Found this on the web; below is a link to the entire Shakespeare history.
"Three single-action trout reels were available in the early 1920's, The Winner, The Featherweight, and The Kazoo. All three were Shakespeare's versions of the earlier Meisselbach reels, simplified for mass production methods. The same was true for the Russell single action fly reel which was introduced in 1926. It was designed by Shakespeare's chief reel designer and engineer Samuel Guy Russell, who had previously patented the new method of riveting the reel foot in 1920, although many features of the Russell reel were taken from Mr. Shakespeare's personal "St. George" reel made by the famous Hardy Brothers in England, which was purchased as the model for the purpose of duplicating."
http://www.antiquelures.com/Shakehistory.htm
Guy has one for sale on ebay for $40.00; looks like a cool old reel. Congrats!
Last edited by Prairieschooner; 07-03-2013 at 02:36 PM.
There have never in history been so many opportunities to do so many things that aren't worth doing. - William Gaddis