the first reel I bought myself (lawn mowing money) was a Pflueger Summit (I still have it) and it was a direct drive (not sure that is the correct term)---the handle and the spool turned together. A fisher person had to learn to thumb the spool or all hell broke use (birds nest). I caught a ton of fish on that reel!
midmofly

Thanks for the info!!

First I have to find me a sweet bamboo bait casting rod like yours.

BTW - Jerry was the "bait" in this particular cartoon...

Top is 7' Thomas salmon/inshore rod - I haven't tried to date it, but here's the butt cap marks.


Nick, you'll like this, 6' 2-blade Mahogany-grade Special with tube, hang-tag and taffeta sock -
- the butt cap dates 1914, same age as the Talbot Niangua.

You are killing me...

Not only do the Japanese like direct-drive reels, they really dig Synchro reels, especially with low-inertia full-BB LW.
(and all things Ambassadeur)



Bill, if you note the 1st Supreme LW, it's driven off the main gear (vs. the spool on Ambassadeur).
So Douglas 1918 LW patent separated the freespool from the LW (and main gear).
The closest thing to a shortcoming, it was full-time anti-reverse, with no drag of any kind (Ambassadeur drag slips the main gear).

It doesn't. That's an Isuzu bechmade Smith Ltd. Plugger.
Small-frame Synchro reel generally copied after '76 Ambassadeur C, but comes off the bench with all the ball bearing LW race we add with aftermarket parts.
Same maker as the Tabby 301 direct drive I linked in my first reply.
Regards, bro.

Thanks Mike. I like the Plugger enough I'm watching Yahoo for a good used buy Isuzu BC520X.
The Plugger is the same spool size as a 1500C.
The 520X is the width of a 2500C and the only IAR roller-bearing reel Isuzu made (along with matching Megabass Pagani).
These reels are also lighter weight than you can get any small frame Ambassadeur swapping-in every possible Avail part.

The biggest problem with Yahoo is most BIN listings are speculators hoarding new-in-box reels, and you do see Tabby 300 and APHL FD-50 (same reel, different marque) and BP Bait Revolver in RHW.
Unfortunately, this is the kind of price you see on most listings vs. the JY34,100 original retail ($245).
Tabby 300 - https://noppin.com/yahoos/detail/h1011254742

All limited Isuzu-branded reels are sold by lottery, and the reels they make for other marques are snapped up by bait shops and most sold in advance of delivery.
They made enough Smith Plugger, the batch stock lasts on Amazon.jp and retail market for a few weeks, and there's a pretty good supply in the NIB resale market.

ps - if you go through all these pages, you'll see some killer eye candy - https://isuzu--reel-com.translate.goog/ ... _tr_pto=sc

Throwing in some you won't see there, here's Pagani and Bright River F.

Nice. Nice.
The red thumb-clutch reel is in high demand.
Congratulations on finding one near mint. Cool rod and great-looking combo.

My curiosity is up and want to see more of the reel,
I believe that's a 1978 reel that takes the Avail AMB4550R-EF spool, which has a great capacity for either mono or braid.
(just swapping the spool would see an instant inertia improvement)
Hugely desirable here on both counts.

Red spool would be nice match - this is the shallower AMO spool for later C3 Ultracast reels.
But if your reel is the one I think, it has better BB configuration for low inertia.

ok, but that's the best low-inertia Ambassadeur configuration period, and the spool capacity is 80 yds 12-lb mono.



IMO, not having this spool would be a waste of that reel - it will shed an ounce.
Same centrifugal - you can fish everything else the same, and get longer, more reliable casting.

Thanks Ron. Ill order one and use braid for increased capacity.

Thanks for the part reference!

Good stuff Doug! Beautiful setting!

Thanks again for more useful ABU info.

Hedgehog just received my spool order!