picketpin, you may find that even if you're registered on the board, sometimes you may find that you aren't logged in, particularly if you are a "non-global" user, with more than one registered ezboard ID.

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The Young reels get my vote for the most well constructed/engineered reels that won't require empty pockets to acquire. Those Brits have a certain ability to make a product that is somewhat understated but totally functional to the Nth degree. I had a Triumph motorcycle for years. It was quirky,but of the 20 odd bikes I owned,it was the best.
That Landex is a beauty - great steelhead reel,I'd bet.

Mark

yes, a discussion of the meisellbacks is in order. there are the rainbows and the catuci symploreels made out of bakelite. does anyone have any of these and how are they constructed?

very cool - it has a tuna can frame. The ORCA site is down right now, and I know folks there would be very interested in this reel. When it's back up, can you post these photos there, or can I have your permission to? No question that's a prewar Stuart reel, and I suspect the reel we're all used to seeing is much later - at least early postwar.

that is a Duncan Briggs. Those reels were only made for 2 years anyway, so this reel is collectable, especially with a good finish.
It has a nice click-pawl that can be reversed.

I believe 1953-55.

great reel!
The button latch dates that reel to 1928-34

I would love to identify the merchant in St. Louis
we discussed this reel on the ORCA board, and it was resolved that St. Louis pattern is just the model name, and that the merchant was Canadian.

before WWII, all marked Young reels were export reels.
this one came from Australia:

the Jubilee has always escaped my radar - I've wanted one forever.

The click pawl is the same as the 1500 series, and isn't necessarily the greatest.

The disc drag reels are actually very nice. They also have a click-pawl on the drag gear - they can be used together, you can disengage the pawl for a silent disc, or back off on the disc and have click-pawl.



here's most of my prewar Young collection (although it's gone up and down a bit since the group photos)

orca-online.org/reel-talk/viewtopic.php?t=3301

that 1392 should sell for $350, it's actually a stamped 1392 side plate finished out as a 1492 when Pflueger discontinued the 1392 in 1939.

I've been promising to put up photos of the Leeda Gearfly multiplier fly reel, finally got around to it.





Here's a real nice Fenwick that was only made for a little while. I'm not even sure what year vintage this is, I'm fairly sure it pre-dates the World Class series. This is the smallest model, the F34, using what Fenwick calls "a unique gear drive drag"; the larger models used disc drag.




My photos don't do the F34 justice, it's a little jewel. Mint-minus/VG++ condition, on account of the slightest amount of paint loss from edge wear. Too nice for me to want to fish with. "One piece frame and spool machined from solid 6061-T6 forged aluminum", according to the box. The reel handle appears to be made of some exotic tropical hardwood, like koa. Only 2 3/4" in diameter, weighing 4.6 oz. Spool capacity for 50 yards of combined WF4 fly line and 20# test backing.

This next one is a South Bend Model 1190. It looks to me like it was modelled on the "Hardy Perfect" type of reel, but I haven't taken it apart yet. It's the first one of this type of reel that I've ever run across, and I'm not even sure how to remove the spool or the cover plate. I presume it requires dismantling the frame screws on the other side of the reel.

Hello Freestoner,

The Fenwick F34 is a fairly recent reel, from the late 1990's. I used to have its bigger brother, F912, which was a carbon disc-drag reel. Only the smallest F34 was a click and pawl. Larger reels in F series came in LA configurations, as well. Excellent reels for the $$.

Regards,
Vlad

you can get ball bearings at bike shops

Please, photos if you got 'em.

Right hand retrieve really isn't that bad. It's very rare that I play a fish off the reel. And I can usually remember to switch hands if I'm just winding the line.

If you trade it, the other reel probably won't be as pretty. It's a corollary of Murphy's law.

Tom