MEN OF TRENT: THE STORY OF THE NOTTINGHAM WINCH. By Stefan Duma.

2018 1st edition. 4to (221 x 282mm). Ppiv,204. Colour and b/w photographs and illustrations. Black boards, spine titled in gilt.

"When most people think of Nottingham reels, they immediately associate them with the cheap wooden ones found on various online auction sites: overvalued, over-hyped and underwhelming in their appearance. These are the run-of-the-mill Nottingham reels from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. However, there are others: beautiful works of art that preceded these potboilers, seldom seen and not really understood. This book will explain the reasons why they were made in Nottingham and not elsewhere. Starting with reels from the early 1800s, the reader will see the biggest collection of iron-pillared clamp winches ever, along with possibly the earliest centre winch to surface so far. Lavishly illustrated with more than 100 full-colour photographs detailing how the reels were made and their variations, it will pinpoint not only the date of the invention of the spring latch but for the first time, identify the individual behind it. This book makes everything that has so far been written on the Nottingham winch either obsolete or incorrect."