Here it is at last.

After about nearly a year of development, I am thrilled to show this Fairy reel, which is our best effort to hand make a reel that embodies all the quality and simple elegance of the vintage 

HL Leonard version.

In a few instances, we have felt it necessary to upgrade some of the Leonard details:  the old reel had a slightly mis-aligned rear bushing that, due to the resulting uneven wear, caused the spool to run less smoothly than it should.

  

The early pawl gear was also a bit worn and so our new reel has has a stainless spur gear. Also, the holes in the "ears" of our ebonitesideplates are more accurately centered and counterbored.

The teardrop shape of the winding arm was designed as a reference to the legendary early Philbrook and Payne raised pillar reel.

The diameter is 2 3/8", the width 5/8", the weight 2.5 ounces, as in the original.


Because modern fly lines are thicker than the old silk lines, our reel holds about 
half of a 3 wgt line, with a few yards of backing.

Price is $1100 on reels from this first edition of 14, numbered sequentially.  

Comments and evaluations of the reel have been encouraging; here are a few:

"I have seen and held this reel and it is spectacular"

"It is gorgeous, it has a most pleasant tone when drawing line from it. ...a magnificent piece. Great job!"

"I saw and handled the reel  and agree it is beautiful. I'll have one in my collection. Very nicely done, NO shortcuts, nickel silver screws, reel foot, hard rubber side plates. It really is a work of art."

"...such a finely made reel"

"Being functional does not detract from its value as sculpture"

"The integrity junkies's dream reel"