The Patent Meteor Casting Reel invented by Percy Wadham and Percy Scott of the Dreadnought Casting Reel Company.
In 1909 Percy Wadham & Percy Scott patented the Meteor reel suitable for various types of angling.
Manufactured and marketed by the Dreadnought Casting Reel Co. Isle of Wight, and so far, 14 variations of the reel have been identified.
This one is number 3 and stamped with PATENT APPLIED FOR and would date the reel to 1908. Many people need to learn what this had to do with Dingley and Hardy Brothers. Hardy threatened to take legal action against Wadham & Scott as they believed the pair had infringed their patent 28413 of 1896. This patent covered the working of the Silex reel, which was generally accepted to have been invented by Dingley at Hardy’s. What Wadham & Scott had done on the Meteor was to use a lever to put the reel into free spool and add a brake.
Utilising the lever with a brake infringed the patent for the Silex reel. At best, it was a tenuous claim, but Wadham & Scott was obviously under threat from one of the world’s largest and most litigious companies buckled. Eventually, an agreement was arranged, and they were allowed to use the 1896 patent provided they paid 6d for every reel made, hence the number stamping on the foot of the Meteor reel.
In return, Hardy would use patents 18212 and 28413 on their reels, particularly the new reel they were working on, the Silex No2.
The Silex No 2 had the principle of the check being disengaged by the same lever that operated the brake. They paid Wadham & Scott 6d for every Silex No2 made. We know Dingley was being paid 6d for every Silex No 1 made.
With his future earnings curtailed, could this be why Dingley left Hardy Bros and started on his own?