Origin
In 1947, R.D. Hull was on his second try at inventing a reel that would not backlash. His first try had failed, with investors losing their money. They would not back him again.
Time Frame
The Zero Hour Bomb Company, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had made time bombs for oil wells since 1932, but by 1948 the demand was dwindling and they needed a new product, as their government contract was about to expire.
New Deal
By 1949 the two had gotten together and were producing "the standard," a new kind of reel with a cone cover that would not backlash on fishermen. The reel started selling out of Tulsa from that point.
The Invention
There are two versions to the story of how Hull came to invent the covered reel, one involving a coffee can, and one involving a beer can. Both stories involve Hull inventing the covered reel, which revolutionized fly fishing.
Development
In 1956 the name Zebco was adopted, and the bomb plant became a division of the tackle business. The company released two more models that same year.
Types
By the late 1960 Zebco had become one of the major reel makers in the world and had developed low cost reels as well as upper end models to fit pocketbooks at all levels.
Article Written By James Jordan
James Jordan has been a writer and photographer since 1980. He has worked for newspapers in Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kansas, winning state press association awards for writing, photography and page design. In 1995 he received his master's in Christian education and completed two years of Ancient Greek at the graduate level. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
