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Post 05 Feb 2020, 19:37 • #1 
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Does this 1495 seem legitimate?

It is perfect, looks to never have been lined, and includes the box, instructions, and tag. But what is most interesting of all is that if authentic, it puts an accurate date on an important transition.

The round line guard is still there, but the drag knob, handle, and latch cover are all the new whiter plastic. This is the only older Medalist that I have handled that has completely perfect paint on all of the sculptured pillars.

I have read about this being from the plastic meltdown era, but all of the plastic on this reel seems perfect.

The date code on the bottom of the box is 1941.

Here are some pictures:

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Post 05 Feb 2020, 20:24 • #2 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/20/17
Posts: 387
Location: Portland, OR
Pulled this over from PinkSquirrel and the Topic (Show us your Medal), page 3. Same plastic and date as the reel in this topic.

Sandman

PinkSquirrel wrote:
Here are my 2 nicest 1495s, born only 10 months apart. The older one is from 12/1940, marked Patented and Patent Pending. The newer one is from 10/1941, marked just Patented. Interesting because this must be the time frame for making the transition from metal spool latch cover and drag knob, to the ivory. And also from the butterscotch winding knob to ivory. That newer one is almost mint, except for the obvious flaw, which I hope I can correct with a matching knob from OnePfoot. The older one is very nice too, but the inside of the spool suffered from an old silk line.



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Post 05 Feb 2020, 22:05 • #3 
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Post 05 Feb 2020, 22:07 • #4 
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I have the same one but it is in rough shape.All the plastic is melted.The drag screw is a nub and the latch cover is melted.Yet it still works mechanically.I dont know the date


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Post 05 Feb 2020, 22:15 • #5 
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Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3924
Location: USA - Illinois
Very cool reel (s), and in my opinion, helps date the changeover to the plastic latchcover. I have a 1939, 1495 and 1940, 1492, both with metal and amber colored handle grasp. Both boxed for dates. I was always of the opinion, probably wrongly so, that the change(s) came after WWII. Your boxed 1941 throws a bunch of shade on that belief. Thanks.


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Post 06 Feb 2020, 00:42 • #6 
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Joined: 08/10/05
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Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
yet we've seen all metal parts with the square line guard from 1949.
It may be possible they tried plastic earlier, and didn't like their formulation reliability, so went back to metal for most of the decade.


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Post 06 Feb 2020, 08:56 • #7 
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Hard to ever know for sure about the spool because it could be a replacement, as could the latch cover.


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Post 06 Feb 2020, 09:07 • #8 
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Joined: 08/10/05
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Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
again, excepting the drag tensioning screw riveted into the frame has a plastic grasp, and the whole thing looks like a tagged reel that was just broken out of the cello.

It would be nice if posters saw the need to offer internals views of their finds.
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Post 06 Feb 2020, 11:51 • #9 
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Joined: 01/12/20
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Location: US-WI
OP here again. Sorry for no internal pictures initially. Just put up my first excited shots and didn’t get a chance to do the rest until now.

The tension adjust screw does indeed have a plastic head, there are no reel seat marks on the foot, and the drag disk and spring are caked with a yellowish substance-not sure if it's just oxidation or grease that was applied at the factory.

Also, sorry for not cleaning all the cardboard dust off before taking these pictures!

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Post 06 Feb 2020, 13:24 • #10 
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Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19077
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
nice photos - thanks
One question - is there anything on the paper, such as capacity, etc., that tells the date and compares with the condition of the reel - the drawing even appears to show plastic latch cover.
Much trouble to open up the paper and photograph it? Thanks again


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Post 06 Feb 2020, 14:15 • #11 
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I actually unfolded the paper and photographed both sides last night. Hopefully the pictures came out clearly enough to be read:

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Post 06 Feb 2020, 14:19 • #12 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/20/17
Posts: 387
Location: Portland, OR
The pamphlet version can indicate date too...it's located on the bottom half of the front of the pamphlet. The below is taken from someone who has collected info and posted publicly (and given permission to re-post). 68B9 aligns with the info collected of 1938-1940. Columns didn't align well in the format transition.

Sandman

Pamphlet Number Month/Year Model Numbers Design Changes
68B1 5/29 1392,94 1492, 94,96 1592, 94,96 all models single pawl
68B6 1/36 1392,94 1492,94,96 1594 all 2 pawls, weighted spool
68B8 9/37 1392,94 1492,94,96 1594 adjustable drag: 1494, 96.
68B9 12/38, 12/40 1392,94 1492,94,95,96 1594 adjustable drag:1494,95,96
68B10 1392,94 1492, 94,95, 95.5, 96 1594
68B11 1392,94 1492,94,95,95.5,96,96.5 1594
68B12 5/49 1392,94 1492,94,95,95.5,96,96.5 1594 front cover square line guard, sculpted riveted pillars
68B13 1/50 5/50 1392,94 1492,94,95,95.5,96,96.5 1594 straight pillars, rect. line guard
68B14 1392,94 1492,94,95,95.5,96,96.5, 1594
68B15 4/51 1595


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Post 06 Feb 2020, 17:51 • #13 
Sport
Joined: 06/20/17
Posts: 56
Location: US-WI
Nice find Archer829! Like Sandman mentioned, I have one just like it, with box dated 10/41. Mine is in similar condition, but missing the grasp. I checked the paperwork, and mine is with form 68B10. I suppose that's possible, since my box is a few months newer than yours, but hard to say.

I also have a transitional 1495 1/2 reel, in a box dated 3/47. This one came to me with melted ivory spool latch cover, adjustment knob and grasp, so I replaced those with OnePfoot parts. This one still has form 68B10 with it as well. By 1947 they had moved to the rectangular line guide, but there is still one lonely sculpted pillar on the 1495 1/2.




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Post 06 Feb 2020, 19:03 • #14 
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Joined: 01/12/20
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Location: US-WI
That's a great reel, PinkSquirrel!

Ok, so next question: How crazy would it be to clean this thing up and fish with it? That was my original intent, but I didn't realize just how new this one was when I bought it..... Should I at least clean and lube it, or just leave it as-is?

Jeff


Last edited by archer829 on 07 Mar 2020, 09:09, edited 1 time in total.

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Post 06 Feb 2020, 19:18 • #15 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/20/17
Posts: 387
Location: Portland, OR
To each his own...plenty of 1495s out there to fish...they're only unused once...it's a shelf queen to me, as is...

Sandman


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Post 06 Feb 2020, 19:23 • #16 
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Location: US-WI
I think I'm inclined to agree.....


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Post 06 Feb 2020, 20:20 • #17 
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Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3924
Location: USA - Illinois
If you deem it a shelf queen, simply get a can of air, blow off the dust/cardboard dust and whatever, then display it proudly. If you are going to take it off the shelf from time to time and play with it, you may want to VERY lightly lube with a light machine oil, and clean up any extra with a Q-Tip. Again, very nice reel!!!


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Post 06 Feb 2020, 21:11 • #18 
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Joined: 02/16/14
Posts: 618
Location: Roanoke, VA
Whoa, and good golly. Mighty good find! Ain't history grand, and convoluted.
Too pure and clean to be mine. I fish my dirty girls.


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Post 07 Feb 2020, 12:05 • #19 
Sport
Joined: 06/20/17
Posts: 56
Location: US-WI
Hey Jeff, if it were mine, I'd try to preserve it as well as possible. But, it's yours, so create the history you want for it. You've got a great reel and if you're nice to it, you can likely fish with it for the rest of your life, and then pass it on for someone else to do the same. Are you a fisherman, or a collector, or both? I'm like dougfish, and tend to fish my "dirty girls." A pic of my regular rotation below.

I do live in the heart of the Driftless. The Pink Squirrel is actually my Dad's creation, so it's a special fly to me. I'm biased, but to me it's the most consistently successful pattern I've ever fished with. To others, it's sacrilege to even consider fishing with it.



Top left to right: 1492 1/2 with DT6, GEM 2094 with WF6, 1492 with DT4.
Bottom left to right: 1394 with WF5, 1494 with DT5, 1494 with DT6.


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Post 07 Feb 2020, 15:12 • #20 
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Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3924
Location: USA - Illinois
I met John, your Dad, a few years back at the Spring Opener in Madison hanging out with Bob Wagner. Gave me a PS tied by the master - still have it.
Welcome and have been enjoying your posts.
Best,
John


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Post 07 Feb 2020, 17:51 • #21 
Sport
Joined: 06/20/17
Posts: 56
Location: US-WI
Thanks John! Dad and I are heading to the 2020 Spring Opener tomorrow morning, as a matter of fact. If you'll be there, make sure to say hello.

Jacob


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Post 07 Feb 2020, 18:00 • #22 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3924
Location: USA - Illinois
Thank you young Sir! I'll not make it this year, I'll want to spend too much money, and ain't got it. Guess I need to sell some stuff.
Have fun!


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Post 07 Feb 2020, 19:58 • #23 
New Member
Joined: 01/12/20
Posts: 16
Location: US-WI
"Are you a fisherman, or a collector, or both?"

I have been a fly fisherman for 25 years, but just this summer got the wild idea that it would be fun to try fishing with older gear....bamboo rods and vintage reels. In my search for just the right setup/s, I've happened upon some rods and reels that just seem too nice to use. So I guess that makes me a little bit of a collector now, too.

Jeff


Last edited by archer829 on 14 Feb 2020, 23:48, edited 2 times in total.

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Post 07 Feb 2020, 21:38 • #24 
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Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3924
Location: USA - Illinois
You should definitely go Jeff! Lots of gadgets and widgets, fly tiers galore, and all the fly tying materials one could ever need. Don Schroeder is almost always there if you are into cane rods.


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Post 01 Sep 2021, 11:32 • #25 
Master Guide
Joined: 07/21/21
Posts: 447
Location: Florida
Sandman wrote:
The pamphlet version can indicate date too...it's located on the bottom half of the front of the pamphlet. The below is taken from someone who has collected info and posted publicly (and given permission to re-post). 68B9 aligns with the info collected of 1938-1940. Columns didn't align well in the format transition.

Sandman



Pamphlet Number Month/Year Model Numbers Design Changes
68B1 5/29 1392,94 1492, 94,96 1592, 94,96 all models single pawl
68B6 1/36 1392,94 1492,94,96 1594 all 2 pawls, weighted spool
68B8 9/37 1392,94 1492,94,96 1594 adjustable drag: 1494, 96.
68B9 12/38, 12/40 1392,94 1492,94,95,96 1594 adjustable drag:1494,95,96
68B10 1392,94 1492, 94,95, 95.5, 96 1594
68B11 1392,94 1492,94,95,95.5,96,96.5 1594
68B12 5/49 1392,94 1492,94,95,95.5,96,96.5 1594 front cover square line guard, sculpted riveted pillars
68B13 1/50 5/50 1392,94 1492,94,95,95.5,96,96.5 1594 straight pillars, rect. line guard
68B14 1392,94 1492,94,95,95.5,96,96.5, 1594
68B15 4/51 1595


So then what years does Form 68B11? Looks like late 1940s? The bottom of the box has a stamp on it that says “Inspected by 10P 3 49” so can I take that to mean March 1949? Based off of the bottles under 68B11 there is a square line guard … and 5 stainless steel pillars screwed on.


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