1896
Henry 'Harry' Coxon
The Coxon 'Aeriel' Reel
In this article
Harry Coxon's story
The life story of Harry Coxon and how he invented the 'Aerial' Centrepin Reel.
How to Catch Fish, 1896
The book by Henry Coxon of fishing the Nottingham Style with his centrepin 'Aerial' Reel.
the Nottingham style
The techniques of Nottingham Style and the use of the 'Aerial'
'Aeriel' auction history
They are expensive to buy and are now collectors items. A summary of the 'Aerial' Reels that came to auction.
Centrepin History
The Centrepin reel, made of varnished wood was widely used by coarse fishermen but it was heavy, didn't spin freely and the line (made in those days from braided horse hair and silk - see photo) often became very wet after use. These simple wooden reels however promoted an effective method of fishing called the Nottingham style. This method is described later.
The Centrepin rapidly gained popularity and by the 1890’s were amongst the finest made and very expensive. Some are superb pieces of design and craftsmanship and are eagerly sought by collectors – none more so than the famous Coxon ‘Aerial’ Reel.
Harry Coxon's Story
HENRY (“HARRY”) COXON, was born at New Lenton, Nottingham on August 12, 1847. He was a journalist and wrote on sporting subjects, especially cricket and fishing. For many years he was the Nottinghamshire cricket scorer. He was also a representative of both The Field magazine and The Fishing Gazette newspaper.
Coxon was searching for improvement and wanted a design that was free spinning but also lightweight. He also looked to improve the control of the line. He didn’t have to look far to make his basic discovery – his brother made bicycles – and the ‘Aerial’ design in 1896 replicated the spoke and wheel. He developed a 4.5 inch open-spoke design, using an ebonite drum with mahogony back and brass fittings.
It was similar to the popular Nottingham reels of the day but it was both light and strong and perfectly balanced with exceptional free running properties designed for finger control. The lightness, free spinning and control was a revelation. Initially, the reels were manufactured by Henry Coxon himself in his own workshop but he couldn’t keep up with the demand. He passed on the design to the old-established tackle company of Allcocks, who marketed the Coxon ‘Aerial’ reel.
The basic principle is of the reel revolving on a tiny bearing where the tip of the centrepin has contact with a central adjusting screw. This allowed anglers to fish with finer tackle than they had previously been able and in the right hands could cast considerable distances. The 'Aerial' name (air drying reel) came from the caged construction and its attribute to dry the fishing line. It was brilliant for the time and rapidly became the most popular. Many still rate the earliest Coxon's as the best Centrepin ever.
Eventually the name changed to Allcocks ‘Aerial’ and the company continued to manufacture them for the next 70 years. The Aerial design evolved over the years with literally dozens of models and variants. To this day however anglers still refer to the design as the Coxon ‘Aerial’ reel.
Henry Coxon died at West Bridgford, Nottingham on November 5, 1929 aged 82 years.
How to Catch Fish, 1896
How to Catch Fish by Henry Coxon, 1896
At the same time that Harry Coxon designed the 'Aerial' he also published a classic guide to coarse fishing. The book's subtitle was simply 'How to Catch Fish'. The book covers pike and pike tackle, how to catch chub, dace, roach, bream, barbel, trout, grayling and 'miscellaneous fish' (including tench, carp, eel, gudgeon minnow).
The Nottingham Style - J W Martin, 1885
The Nottingham Style of Fishing
These are sample extracts from the book of 1885 by J W Martin seen by many as the definitive version of Nottingham Style.
Choosing the rod
'A Nottingham bottom fisher's rod is an article on which he very much prides himself. It has to be tapered, from the butt to the point, to a nicety, and be as light as possible, with a spring in it that will hook a roach by a single turn of the wrist. No heavy clumsy rod is found in the hands of a first-rate Nottingham fisher ; it has to be nicely balanced, or else he discards it at once and selects another.'
Holding the Rod and Casting
'A Nottingham angler holds the rod in his right hand, and with his left takes hold of the line as high up the rod between the rings as he can reach, and draws down as much line as he requires. He then has some four or five yards of line in his left hand, and with what is hanging from the point of the rod, he can then throw the distance he requires, which he does by bringing the rod away from the river at about an angle of 45.
He then sends the point of the rod smartly over the river, at the same time letting go of the line he held in his left hand, the line will now go fair and neatly to its destination without tangle or catch. Some Nottingham anglers, when they want to cast extra long distances, draw down two lengths of line from the rod, the rings of course parting them, and throw in the same way as before. By these means, after a little practice, one can throw to nearly any distance he likes.'
Using the Coxon 'Aerial'
Types of 'Aerial' and Sale Prices
Coxon 'Aeriel' Auction History
Selling Prices
In this section we identify the sale and seller description of Coxon ‘Aerial’ reels. When the Coxon ‘Aerial’ design changed to the Allcocks ‘Aerial’ design the mahogany back plate was replaced with aluminium. These Allcock items are not included in this list.
Aerials are the centrepin of choice for many anglers and collectors because of their elegance and beauty. Prices can be high and rising for the earlier models but ‘Buyer Beware’ because many are repaired or have undisclosed faults.
Seller Description
A rare early 20th century 3 1/2 inch Coxon ‘Aerial’ walnut and ebonite fishing reel with six spoke ebonite drum with tension regulator, twin handles and walnut and brass star back and brass foot..
2024 Price: Sold £500 hammer price. Rowley’s Fine Art Auctioneers. Ely, Cambridgeshire.
Seller Description
A Coxon Aerial walnut and ebonite fishing reel, 3.5 inch diameter, circa 1905-1928, six spoke ebonite drum with tension regulator, twin handles, walnut and brass star back with on/off check, brass foot. Handles are crazed, ingrained dirt to drum and back plate. Foot slightly tarnished. No apparent restoration nor repair. Working order.
2023 Estimated Price: £500 – £800 www.fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk
Seller Description
Rare ‘The Coxon Aerial’ 3” ebonite and mahogany centrepin reel having a mahogany backplate with brass star back, on/off check, ebonite drum with no cracks or chips, maker’s mark to front of rim, runs smooth, all original.
2020 Sold Price: £1,000 www.mullocksauctions.co.uk
Seller Description
It has the twin original turned horn handles, 6 spoke drum with tension regulator. This is a wide drum model measuring 1 ½” across drum flanges. The mahogany backplate is fine, but lookout for cracks and previous repairs, this example has neither being all original. The 4 recessed brass rollers have all the original screws. The brass star back is correct and the foot blade is not filled. The internal copper calliper check works well, the reel runs silky smooth, straight and well.
The roller Coxon Aerial was designed to be used with heavier lines, mainly for salmon fishing. The issue was if the centre spindle screw was not adjusted correctly or the ebonite drum warped slightly the inner plate ran on the brass bearings slowing it down and often making a grating sound. It almost defied the quote “would spin with just a breath of wind”. Could this be the reason for the death of the reel in 1928? Who knows.
Examples can be found with alloy backplates, alloy drums, German silver rims or not as the model dictates. But as with all Coxon Aerials, the wood and ebonite are in my opinion the best and most pleasing to display.
Note to collectors; always remove the drum, because as with this one, unless you do the rollers are not visible externally and it could be confused with a standard yet still rare Coxon at less value.
2019 Sold Price: £3,995 www.thomasturner.com
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Seller Description
Coxon Aerial 4104-T3 in the ultra rare size of just 2 9/16 inches. Only 3 or 4 of these are known to exist and this one is in totally original condition with no damage or alterations at all. The handles are dark horn and turn freely on recessed seats, ebonite flanges (no cracks or hairlines at all), fine grained figured Walnut back plate with 3 incised rings, on/off check button engages a very positive mechanism. Smooth brass fitments, no filing or shortening, no nasty scratches or marks only careful handling over the last 110 years or so.
2018 Asking Price: email to discuss. www.micksvintagefishingtackle.com
Seller Description
Fine ebonite/wood Allcock Coxon Aerial reel, 4.5″ diameter wide drum model, twin horn handles, 6 spoke with tension regulator, mahogany backplate, brass star back stamped “2271”, brass check button to internal calliper check, spins well, fine example
2015 Sold price: £450 www.mullocksauctions.co.uk
Seller Description
Rare Improved Coxon Aerial reel 3.5″ diameter alloy drum, 6 spoke with tension regulator, twin crazed handles, 8 large ventilations, .75″ between plates, mahogany backplate, brass star back, on/off check button to copper calliper spring, brass internal liner, spine well and true, fine example.
2015 Sold price: £1,600 www.mullocksauctions.co.uk
Seller Description
Fine Ogden Smith London Coxon Aerial reel, 4″ diameter ebonite wide drum, 1 1/8″ between plates, 6 spoke with tension regulator, twin crazed handles, mahogany backplate, brass star back twice stamped “Ogden Smith London”, Heaton’s sliding eye line guide, brass on/off check to internal copper calliper spring, spins well, no wobble, fine example.
2015 Sold Price: £620 www.mullocksauctions.co.uk
Seller Description
Rare early 4 spoke 3.5″ diameter Coxon Aerial reel, slim ebonite plates, no tension regulator, 7/8″ between plates, mahogany backplate, brass star back stamped “Patent”, on/off check button to copper internal calliper spring, fine throughout, spins well, good early example.
2015 Sold Price: £640 www.mullocksauctions.co.uk
Seller Description
Early Coxon Aerial Centrepin reel, 4″ diameter, 6 spoke, no tension regulator, twin horn handles, narrow plates to drum, 7/8″ width, mahogany backplate, brass star back stamped “Patent”, brass on/off check button to internal copper calliper spring, reel in fine original condition, spins well and true, good early example.
2015 Sold price: £570 www.mullocksauctions.co.uk
Seller Description
A COXON AERIAL MAHOGANY AND BRASS STAR BACK CENTRE PIN REEL 4in the ebonite drum with six spokes, twin horn handles and optional calliper check the brass star stamped ‘Patent’
2008 Sold price: £480. www.bonhams.com
Seller Description
AN ALLCOCKS “COXON AERIAL” CENTRE PIN REEL 4 1/2″,with walnut back plate fitted with brass optional check button, the ebonite six spoke drum fitted with regulating brake and reverse taper horn handles on circular brass mounts.
2004 Sold price: £940 www.bonhams.com
Seller Description
Dating from before the First World War, it is relatively early for this famous coarse fishing reel that was first launched by Allcock’s in 1896. With its rare ‘roller back’ mechanism (a series of four small rollers recessed in the mahogany back plate) it is both technically interesting and – given the tendency of the reel to jam in the wet – very rare.
It was also in superb condition, surviving complete with its original box printed with the name of John Forrest who had shops in both London and Kelso. Forrest was probably the retailer for Allcock’s of Redditch who did not mark the reel.
2004 Sold Price: £6,600 www.mullocksauctions.co.uk
Acknowledgements and thanks
John Cooper; www.fishingmuseum.org; Wisden Cricket Almanac 1929; The Medlar Press
Acknowledgements & Thanks
Wisden Almanack; Medlar Press; www.fishingmuseum.org.uk; Mullock Auctions; Bonhams; Vintage Tackle Valuations; Micks Vintage Fishing Tackle; Thomas Turner; Fielding Auctioneers; Rowley’s Fine Art Auctioneers.