Just curious - who was the Lamson behind Lamson reels?

[luckydude]

As the resident Lamson fan, I realized I don't know the history.

I've heard that Lamson were the first American made reels made from bar stock (dunno if that's true or not). But other than that, my only "knowledge" is that Sullivan's Sport Shop in San Francisco (now gone, bummer) told me ~20 years ago to buy an LP 1, and I did. And liked it so much that now I own a bunch of Lamson reels, mostly LP's.

So anyone know the history of this reel company?

[RSK]

I bought mine quite a few years ago now and I thought that they started in redmond WA before sage bought them. I lived close to there and that is why I remember that. Maybe started somewhere before that though.

[Mark Kranhold]

Lamson company has been into engineering design build with other company's. They actually got into the bicycle design when mt. biking became a trend. Helping bicycle companies engineer suspension and I believe they even got into the carbon fiber as well. It sounds like they are a well rounded company ..... And there reels show it!

[royewest]

Some background:

http://waterworks-lamson.com/our-story/