Edward vom Hofe Perfection in Rare Size 4 - Never before brought to auction is this highly elusive and desirable Perfection in size 4, with a 2 1/4" wide face plate and 7/8" spool. Stamped "Pat. January 23, '83" on the sliding grease cap on the back plate. Seven position adjustable drag system on the front plate and the click button on the back plate. Full aluminum foot and spool. Excellent condition in all original condition save for an extremely thin 1/4" crack between the 1 and 2 o'clock position on the front face plate that one must really look hard for to see. Inscribed "G.D.B. Bonbright" in script on front plate. Mr. Bonbright is known for his 1933 tarpon catch of 136 lbs. on what we now call "The Bonbright Streamer". Among one of the very first fly fisherman to fish dry flies for salmon on The Grand Cascapedia as earlier as 1921. He was the originator of the "Lady Amherst" wet fly, which remains the signature fly for this river today and several wet flies for his private club known as "The Bungalow" for trout, which was only 15 minutes southwest of his Rochester, N.Y. home. The Perfection in size 4 and 5 is listed in the company's 1907 catalog along with five other sizes. It does not appear in the 1902 catalog. By 1911 the size 4 and 5 are no longer listed and the general consensus among collectors is the drag system was not needed for the small quarry it was suited to catch in that small size. It is probably safe to say it was not a good seller based on the fact that only one other reel in this size has been seen and that was owned by antique tackle dealer, Martin Keane. It is very possible others exist but if so, it is a mystery to many of the more active and knowledgeable collectors of today. The fact that no other reel has ever been offered at auction in the over thirty year history of organized fishing tackle auctions in either size 4 or 5 speaks volumes for its rarity.