EDWARD VOM HOFE – New York, N.Y.

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Edward vom Hofe grew up in Brooklyn New York and was the son of reel maker Friedrich vom Hofe and brother of reel maker Julius vom Hofe. Edward started building reels as an apprentice to his father in the mid-1860s and established his own reel making company in 1867. Edward went on to produce some of the finest fishing reel ever made right up until his death in 1920. After Edward's death reels marked EDWARD VOM HOFE continued to be produced by his sons, Edwin and Clarence, up until 1940.

Edward Vom Hofe made a wide range of reels including salmon fly reels, trout fly reels, surf casting reels, trolling reels, small casting reels, and huge big game fishing reels.

Edward had started tarpon fishing in Florida in 1888 and claimed to have never missed a season thereafter. Having fished for tarpon himself, vom Hofe had a unique understanding of the frustrations of tarpon anglers as well as the shortcomings of the tackle at their disposal.

Up to this point, the most effective drag mechanism at the angler’s disposal were simple strips of leather attached to a reel’s rear pillar which the angler pressed up against the outgoing line in an attempt to slow the run of a fish. Because these early reels had no anti-reverse mechanisms their handles would spin backward during a fish’s run resulting in mangled knuckles and broken fingers as the unfortunate angler tried to regain his grasp on the knob while fighting a fish.

Vom Hofe’s first-hand experiences with tarpon in Florida motivated him to develop the first modern internal friction style drag which he patented in 1902. This innovation allowed the angler to adjust the tension on the spool by turning a spanner wrench underneath the handle on the collar of the reel. This reel eventually became vom Hofe's "Universal Special" model "501" reel. Although this was a great help to the angler, the drag could still not be adjusted while fighting the fish and therefore it was still a far cry from the perfect fix.

Later innovations by his brother Julius led to the first star drag reel with a built-in anti-reverse. Soon, Edward followed up with his own line of star drag reels which he named the "Universal Star" and gave them the model number "621". The "621" was produced in the 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 6/0 and 9/0 sizes.

Vom Hofe's line of larger big game reels was named the "Commander Ross" reels after J. K. L. Ross of Montreal Canada. In 1911 Ross landed a 680-pound bluefin tuna, the first ever captured on rod and reel, at St. Ann's in Nova Scotia.

It took Ross 4 hours and 45 minutes to land this monster and he did it with and Edward vom Hofe "Special Celebrated Bass, Tarpon, & Tuna Reel" the model 501 "Universal Special" in a 9/0 size.  This was considered quite a feat as the reel did not have an adjustable star drag.

The first "Commander Ross" reels had both a star drag and an anti-reverse mechanism built into the reel. Later a click button was added then replaced by a rear mounted rim throw that operated the click. The final addition to this highly regarded big game reel was the addition of a free-spool mechanism that was operated from a rim throw mounted on the head-plate.

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These large and well made big game reels came in the in the 10/0, 12/0, 14.0 and 16/0 sizes. The 12/0, 14/0 and 16/0 reels could also be ordered in a cradle style reel seat configuration. The "Commander Ross" reels were made from 1927 through 1942 and carried the model numbers "721" and "722". The "Super Dreadnaught" model "732" came along in 1932 adding some additional features.

Edward vom Hofe's reels were considered some of the finest made in their day and today are considered highly collectible.

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Edward vom Hofe - 20/0 - Model 732 - "Commander Ross" - 

Edward vom Hofe - 16/0 - Model 722 - "Commander Ross" 

Edward vom Hofe - 16/0 - Model 722 - "Commander Ross" 

Edward vom Hofe - 16/0 - Model 722 - "Commander Ross"

Edward vom Hofe - 16/0 - Model 722 - "Commander Ross"

Edward vom Hofe - 14/0 Model 722 - "Commander Ross"

Edward vom Hofe - 14/0 - Model 722 - "Commander Ross"

Edward vom Hofe - 12/0 - Model 722 - "Commander Ross" 

Edward vom Hofe - 12/0 - Model 722 - Commander Ross - Left Handed Reel

Edward vom Hofe - 10/0 - Model 722 - Commander Ross

Edward vom Hofe - 16/0 - Model 732 - "Commander Ross" - Cradle Reel

Edward vom Hofe - 14/0 - Model 732 - "Commander Ross" - Cradle Reel

Edward vom Hofe - 14/0 - Model 732 - "Commander Ross" - Cradle Reel

Edward vom Hofe - 4/0 - Model 471 - "Celebrated Striped Bass & Tarpon Reel" - "Pasque"

Edward vom Hofe - 4/0 - Model 481 - "Celebrated Striped Bass & Tarpon Reel" - "Pasque"

Edward vom Hofe - Size 1 - Model 491 - "Regal"

Edward vom Hofe - 1/0 - Model 491 - "Regal"

Edward vom Hofe - 1/0 - Model 501 - "Special Celebrated Bass, Tarpon & Tuna Reel" - "Universal Special"

Edward vom Hofe - 4/0 - Model 501 - "Special Celebrated Bass, Tarpon & Tuna Reel" - "Universal Special"

Edward vom Hofe - 9/0 - Model 501 - "Special Celebrated Bass, Tarpon & Tuna Reel" - "Universal Special"

Edward vom Hofe - 3/0 - Model 511 - "Star Bass, Tarpon & Tuna Reel"

Edward vom Hofe - 2/0 - Model 550 - "Special Star"

Edward vom Hofe - 1/0 - Model 550 - "Star"

Edward vom Hofe - Size 2 - Model 560 - "Beach Haven"

Edward vom Hofe - 1/0 - Model 570 - "Wahoo" - Quick Take-A-Part Surf Casting Reel

Edward vom Hofe - 2/0 - Model 570 - "Wahoo" - Quick Take-A-Part Surf Casting Reel

Edward vom Hofe - 9/0 - Model 621 - "Universal Star"

Edward vom Hofe - 6/0 - Model 621 - "Universal Star"

Edward vom Hofe - 4/0 - Model 621 - "Universal Star" With Special Features

Edward vom Hofe - 1/0 - Model 621 - "Universal Star"

Edward vom Hofe - 1/0 - Model 621 - "Universal Star" - No Top Pillar Surf Reel

Edward vom Hofe - 1/0 - Model 621 - "Universal Star"

Edward vom Hofe - 1/0 - Model 650 - "Islamorada" - No Top Pillar

Edward vom Hofe - 1/0 - Model 650 - "Islamorada" - With Top Pallar

Edward vom Hofe - No.1 - Model 750 - Islamorada - Take-A-Part

Edward vom Hofe - No.1 - Model 750 - Islamorada - Take-A-Part

Edward vom Hofe - 4/0 - Model 683

Edward vom Hofe - 3/0 - Model 772

Edward vom Hofe - Size 2 - Model 800 - "Long Key"

Edward vom Hofe - 4/0 - Model 805

Edward vom Hofe - 6/0 - Model 937

Edward vom Hofe - 3 1/4 Inch - Early Star Logo All German Silver - 1873

Edward vom Hofe - 2/0 - Early All German Silver Reel - 1880

Edward vom Hofe - 3 Inch - Early Star Logo All German Silver Reel - 1885

Edward vom Hofe - 3/0 - Early Star Logo - Hard Rubber Click

Edward vom Hofe - 4/0 - Early Pre-Serial Number - Reverse "S" Handle

Edward vom Hofe - 3/0 - Early Star Logo Reel