B.F. Meek, Louisville, KY

B.F. Meek was a watchmaker in Louisville in 1882 when he established his reel making shop. He had previously been partners with his brother and made reels marked "J.F. & B.F. Meek" (circa 1835 to 1850) and later with fellow apprentice B.C. Milam and marked the reels "Meek & Milam" (circa 1853 to 1881). He is credited with making the first reel to incorporate spiral cut gears and his reels were marked "B.F. Meek" from 1882 to 1890. Reels made later with the help of his son Sylvanus are marked "B.F. Meek & Sons". They were marked this way until 1916 when the company was sold to Horton Mfg. in Conneticut. For a 2 year period around 1900, the reels were marked "Bluegrass Reel Works." This was a time when there was litigation between the Meek company and the Milam company on who can lay claim to the title of "The Frankfort Kentucky Reel." Meek made three grades of reels. The most expensive were simply marked No. 2, No. 3, etc. The mid-grade reels were the Bluegrass line. They were marked Bluegrass No. 3 or Bluegrass No. 4. The inexpensive line were takeapart-type reels and were marked with the No.'s 25, 33 or 34. All Meek fishing reels are collectable and those marked "J.F. & B.F. Meek" or "B.F. Meek" are very rare.