Shakespeare Company History

Shakespeare Co. - In the late 1800's William Shakespeare Jr. invented a reel that wound the line evenly on the spool. This reel led to the beginning of the William Shakespeare Jr. Company in 1897. William Shakespeare Jr. patented the level-wind reel and his new design was superior to any other reel on the market.  He began making tackle about 1900 and by 1902 the company had grown to a dozen employees.  Shakespeare issued their first catalog in 1902 which only offered four lures. They were the Revolution, Worden Bucktail, Evolution and a rubber bait casting Frog.

  In 1908 the company slogan was "Built Like a Watch" was created.  The company's name was changed to "The Shakespeare Company" in 1915.  During World War I (1918) the Shakespeare Company converted their factory to manufacture mortar fuses and automobile carburetors.

  By the late thirties anglers needed a reel that would brake to prevent the spool from back lashing.  In 1939 William Shakespeare Jr. invented the "Back-lash reel".  This new reel was one of the most popular reels to hit the fishing tackle market in that time.

  During World War II (1941-1945) the Shakespeare Company was contracted to build controls for aircrafts, tanks and jeeps.  After the war in 1946 Shakespeare moved their fishing line production to Esterville, Iowa.  Shakespeare manufactured braded and fly lines and was the first to manufacture monofilament fishing line.

  By 1947 William's son Henry Shakespeare was running the Shakespeare business.  This is when Henry introduced the fiberglass rod that was invented by Dr. Arthur Howald.  This new invention made the bamboo and steel rods virtually obsolete.  Shakespeare then move their rod production to Columbia, South Carolina and they were incorporated as the Columbia Products Company.  This South Carolina factory was the center for the research and development of the fiberglass rod.

  William Shakespeare Jr. passed away on June 25, 1950.  Nine years later in 1959 he was elected into the National Sporting Goods Hall of Fame.

  In 1956 Shakespeare moved their fishing line production from Iowa to Columbia, South Carolina.  Years later in 1965 Shakespeare moved it's reel production from Kalamazoo, Michigan to a new plant in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  This modern Fayetteville plant was the first in the country to treat their polluted waste water and return the water purified.  With their fiberglass rod business growing rapidly they expanded the Columbia Products operations to a new plant in Newberry, South Carolina.  This new location became their production center for all of their fiberglass products.

  The Shakespeare Company acquired the Pflueger Corporation of Akron, Ohio in 1966.  Two years later Shakespeare opened a subsidiary company in Rexdale, Ontario, Canada called Shakespeare Company Ltd.  Also in 1968 Shakespeare added electric trolling motors to their product line at their Arkansas plant.

  Shakespeare corporate office was moved from Kalamazoo, Michigan to Columbia, South Carolina in 1970.

  The Ugly Stik tubular fishing rod was first introduced in 1976.  The Ugly Stik utilized the Howald design.

  In 1982 Shakespeare shut down all of their operations in Arkansas and moved to Columbia, South Carolina.  At this time all of the Shakespeare facilities were located in South Carolina.

  1984 a new advertising campaign was launched.  Their new slogan was "America Goes Fishing With Shakespeare".  Later in 1995 Shakespeare re-entered the bait casting market with their new Sigma bait casting reel.

  In the following years Shakespeare introduced a number of casting and spinning reels.  Shakespeare is still in full operation today and looks forward to manufacturing top quality fishing products. .

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