Shakespeare Dating Chart
Use the following charts to date Shakespeare Tackle Company reels and rods. For reels, the model number, which is a two letter code, is the first year a reel was manufactured, or the first year a major variation or innovation was used on reel I hope you will find them helpful.
Reels:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| K | J | H | G | F | E | D | C | B | A |
| V | U | T | S | R | Q | P | N | M | L |
There will be two letters on the side plates of the reel. An example would be HN = 1938 using table
For rods, the model code is when the rod was introduced.
Rods:
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J | K | L | M |
| 0 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 12 |
| OCT | SEP | AUG | JUL | JUN | MAY | APR | MAR | FEB | JAN | NOV | DEC |
First two letters indicate year, last letter is the month.
Example GHJ =1943 February
Before August 1954, Shakespeare changed its year August 1st, to correspond with the selling season.
Shakespeare Bullet Reel Oiler
My favorite Shakespeare collectible. My thinking on its origin is that Shakespeare made ammunition cases during WW II. Sometime during, or after, they used the same equipment to form the body for these oilers, then machined the bullet to serve as a top. I am not sure if they were ever cataloged, I think they were giveaways. Same size as a .30-06 round. Plated Brass 3 1/16 long.
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