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Post 30 Jul 2022, 18:14 • #26 
Guide
Joined: 07/07/19
Posts: 221
Location: US-WI
The larger diameter drag gear emerged on the GEM around the time the Medalist went to its patented drag in the very late 1930’s. It seems like then would have been a natural time to switch the 1492 gear to the larger version as well; yet Pflueger made the decision to keep the 1492 gear small.
Does anyone have any idea why? Could the 1492’s smaller spool diameter have something to do with the mechanical practicality of doing so?
I ask because if the “smoothness” of the larger gear made sense for the GEM’s, why didn’t “smoothness” make sense for the 1492?
Thanks in advance for your insight.


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Post 30 Jul 2022, 19:25 • #27 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3924
Location: USA - Illinois
Gems were 2094+ and not smaller, at least I’ve never heard of one. The 1392/1492 click and pawl leaves nothing needed, at least in my opinion, especially the 3rd models you can bias for either hand (LHW/RHW). Interesting to hear from others if the larger gear would have really been smoother.


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Post 31 Jul 2022, 09:18 • #28 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/20/07
Posts: 8920
Location: US-ME
I doubt it is very complex. Things that aren't broken don't need fixing, and a new product offered something different anyhow.


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Post 02 Aug 2022, 06:57 • #29 
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Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19078
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
jhuskey wrote:
Gems were 2094+ and not smaller, at least I’ve never heard of one. The 1392/1492 click and pawl leaves nothing needed, at least in my opinion, especially the 3rd models you can bias for either hand (LHW/RHW). Interesting to hear from others if the larger gear would have really been smoother.

well, yes - more finer teeth/turn.

Image Image


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Post 02 Aug 2022, 08:12 • #30 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/19/14
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Location: USA - Illinois
Thanks Ron, I didn't know there was so much difference.


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Post 02 Aug 2022, 09:16 • #31 
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Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
you're welcome - just a squeeze on the spring with a pair of needle nose makes Gem really sweet.

Image


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Post 06 Aug 2022, 05:54 • #32 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/14/06
Posts: 427
Location: US-TX
While I have more round guard 1494s, I prefer the great and slick pawl for the 2094 Gem. If it had a round line guard, I would use it in front of my Hardys.

Robert


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Post 13 Aug 2022, 20:56 • #33 
Sport
Joined: 12/15/17
Posts: 59
Location: SW Idaho
I would guess a lot of us have not heard of them. I am a spring and pawl fan, Hardy Marquis, and CFO's (though I do have a nice LL Bean Pocketwater). My only Pflueger is a 1494 Medalist. I have put a couple of Gems on my watch list because of this thread.


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Post 14 Aug 2022, 05:06 • #34 
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Joined: 08/10/05
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Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
The rarest Gem, the horseshoe latch, was made less than one year beginning in 1935
Image Image
Inside, it matched the 1st model Medalist.
Noteworthy, the Gem I show in post above with the finer-tooth drag gear was new in a May '42 box
(though the handle grasp had decomposed, and it got a new Pfoot grasp).


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Post 14 Aug 2022, 08:52 • #35 
Guide
Joined: 07/07/19
Posts: 221
Location: US-WI
bulldog1935 wrote:
The rarest Gem, the horseshoe latch, was made less than one year beginning in 1935
Image Image
Inside, it matched the 1st model Medalist.

Thanks everyone for the info (and pics!).
It seems that by 1936 or so, the GEM and the Medalist had become, almost, the same reel. Same materials, dimensions, same check. Even weighed the same at 4.9 oz (GEM 2094 and Medalist 1494).
The differences being:
- thumbscrew vs latch spool mount
- square vs round line guard
- straight vs sculpted pillars
- swirled vs yellow handle
Even though I own primarily Medalists, the handle on my 2nd generation (1936?) GEM is the prettiest handle I have ever seen on a fly reel.


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Post 14 Aug 2022, 11:18 • #36 
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Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
That's also the handle that didn't always cure and cross-link properly, and the reason I got my NIB Gem for a song.


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Post 09 Apr 2023, 10:32 • #37 
Guide
Joined: 07/07/19
Posts: 221
Location: US-WI
Regarding the dates that Pflueger produced the Gem — Is 1933 through 1958 still what a lot of folks think?
The reason I ask is I recently bought a used boxed Gem with 3/63 stamped on the bottom of the (totally normal looking green and white striped) Gem box.
No way, right? Someone switched the box lid with a different box bottom, right?
Thanks for any insights you might have re when Gem production ended.


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Post 09 Apr 2023, 11:42 • #38 
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Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
I don't know about the '63 date, but reference from Robert A Moore states Gem first appeared in Plfuger catalogs in 1935.


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Post 09 Apr 2023, 23:45 • #39 
Sport
Joined: 02/08/14
Posts: 26
Location: US-TN
The Gem is a great reel for little money. Good to know that the Pfoot handles work on these
Best,
Mike


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Post 24 May 2023, 17:02 • #40 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/25/16
Posts: 1069
Location: Rocky Mountains - Colorado
Well the 2094 I got on the first page didn't last long enough to get it home. One of my co-workers saw it on my desk and talked me out of it. But I found a 2095 on line last week and the money was way cheap and the condition looked good. Well it was better than I could have hoped for. So here it is...this reel will see time on my Phillipson X86 rod this summer.
Image
Image
Image


Last edited by Bloodhound on 01 Jun 2023, 13:47, edited 2 times in total.

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Post 26 May 2023, 07:43 • #41 
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Joined: 08/10/05
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Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
Thanks for posting your new old reel.
Though you left out the inside photo :hat


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Post 26 May 2023, 11:36 • #42 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/25/16
Posts: 1069
Location: Rocky Mountains - Colorado
Here are the insides....I grabbed these pics this morning

Image
Image


Last edited by Bloodhound on 31 May 2023, 15:17, edited 1 time in total.

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Post 26 May 2023, 11:55 • #43 
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Joined: 08/10/05
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Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
good job


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Post 02 Jul 2023, 20:54 • #44 
Guide
Joined: 07/07/19
Posts: 221
Location: US-WI
TytLynz2U2 wrote:
bulldog1935 wrote:
The rarest Gem, the horseshoe latch, was made less than one year beginning in 1935
Image Image
Inside, it matched the 1st model Medalist.

Thanks everyone for the info (and pics!).
It seems that by 1936 or so, the GEM and the Medalist had become, almost, the same reel. Same materials, dimensions, same check. Even weighed the same at 4.9 oz (GEM 2094 and Medalist 1494).
The differences being:
- thumbscrew vs latch spool mount
- square vs round line guard
- straight vs sculpted pillars
- swirled vs yellow handle
Even though I own primarily Medalists, the handle on my 2nd generation (1936?) GEM is the prettiest handle I have ever seen on a fly reel.

The other difference I neglected to mention:
- the 1494 spool has a silver stripe and a machined groove around the circumference of its face plate while the Gem spool face plate does not.


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