ReeLpedia®. CURL Metal Nottingham Fishing Reel, maker George Curl, circa 1930, by Bernard (Bernie) Ladd 2009.
George Curl History: For a reel maker thought to have produced between 500-600 reels over a period of about 30 years, it seems surprising that it has taken this long for any of these reels to surface with collectors. George Curl lived out his 81 years in Mount Gambier in South Australia working for 36 years of his life as a blacksmith/engineer with local engineering business Varcoes. His early Nottingham reels were made mostly of brass with star backs cast by a foundry in Ballarat. A distinctive feature of CURL reels was the spool arbours which were made from walnut timber. Later, he used scrap stainless steel reclaimed from the reject milk vats from the local milk factory. The reels were made on George Curl's belt-driven pedal lathe in a tin shed at the rear of his property in Mt Gambier. CURL reels were mainly for river fishing, reflecting his own fishing activities which were centered mainly around the Glenelg River, near Nelson. Here he fished for bream, perch and mulloway. The reels were sold mainly in the Mt Gambier area and western districts of Victoria. ( Dunn, 1999; AFR Sup. No 6; p 2 )
George Curl,
reel maker, SA.
George Curl pictured holding a fish captured using his Curl fishing reel.
Curl 4 inch 316 grade stainless steel reel..
George Curl, Mt Gambier South Australia, 316 grade stainless steel and brass Nottingham fishing reel. Rolled s/s back plate diameter 4''; Ventilated s/s spool-drum width 1''; wooden drum arbor; brass optional check mechanism; Aluminium T saddle cross back; fixed crank s/s line guide; knurled drag nut, brass spring & clutch assembly -c 1940.
CURL reel, picture 1.
George Curl, Mt Gambier South Australia, brass Nottingham fishing reel. Rolled brass back plate diameter 3 5/8''; Ventilated brass spool-drum width 1''; wooden drum arbor; brass optional check mechanism; brass T saddle cross back; brass line guide; brass spindle spool-drum retaining screw; single bakelite (Alvey type) handle knob. -c 1930.
Curl 3 5/8 inch brass reel.
George Curl, Mt Gambier South Australia, 316 grade stainless steel shrouded, and brass Nottingham fishing reel. Rolled S/S back plate diameter 3 5/8''; Ventilated s/s spool-drum width 1''; wooden drum arbor; brass optional check mechanism; s/s T saddle cross back; brass lined, line guide aperture in shroud; fixed crank; S/S line guide; s/s knurled drag nut; brass spring & clutch assembly; ebonite handle knobs. -c 1940.
Curl 3 5/8 inch 316 grade stainless steel shrouded reel.
CURL metal and wooden Nottingham,Maker George Curl, Mt Gambier SA.Stainless steel Y-back construction,Walnut spool arbor, Bikerdyke line guard, crank handle with twin plastic knobs, star drag,ventilated spool, optional check diameter 6 1/4'' spool width 7/8''. ( Dunn,1999; AFR Sup. No 6; p 9)
CURL metal and wooden Nottingham, George Curl, Mt Gambier SA. Brass star back, reel seat & tension nut, stainless steel back, shroud & end plate, walnut spool arbor, single chrome handle, ventilated spool, optional check,brass line guide aperture in shroud diameter 3 1/2'' spool width 1 1/2''.( Dunn,1999; AFR Sup. No 6; p 9 )
CURL brass construction walnut arbor, star back, ventilated spool, single wood handle knob,optional check, revolving line guide, diameter 3 1/2'', spool width 1'' -c 1930.
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