The Joe Tinko Collection: Reels

HUGE SALE ON REMAINING ITEMS FROM THIS COLLECTION, MR. TINKO IS VERY MOTIVATED TO FIND NEW HOMES FOR THESE ITEMS. PAIR WITH ANY OF HIS GRAPHITE RODS FOR AN EVEN BETTER DEAL!!! ALL REASONABLE OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!!!!!!!

I have been honored to be tasked with finding new homes for my friend Joe Tinko’s fly tackle. I met Joe in 2004 through a mutual friend, Mike Laskowski, who owned Oil Creek Outfitters. At the time Joe was a very successful and brilliant attorney practicing in Western Pennsylvania. I was thrilled when Joe retired and settled in Coburn along the banks of Penns Creek. I was spending more and more fishing time in the area and it was always good to see him, and still look forward to my next visit.

Joe has an imposing intellect. He approaches learning with a voracious appetite, consuming and retaining all information he can gather with the goal of Mastering the endeavor at hand. Such was his approach to fly fishing: learn the history of the sport, the tackle and techniques, Master it. In retirement, he worked as a guide and sales assistant at the local flyshop, The Feathered Hook, where countless hours were spent on the front porch with owner Jonas Price and in-house rodmaker Jim Downes and other Friends of The Hook. What a time we had, it was our own Golden Age!

Joe’s meticulous nature is reflected in his personal notes of his tackle, which are here reproduced for each item. They provide a provenance and complete description. My notes concerning condition and description are provided separately and marked with an asterisk *. Every item listed was lovingly acquired and cared for and is in excellent, near mint or mint, unused condition unless otherwise noted.

If I may in any way assist you with a purchasing decision such as additional photographs or description, please don’t hesitate to contact us! All vintage tackle is covered by our 3 day inspection policy.

*Minute scratch on drag knob and plate. No foot or rim rash.$300 plus shipping. OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!!

*New, but imperfect enamel on backplate.$35 plus shipping. OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!!

*Minute edge wear, spools very good.Please note as per Mr. Tinko's notes, reel and spools have One-Pfoot upgrades. $295 plus shipping. OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!!

*Very minor edge wear. Please note as per Mr. Tinko's notes, reel and spool have One-Pfoot upgrades. $195 plus shipping. OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!!

*Mint, unused. $895 plus shipping. OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!!

*Minute edge rash, very superficial marring on back plate and drag knob. Extra spools near mint. $645 plus shipping. OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!!

ALL ITEMS BELOW THIS LINE ARE SOLD!!!!!!!

*Enamel loss as shown. Please note as per Mr. Tinko's notes, reel and spool have One-Pfoot upgrades. $250 plus shipping. OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!!

Presenting a One-of-a-Kind set of Wagner Small Batch Reels with Matching Serial Number 1, property of Joe Tinko.

I have written extensively about the history and rationale for these reels, as well as extensive photography of the same. Model 1 here, Model 2 here. So, I will skip those details to concentrate on the significance of this pair.

When I began reelmaking, my friend Joe Tinko was my greatest champion. Joe purchased a matched set of the Model 1 reels, serial number 1 ,and a matching reel for his wife, numbered 1A. Such was Joe’s faith he paid for the reels in full before I had made so much as a screw. All throughout the process we shared countless emails about their progress, which has been the most professionally fulfilling experience of my career, and Joe’s support was the foundation for their realization.

As I mention in the Model 2 narrative, my original intent was to make a vom Hofe type of reel like the Models 2, 3 and 4(currently in production.) However, I needed to help defray some of the costs I was incurring in machines and tooling as I was developing my skills and working towards the Model 2, and the Model 1 was the answer- a simple click drag reel that shared some features of the reels to come. Only 9 of these reels were made.

With the release of subsequent models, I offered those that had ordered the previous Models first dibs, along with the opportunity to have reels with matching Serial numbers. As Mr. Tinko had reel #1 in the Model 1, he also acquired Model 2 with the matching serial number 1.

If purchased as a set, these reels come with an additional opportunity for the lucky owner: To the right person I will make available at their listed prices Models 3 and 4, and all subsequent models, with Serial Number 1, thereby offering a totally distinctive collection.

As with the other items in the Tinko Collection, I am reproducing his notes as shown below. Condition: The Model 1 reel is lined, but is in otherwise as-delivered, unused, mint condition. Model 2 is mint, unused, and as delivered. Both reels come with their original care sheets and shipping boxes, as packaged at the times of delivery.

Mr. Tinko’s kind description is reproduced below, with pictures following. SOLD!

*A couple extremely small and minor blems. Nameplate can be removed. Extra spool mint. $795 plus shipping. OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!! SOLD!

Mint. Nameplate can be removed. $795 plus shipping. OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!! SOLD!

*Mint, no signs of use.$1,575 plus shipping. OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!! SOLD!

*Near mint, a couple extremely minute marks on top of foot from mounting on a rod. 'Fuzzies' appearing on handle in picture are not scratches.$925 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Some tarnish, minute marring on reel foot from mounting, excellent ++. $1,295 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Near mint. Minute marring from mounting on rod.$795 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Minute rash on back rim and foot. Very good. $795 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Very minute foot marring, no edge rash, excellent. All spools mint to near mint. $595 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Minor edge rash to back rim and spool. Please note as per Mr. Tinko's notes, reel and spool have One-Pfoot upgrades. $195 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Moderate amount of enamel loss. Extra spool excellent. Please note as per Mr. Tinko's notes, reel and spool have One-Pfoot upgrades. $235 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Enamel wear as shown. Please note as per Mr. Tinko's notes, reel and spool have One-Pfoot upgrades. $195 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Very minor edge wear. Please note as per Mr. Tinko's notes, reel and spool have One-Pfoot upgrades. $225 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Minor scuffs on backplate, rims and foot. Spools used but very good. $490 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Minor scuffing on backplate and rear rim. $490 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Minor scuffing to back plate edge and foot. $295 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Superficial scuffs on backplate, rim and foot. $450 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Very minute foot scuffing, superficial scuffs on back plate, otherwise VG+. $450 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Minute foot marring and edge rash and superficial scuffing on back plate. $450 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Mint, unused. $695 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Very minor rash on foot and back rim. Owner's nameplate can be removed. $695 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Very minute edge and foot rash. One extra spool has a minute ding in rim, other two spools are mint. $495 plus shipping. SOLD!

*Some plating loss on on/off click button, minute marks on foot from mounting. A very hard to find Limited Edition reel made in England by JW Young. $295 plus shipping.OFFERS ENCOURAGED!!! SOLD!