F. vom Hofe reels were made by him and his son Julius. They sold fishing reels in New York City on Fulton Street when the business was founded in 1857. The first “F. vom Hofe & Son, Maker” reels were marked on the head plate and did not have a gear bridge to support the main gear post. They also used small nuts to fasten the cross-bar pillars to the back of the head plate. Later ones contain the gear bridge patented by his son Julius on Nov. 26, 1867. The bridge provided stability to the gear post. These reels also had the cross-bar pillars threaded and screwed into the back of the head plate. The reels have been found in solid nickel silver (German silver) and in brass. The scarcer versions are made of hard rubber like the one pictured below. All of his reels are considered highly collectable. The business name was changed to “Julius vom Hofe” in 1882. These reels are considered to be made by one of the greatest NY reel makers.
F. vom HOFE & SON German Silver Reel Belonging to William Renwick of “Battelle & Renwick”
F. vom HOFE & SON German Silver Reels with Rim Drag
The F. vom HOFE & SON German Silver Reel
Unmarked F. vom HOFE & SON German Silver Reel
The F. vom HOFE & SON Size 2 Brass Reel
The F. vom HOFE & SON 100 Yard Size Brass Reel
Unmarked F. vom HOFE & SON Hard Rubber and German Silver Reel
The JULIUS Vom HOFE November 26, 1867 Patent
Unmarked F. vom HOFE & SON Hard Rubber and German Silver Reel