Friedrich vom Hofe and his son Julius made and sold fishing reels in New York City on Fulton Street in 1860. Some of his reels contain the gear bridge patented by his son Julius on Nov. 26, 1867. Others just have the F. vom Hofe stamped on the outside of the reel. The reels have been found in solid nickle silver and in brass. The scarcer versions are made of hard rubber like the one pictured below. All of his reels are considered highly collectable.