to allow the additional length and leg thickness typical of most vintage reel legs …
The Vintage Classic barrels are CNC machined from aircraft grade Aluminum tube stock, and anodized to a grade III hardness. These are extremely durable reel seats, designed for the angler that will wish to minimize the weight of the grip assembly. These reel seats will be 50% lighter then the comparable Vintage Ferguson’s. The double lock nuts are oversized, and heavily knurled for easy tightening, and Delrin ring inserts to assure a secure reel leg lock down.
They are available in two sizes: Medium and Large The Large reel seats would be best married to rods of 14’ to 16’ in length, and the 9 to 12 weights. The Medium seats would be best suited for rods in the 12’6” to 13’6” range at 6 to 8 weights. They are available with either carbon inserts or stabilized wood inserts.
This image shows (top) a Large Vintage Classic with a Oregon Broad Leaf Maple burl wood insert (middle) Large with a carbon insert, and (bottom) A medium with a carbon insert:
