A NEW PIVOT OR SWIVEL WINCH FOR FISHING LINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Richard Holding, of Laurel Cottage, Beckenham,
in the County of Kent, for the Invention of "A NEW PIVOT OR SWIVEL
WINCH FOR FISHING LINES."
Sealed the 1st October 1878, and dated the 28th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Richard Holding at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th May 1878.
GEORGE RICHARD HOLDING, of Laurel Cottage, Beckenham, in the County of
Kent. "A NEW PIVOT OR SWIVEL WINCH FOR FISHING LINES."
The object of this Invention is to enable a person to throw his or her line from
the side of the winch or reel while the winch or reel remains stationary, and also
to enable a person to leave his or her rod and line while fishing without the chance
of losing a fish which might have taken the bait during his or her absence.
The Invention consists of an improvement in winches or reels used in fishing.
I make the winch or reel after the pattern of what is known as the Nottingham
winch or reel, that is to say, in wood, metal, or other suitable material, without
cross bars. I then fix a strap of metal or other material on the back of the said
winch or reel, and bring it at right angles, as in the ordinary way, immediately
under the back of the winch or reel (extending about two-thirds of the width of
the winch or reel proper, that is to say, the part of the winch or reel which is to
rotate; on to the end of the said strap, which comes under the rotating part of the
winch or reel, I affix another piece of metal or other material, which I will call
the holdfast, by a joint; the holdfast is made to fit the fishing rod as in the ordinary
way. I then put a pin or rivet of suitable substance, with a head or disc at one
end, through the centre or other suitable part of the holdfast and the end of the
before-mentioned strap which extends under the rotating part of the winch or reel.
By this means I connect the strap and holdfast together, so that the whole of the

page_text: winch or reel, that is, both the rotating part and back combined together with the
strap, will turn upon the face of the holdfast. I then affix a spring of any suitable
shape made of steel wire or flat steel on the before-mentioned strap, and bring it
parallel with the strap under the rotating part of the winch or reel, and lodge it
on a square projection on the face of the holdfast; or I place the said spring under
the holdfast, and lodge it on the head of the before-mentioned rivet. In this case
I should make the head of the rivet square, and omit the square projection on the
face of the holdfast.
The object of the spring is to cause the whole of the winch or reel to turn on the
holdfast in jumps of a quarter of a circle each time it is turned.
In some case I should omit the spring altogether, so that the winch or reel can
be turned and left at any angle or part of a circle.
The following is a description how my pivot or swivel winch is to be used:-For
instance, if I am fishing for pike, jack, trout, or any other fish that requires running
line, having got my bait and line ready for throwing in the water, I turn my pivot
or swivel winch or reel a quarter of a circle; the face of the winch or reel will
then be towards the top of the rod. I then throw the line by means of the rod,
and line comes quickly and without the least resistance over the side of the winch
or reel, and the winch or reel remains stationary. When I wish to leave my rod and
line I place the winch or reel in precisely the same position just described, and
should a fish take the bait during my absence, the said fish can swim away and take
what line it requires without the slightest resistance until the whole of the line is
off the winch or reel.
In all cases when winding up I turn the winch back to its former position, that
is, with the face of the winch or reel towards the right or the left hand.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Richard Holding in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th November 1878.
GEORGE RICHARD HOLDING, of Laurel Cottage, Beckenham, in the County of
Kent. "A NEW PIVOT OR SWIVEL WINCH FOR FISHING LINES."
The object of this Invention is to enable a person to throw his or her line from
the side of the winch or reel while the winch or reel remains stationary, and also to
enable a person to leave his or her rod and line while fishing without the chance of
losing a fish which might have taken the bait during his or her absence.
The Invention consists of an improvement in winches or reels used in fishing.
I make the winch or reel after the pattern of what is known as the Nottingham
winch or reel, that is to say, in wood, metal, or other suitable material, without
cross bars. I then fix a strap of metal or other material on the back of the said
winch or reel, and bring it at right angles, as in the ordinary way, immediately
under the back of the winch or reel, extending about 2/3rds of the width of the
winch or reel proper, that is to say, the part of the winch or reel which is to
rotate; on to the end of the said strap which comes under the rotating part of the
winch or reel, I affix another piece of metal or other material, which I will call
.the scoop or holdfast, by a joint; the scoop or holdfast is made to fit the fishing rod,
as in the ordinary way. I then put a screw pin or rivet of suitable substance, with
a head or disc at one end, through the centre or other suitable part of the holdfast and
the end of the before-mentioned strap which extends under the rotating part of the
winch or reel. By this means I connect the strap and holdfast together, so that the
whole of the winch or reel, that is, both the rotating part and back combined together
with the strap, will turn upon the face of the holdfast. I then affix a spring of any
suitable shape, made of steel wire or flat steel, on the before-mentioned strap, and
bring it parallel with the strap under the rotating part of the winch or reel, and
lodge it on a square projection on the face of the holdfast; or I place the said spring
under the holdfast, and lodge it on the head of the before-mentioned screw or rivet.
In this case I should make the head of the screw or rivet square, and omit the
square projection on the face of the holdfast.
The object of the spring is to cause the whole of the winch or reel to turn on the
holdfast in jumps of a quarter of a circle each time it is turned.
In some cases I omit the spring altogether, so that the winch or reel can be turned
and left at any angle or part of a circle by means of a stiff joint.
I will now describe how my pivot or swivel winch is to be used:-If I am
fishing for pike, jack, trout, or any other fish that requires running line, having
got my bait and line ready for throwing in the water, I turn the pivot or swivel
winch or reel a quarter of a circle; the face of the winch or reel will then be
towards the top of the rod. I then throw the line by means of the rod, and the
line comes quickly and without resistance over the side of the winch or reel, and
the winch or reel remains stationary or nearly so. In throwing, no more line comes
off the reel than is required, for the moment the bait falls the line stops running.
When I wish to leave my rod and line I place the winch or reel in precisely the
same position just described, and should a fish take the bait during my absence, the
said fish can swim away and take what line it requires without feeling resistance
until the whole of the line is off the winch or reel.
In all cases when winding up I turn the winch back to its former position, that
is, with the face of the winch or reel towards the right or the left hand.
And in order that my said Invention may be more readily understood, I have
annexed Drawings of the same, Figure 1 shewing the winch in the ordinary position,
and Figure 2 shewing the winch in position for throwing the line or leaving during
absence. The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in both Figs.
a represents the winch or reel; b, a strap of metal on the back of the winch or
reel; c is the scoop or holdfast; and d, the joint which is made stiff.

page_text: Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention, I would
observe in conclusion that I can make an appliance to throw the line from any.
ordinary winch without cross bars, and without turning the winch at all, but it
would be awkward to use; but what I claim, and desire to be secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination and arrangement of pivot or swivel winch for fishing
lines so as to admit of turning the reel or winch at any angle, which will admit of
throwing the line direct from the reel or winch, substantially as herein-before
described and shewn on Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The application to an ordinary fishing winch or reel without cross bars
of means or appliances by which a person is enabled to throw the line from the
winch or reel, so that the line unwinds and comes off from the side of the winch or
reel, instead of having to rotate the winch or reel or to pull off what line is required;
and also to enable a person to leave the rod and line, so that if a fish should tako
the bait during the fisherman's temporary absence, the said fish can swim away and
draw out the line without feeling any resistance, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Richard Holding, have hereunto sét
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
COPAG DICHARD HOLDING
;