Montague City Reels - Brooklyn, NY -

The Montague City reels were made in their Brooklyn factory starting in 1898 after they bought the business of Frederick Malleson. The Montague City Rod Company was originally in the rod making business in Montague City, MA. They had already bought the Frederick Malleson rod business in 1893. The company name was changed to Montague Rod and Reel Co. in 1927 and the reel manufacturing was consolidated into the Montague City factory. They were later bought out by Ocean City in 1934. The reels made over this 36 year period vary in the quality and the size. Montague City reels varied from a very expensive solid nickel silver (German silver) line of reels to inexpensive ones stamped out thin brass. It is uncommon to find the Montague name on a reel. Most of their business was making reels for other companies like Von Lengerke & Antoine (VL&A), Abbey & Imbrie and other sporting goods dealers. Montague would often name a reel after a great fishing location or instill in a potential buyer the thought of an enjoyable fishing trip.

One of the most desirable reels made by them was the “KOSMIC” reel. The Kosmic name is one that was first associated with fly rods sold by A.G. Spalding & Bros. They achieved a great reputation for a high quality rod. Spalding also sold a reel made for them by Julius vom Hofe marked “KOSMIC”. They sold the Kosmic rods and reels from around 1890 up until when the company ran into the effects of the depression in 1893. The company was then bought by United States Net & Twine. US Net & Twine continued to sell the Kosmic rods and reels up until around 1898 when they were bought by Montague City Rod Company. Montague continued to use the Kosmic name on some of their reels after they bought the company. Montague made these reels with this catchy name after they acquired the company US Net & Twine. This is a high quality reel made in both fly reel and raised pillar casting reel models. They were made of German silver and hard rubber. To list all the names of the different models they made would be quite a task. Montague made a wide range of quality and size of reels. All of the reels pictured below are bait casting reels and fly reels made of German silver. Montague is considered to be one of the great New York reel makers.