Thos. H. Chubb reels were made by a company established in 1869. They sold a range of quality rods and reels including the famous Henshall-Van Antwerp reel. The reel first appeared in 1885. The flowing lines and protruding drag thumb lever and click lever make this reel highly sought by collectors today. The German sliver Henshall-Van Antwerp reel was made for only a few years and incorporates his September 27, 1887 patent. There are three different models that are differentiated by the location of the thumb brake and click mechanisms. The last model Henshall-Van Antwerp reels were made by Julius vom Hofe. The reel is named after two of Chubb’s friends and associates. Dr. J.A. Henshall, author of “The Book of the Black Bass,” wrote about the merits of using tackle made by Thos. Chubb. Chubb also credited Dr. Wm. Van Antwerp, of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky with co-designing the reel design features. It’s important to note that only Chubb’s name appears on his patents as the “Inventor.” Chubb also made a small fly reel. He received a Design Specification patent on May 22, 1883 and a patent on July 31, 1883 for his fly reel.
The Chubb factory burned down in 1891. Chubb then sold the business to Montague City Rod Co. that year. Montague changed the company name from “Thos. H. Chubb” to “T.H. Chubb Rod Co.” The company is considered one of the great reel makers in the New England States area.

The HENSHALL-VAN ANTWERP First Model Reels
The First Model HENSHALL-VAN ANTWERP Reel, circa 1885



The First Model HENSHALL-VAN ANTWERP Reel Variation
The Second Model HENSHALL-VAN ANTWERP Reel
The Third Model HENSHALL-VAN ANTWERP Reel
The HENSHALL-VAN ANTWERP Reels – 2nd and 3rd Models

Thomas H. Chubb November, 1883 “The American Angler” Magazine Ad

The First Model HENSHALL-VAN ANTWERP Reel 1885 Ad
The HENSHALL-VAN ANTWERP Reel 1887 and 1888 Ads

Thos. H. Chubb Fly Reel in the 1888 Catalog
To see the September 2018 ORCA Newsletter article by Ron Gast about Thomas Chubb and the Henshall-Van Antwerp Reel, click on the link below.