Al Foss reels were made by this famous tournament caster from Cleveland, OH. He won numerous national casting championships in the 1920’s and 1930’s. During his fishing and tournament casting career, Foss received several patents for his lure designs. He also was granted patents for his reel designs. The first reel patent was granted on January 5, 1926.The second was granted on January 21, 1930 and the third on June 23, 1931. Being a tournament distance caster, Foss understood the importance of controlling the spool speed during the cast to prevent a line backlash. As such, his patents are involved with adding a centrifugal device to the spool to help prevent the caster from getting a backlash. His design concept was added to the reel that his company sold. The reel was the Al Foss Easy Control 3-25 reel and was introduced in 1925. It came in both a polished and a matt finish. It was a size 3 reel and sold for $25, hence the number 3-25. Al Foss is considered one of the early great reel makers in the USA.
Al Foss was well know for his expertise in tournament distance casting. Several custom reels designed for distance casting have been found with his name on them. Collectors are not sure if they were commissioned by him or if they were given to him as special presentation reels. Regardless, the reels with AL Foss’s name on them are considered very special among collectors not only because of his affiliation with fishing but because they are usually very high quality. One such reel owned by Al Foss made by Talbot Reel & Mfg. Company is shown below.
Al Foss is probably best known for his line of Pork Rind Minnows. The earliest ones come in tin boxes and later in two piece cardboard boxes. Below are a Pork Rind Minnow catalog inserts from his tin lure boxes.
The AL FOSS EASY CONTROL 3-25 Reel
The AL FOSS Custom TALBOT Reel
The AL FOSS January 5, 1926 Patent
AL FOSS 1925 Ad
AL FOSS 1925 Ad
AL FOSS Pork Rind Minnow Box Catalog
AL FOSS Pork Rind Minnow Box Catalog
AL FOSS and MERLIN MITCHELL 1934 Photos