Shakespeare and Winchester comparison

[Woodlakejag]

I don’t know if Winchester ever made rods for Shakespeare, but these two rods have a lot of similarities. Both I would guess are about 1926, a Shakespeare deluxe and Armax 7251.

[wrong66]

I don't think your Shakespeare was made by Winchester. Others may not agree. We'll see.

[steeliefool]

I don't think your Shakespeare was made by Winchester. Others may not agree. We'll see.

#1

[Woodlakejag]

The bags, reel seats, ferrules, and tip guides are almost exactly the same. I suppose it’s possible they were made in different shops and one was just copying the other, but I think it’s more likely that the reel seat, bag, and ferrules were made at Winchester. Or they were both made at Shakespeare. I don’t know. I assume Winchester because of their known relationship with Armax, but I’m open to other theories.

[steeliefool]

Armax was a trade name used by Winchester to sell to jobbers (the trade) so as to not compete with it's Winchester stores and Winchester name. Barney and Berry as well.
Like the Old Faithful Rod Co and Grainger.

[wrong66]

The reel seats look different to me, just a similar style. The winding checks, too. The ferrules are similar, but not identical. The tip tops could probably be found on hundreds of different rods. Bags could have been made anywhere. Just my take on it.

[NewUtahCaneAngler]

Here are three Winchester reel seats that I posted a while back viewtopic.php?f=64&t=107434&p=767974&hi ... ts#p767974. I don't believe that your Shakespeare was made in New Haven.

[bamboocollector11]

+3

Winchester did make some early South Bends, but no Shakespeare's to my knowledge.