Ralph Kohlhepp reels are one of the great early reels made in the USA. Ralph Van Pelt Kohlhepp received a patent on February 7, 1939 for a big game reel. The patent was for mechanisms incorporated into the reel. The patent included a friction drag mechanism and ball bearings. Kohlhepp manufactured the large reel and named it after his mother, Leola. It is a large reel and comparable to a 16/0 size reel. Ralph was born in Piscataway, NJ in 1900 and died in 1993.
The RALPH V.P. KOHLHEPP – LEOLA Reel
The KOHLHEPP February 7, 1939 Patent