does anyone know anything about the farlows "perfect pennell reel , i got one and an original case at mullocks and its simply lovely. its 4" and has the watchmakers style folding rear check housing backplate as seen in G . Turners 2nd book p157 , ivory handle , anti-foul handle and black lead finish. i know its rare as it was only made for 2 years and in 3 sizes but any other info or fotos of any other ones would be helpfull

Post us some photos then.

I can only guess it's named after Henry Cholmondeley-Pennell, the naturalist and writer.

A friend has some early Farlows catalogues - I'll ask.

B

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heres the fotos , its a lovely reel with its original named case..

Nice, thanks for sharing!

This is mentioned in Henry Cholmondeley-Pennells book "Fishing Vol 1 Trout & Salmon" 1889

Here is the text (the illustrations show your reel)

As I could not find any salmon reel completely fulfilling these several conditions, I set about constructing one, and in doing so unhesitatingly pressed into my service the best points I could find in any existing reels, well-known or otherwise. The outcome is shown in the reel figured below, in which I believe it will be seen that the desiderated requirements are combined. . . But let me, in the first place, acknowledge my indebtedness to the other inventors of whose several systems I have taken advantage.

The form of the side plates of my reel, with a rim all in one solid piece of metal, is due to General Sir Daniel Lysons, G.C.B. This rim not only enables the exterior end of the handle to be 'guarded,' or counter-sunk, so as both to protect it and prevent the line hitching round it, but at the same time makes it practicable to dispense altogether with the second or exterior side plate. Hence (point first) a considerable diminution in the weight of the reel, with increased rather than diminished strength.

The handle of the Lysons reel terminates inside the rim, so that the leverage is only about the same as that of a handle attached in the ordinary way to a revolving side plate ; and to
gain the maximum of possible leverage (point two) I have adopted in a modified form the handle which is said to be the invention of Colonel Latour* - or which, at any rate, is known as ' Colonel Latour's handle.' This, in a 4 ½ inch reel, gives an increased leverage, or winding-in power, of half an inch in actual measurement, or, mechanicaly speaking, some-where about doubles it (?). The doubled leverage will tell, from the first putting together of the rod until the gaffing of the last fish of the day gives the wearied muscles of the right arm and back a not unwelcome respite.

The last point is the check mechanism shown in drawing, fig. 2, which ought to be simple, and at the same time easily accessible - accessible, that is, without any 'taking to pieces'
of the reel. In my 'combined reel' the check machinery is merely covered by a hinged lid (a, b, c), sufficiently closefitting to be practically water-tight, while admitting of being opened at once by giving the catch, c, a turn with the point of a knife-blade.

The first time I recollect noticing a similar form of checkcover was on a reel made, I believe, by Bernard & Son, for my friend Mr. F. T. Corrance. This was a light reel with one side ebonite, and intended principally for boat work in Norway. It will thus be seen that for whatever merits the combined reel may possess I can personally claim very little credit—but
if the outcome of the combination produces any approach to an 'ideal salmon reel,' it matters little to fishermen from whose hands they receive it.

The weight of this reel, 4 1/2 inches, is 1 lb. 6 oz; and that of a ' best London-made reel ' of the same diameter, of one or other of the similar patterns already noticed, somewhere about
I lb. 13 oz - or 7 oz. more.

The reel is registered and manufactured by Messrs. Farlow.

Messrs. Hardy's reel is very much lighter than the 'London made' reel, and not quite so light as my pattern. There is (on a 4 1/2 inch reel) a difference apparently of 3 oz. in favour of the former, but it is not so in reality owing to the difference in the width of the groove in the two patterns. In Hardy's reel it is 1 7/16 inch, and in mine 1 10/16 inch, the result being that a 4-inch reel of my pattern will carry the same amount of line as Hardy's 4 ½ inch.

It must be admitted, however—all questions of comparative weight apart—that Messrs. Hardy's 'revolving-plate reels 'are in every respect models of finish and workmanship, and a vast
stride in advance over the clumsily heavy ' London-made reel.'

*A variation of this handle, with an extension of it right across the reel from side to side, is known as ' Bright's ' handle, but it ofters no additional advantages and adds materially to the weight.

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