Australian Vintage Wooden and Brass Nottingham Fishing Reel models, Smith / Jones, Marlin Centre Pin,The Sea King, Super San Toy, Hedley Ireland, N. Parkes and Union reference information, ReeLpedia® by Bernie Ladd, 4/2/2014.
The Smith/Jones Ball Bearing Nottingham reels are general-purpose reels manufactured mainly from a well-seasoned Australian red cedar, or less commonly from teak, and least commonly from silky oak. The reels come with a hardened steel spindle; solid cast brass T saddle cross back; large plastic or wood handle knobs; screw-type spool check- brake; adjustable cone ball bearings; brass bearing cover. Bob Dunn, commented (Dunn, Iss. No.6 S59) that it is difficult to differentiate which reels were made by retired Police Officer Marty Smith from Sydney and which were produced by Fred Jones. As such the reference to these reels is the Smith/Jones Nottingham fishing reels -C 1940.
(S/J 1) Smith/Jones 8 1/2 inch Teak Nottingham.
Smith/Jones 8 1/2 inch Nottingham Teak Light Game Reel. Teak back diameter 8 1/2''; Drum (spool) width 1 1/2''; Brass diamond shaped collet; single wood handle; screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1940. Very rare.
(S/J 2) Smith/Jones 7 inch Australian red cedar Nottingham.
Smith/Jones 7-inch cedar Ball Bearing Nottingham Light Game Reel. Cedar back diameter 7''; Drum (spool) width 2'' Brass diamond shaped collets; erinoid handles; screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1940. Scarce.
(S/J 3) Smith/Jones 6 3/4 inch Teak Nottingham.
Smith/Jones 6 3/4'' inch Teak Ball Bearing Nottingham Reel . Teak back diameter 6 3/4''; Drum (spool) width 2'' Brass diamond shaped collets ; wood handles; brass screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1940. Scarce.
(S/J 4) Smith/Jones 6 3/8 inch Australian red cedar Nottingham.
Smith/Jones 6 3/8 inch cedar Ball Bearing Nottingham Reel . Cedar back diameter 6 3/8''; Drum (spool) width 2''; Zinc collets ; Zinc bearing cover; other metal components of brass; wood handles; brass screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1940. Very rare.
(S/J 5) Marty Smith 6'' Australian red cedar; 2 piece Drum (spool).
(S/J 6) Smith/Jones 6 inch Australian silky oak Nottingham.
Marty Smith made ball ball-bearing cedar reel. Purchased from John Smith, who advised belonged & made by his uncle!
Cedar back diameter 6''; Drum (spool) width 2''; brass diamond shaped collets; brass bearing cover; erinoid handles; brass screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1940. Very rare.
Smith/Jones 6-inch Australian Silky Oak Ball Bearing Nottingham Reel. Silky oak back diameter 6''; Drum (spool) width 1 3/4'' Brass diamond shaped collets ; wood handles; brass screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1950. Hard to find.
(S/J 7) Smith/Jones 6 inch Australian red cedar Nottingham.
Smith/Jones 6 inch cedar Ball Bearing Nottingham Light Game Reel . Cedar back diameter 6''; Drum (spool) width 2'' Brass diamond shaped collets ; erinoid handles; brass screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1950. Scarce.
(S/J 8) Smith/Jones 5 1/2'' cedar; 2 piece Drum (spool) Nottingham
Smith/Jones 5 1/2 inch cedar Ball Bearing Nottingham Reel. Cedar back diameter 5 1/2''; Drum (spool) width 1 3/4''
Brass diamond-shaped collets ; wood handles; brass screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1940. Rare.
(S/J 9) Smith/Jones 5 1/2 inch Australian silky oak Nottingham.
Smith/Jones 5 1/2 inch cedar Ball Bearing Nottingham Reel. Cedar back diameter 5 1/2''; Drum (spool) width 1 3/4'' Brass oval shaped collets ; erinoid handles; brass screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1950. Rare in original condition.
(S/J 10) Smith/Jones 4 1/2'' silky oak; ball bearing; drum width 1 3/8''.
Smith/Jones 4 1/2 inch silky oak Ball Bearing Nottingham Reel. Silky oak back diameter 4 1/2''; Drum (spool) width 1 3/8'' Brass oval shaped collets; erinoid handles; screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1950. Hard to find in original condition.
S/J 11) Smith/Jones 4'' Australian red cedar cedar Nottingham.
Smith/Jones 4-inch cedar Ball Bearing Nottingham Reel. Cedar back diameter 4''; Drum (spool) width 1 1/4'' Brass oval shaped collets ; erinoid handles; brass screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1950. Rare.
(S/J 12) Smith/Jones 3 1/2'' Australian red cedar Nottingham.
Smith/Jones 3 1/2 inch cedar Ball Bearing Nottingham Reel. Cedar back diameter 4''; Drum (spool) width 1 1/2'' Brass oval shaped collets ; erinoid handles; brass screw operated brake on brass cross back -c. 1950. Extremely rare.
Marlin Centre Pin Wood and Brass fishing reels information ReeLpedia ® Page 38 by Bernie Ladd, 4/2/2014.
MARLIN 5 1/16'' size laminated wood and brass centrepin drum (spool) release latch reel - c 1940. Back plate diameter 5 1/16''; drum (spool) width 1 3/8''; cast brass cross back stamped MARLIN; optional check; Tapered bakelite handle knobs; brass collets. (Mn 13)
MARLIN 5'' size Australian red Cedar wood and brass centrepin drum (spool) release latch reel - c 1940. Back plate diameter 5''; drum (spool) width 2 1/8''; cast brass cross back, un-branded; Tapered bakelite handle knobs; brass collets. (Mn 14)
MARLIN 4'' size laminated wood and brass centrepin drum (spool) release latch reel - c 1940. Back plate diameter 4''; drum (spool) width 1 1/4''; cast brass cross back stamped MARLIN; optional check; Tapered bakelite handle knobs; brass collets. (Mn 15)
MARLIN 3 1/2'' size laminated wood and brass centrepin drum (spool) release latch reel - c 1940. Back plate diameter 3 1/2''; drum (spool) width 1 1/4''; cast brass cross back stamped MARLIN; optional check; Tapered wood handle knobs; brass collets. (Mn 16)
MARLIN 3 1/2'' size laminated wood and brass centrepin drum (spool) release latch reel - c 1940. Back plate diameter 3 1/2''; drum (spool) width 1 1/4''; cast brass cross back stamped MARLIN; optional check; Tapered brass handle knobs; brass collets. (Mn 17)
The Sea King and Super San Toy reels. Sydney Fishing Tackle Supply Arthur W. East & Son 8 Broadway Sydney, History by ReeLpedia® 21/11/25
This reelpedia® segment outlines the specific history of the Arthur W. East & Sons retail business, based in Sydney, NSW, and provides background information on two reels they marketed after the Second World War: The Sea King and Super San Toy. (Reelpedia®, 21/11/2025)
Arthur W. East was reputed to have been a professional fisherman, and his business was associated with well-known angling identities such as Jack Davy and Bob and Dolly Dyer. Research drawn from various historical documents confirms that the business operated in the post-war period, with Arthur’s son, Bob East, working there until around 1952.
Arthur W. East & Son operated their business from 8 Broadway, Sydney, in a three-storey building named Sydney Fishing Tackle Supply. The shop retailed a variety of angling equipment, golf clubs, and general sporting goods.
Two specific wood-and-brass centrepin reels—The Super San Toy and The Sea King—were produced exclusively for Arthur W. East & Son. In most cases, each reel featured a decal on the backplate displaying the company’s name and address: Arthur W. East & Son, 8 Broadway, Sydney. Although no official evidence or documentation confirms the actual maker, these reels are believed to have been manufactured by Hedley Ireland, who was known for producing wood-and-brass centrepin reels with a fully rimmed Y-back and reel seat (saddle) cast in one piece from unplated cast brass. Notably, a Hedley reel is referenced in Bob Dunn’s AFR book (page 123, section 11) under the name “Ireland,” where Dunn also notes that the reels carried no identifying markings.
The segment following this historical overview includes detailed images, full technical specifications, and additional reference material covering both The Sea King and Super San Toy models. It also features photographs of the Sydney Fishing Tackle Supply signage on the original three-storey premises, a later image of the former building, and a period golf club advertisement.
The Sea King 4'' size Australian Teak wood and brass centrepin drum (spool) release latch reel - c 1940s. Back plate diameter 3 7/8''; drum (spool) width 1 3/8''; cast brass T saddle cross back (raw finish); optional check lever; bulbous plastic type handle knobs; brass collets. Very rare (Sk 18)
Super San Toy 4'' size Australian Teak wood and brass centrepin drum (spool) release latch reel - c 1940s. Back plate diameter 3 7/8''; drum (spool) width 1 3/8''; cast brass T saddle cross back (raw finish); optional check lever; bulbous plastic type handle knobs; brass collets. Very rare (St 19)
Hedley Ireland Vintage Wood-and-Brass Centrepin Fishing Reel History Reelpedia® – 30/11/2025
The Ireland centrepin drum (spool-release latch) Nottingham-style fishing reels, produced in various sizes, were made by Hedley Ireland of Sydney around the 1950s. Each reel incorporated a fully rimmed Y-back and saddle cast in one piece of unplated brass. This raw-brass rim was cleverly designed to protect both the teak backplate edge and the inner spool edge from damage caused by drops, hard surfaces, or heavy-handed use.
Most Ireland reels featured a drum (spool) made from Australian teak formed from two pieces laminated together. This stronger configuration helped prevent warping caused by the build-up of line pressure or moisture exposure, which could otherwise lead to cracking or deformation through expansion and contraction. Interestingly, some of the smaller-size Ireland drums (spools) were machined from a solid piece of teak rather than laminated. In these smaller sizes, a cast-brass star-cross back was also produced, although only in very limited numbers.
The Hedley Ireland reels were well-made Nottingham-style wooden centrepins distributed through various fishing-tackle retailers across Australia in the 1950s. Today, Ireland reels are highly sought after by collectors.
Hedley Ireland 5'' size Australian Teak wood and brass centrepin drum (spool) release latch reel - c 1950s. Brass rimmed back plate diameter 4 13/16''; Laminated Teak drum (spool) width 1 3/4''; cast brass T saddle rimmed Y back (raw finish); optional check lever; bulbous erinoid (hard rubber) handle knobs; brass collets. Hard to find (Hi 20)
Hedley Ireland 4'' size Australian Teak wood and brass centrepin drum (spool) release latch reel - c 1950s. Brass rimmed back plate diameter 3 11/16''; Solid teak drum (spool) width 1 1/2''; cast brass T saddle rimmed Y back (raw finish); optional check lever; bulbous erinoid (hard rubber) handle knobs; brass collets. Hard to find (Hi 21)
N. Parkes Wood and Metal Vintage Centre pin reel Reelpedia® - 4/12/2025
N. Parkes 5'' size Australian Teak wood and metal centrepin drum (spool) release latch reel - c 1950s. Teak back plate diameter 4 9/16''; Solid teak drum (spool) width 1 1/4''; Nickle plated cast brass T saddle cross back; Lathe turned aluminium handle knobs and collets. Stamped N. Parkes on cross back Rare (Np 22)
Union Vintage Wood-and-Brass Nottingham Fishing Reel and Angling Products History *Reelpedia® – 6/12/2025* By Bernie Ladd
The Union Nottingham reel is believed to have been produced by the Union Gut Company Pty Ltd, which also manufactured gut fishing lines under the brand name *Pylon Gut*, as well as fishing lures. The company was originally based at Mt Evelyn, Victoria, Australia, during the 1930s–1940s, before relocating to Mornington, Melbourne, around 1945. Various angling magazines featured advertisements for Pylon Gut line during the early 1940s, indicating production at Mt Evelyn. Later advertisements confirm that manufacturing had shifted to Mornington.
In the early 2000s, while based in Lakes Entrance, Victoria, I secured an interesting Nottingham reel inscribed *UNION* in cursive script on the brass T-saddle (reel seat/foot) cross-back. After extensive enquiries with several experienced Australian collectors—none of whom were aware of this Union model—we were unable at that time to identify where the reel was produced.
Later that same year, an experienced Melbourne-based collector agreed with my assessment that the Union reel shared strong similarities with Australian-made wood-and-metal Nottingham reels. It was considered more than likely to have been produced by the Union Gut Company during the 1940s, when the firm was a well-known fishing tackle manufacturer. Although there is no official documentation to date confirming that Union Gut Company produced this reel, the evidence strongly supports this conclusion.
The wooden drum (spool) has been identified as Australian teak, a timber commonly used for its durability in fishing applications. It is fitted with a brass backplate to the rear of the wooden drum. The brass components and ebonite (hard rubber) handle knobs suggest a manufacturing period possibly in the late 1930s, or alternatively the 1940s.
Featured below are nine images displaying the Union Nottingham reel with full, clear technical specifications, along with Union Gut advertisements and a rare *Union Tackle Co., Melbourne, Australia*– King Codder No. 1 fishing lure in its original box.
Union 4'' size Australian Teak wood and Brass Nottingham reel - c 1930s - 40s. Nickle plated rolled brass back plate diameter 3 15/16''; brass backed teak drum (spool) width 1 1/4''; cast brass T saddle semi-cross back; brass bikerdyke line guard; sliding check button. Ebonite (hard rubber) handle knobs; brass collets. Inscribed UNION in cursive script on cross back and stamped 2 on T saddle (foot) Very rare (Un 23)
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