Kalamazoo Empress No. 1689 Model D:
This reel has the look that is fitting of its name “Empress”.
The reel has both exterior and interior unique design features. The exterior handle side has a side plate that is ported with 10 large holes and 10 small holes. Looking though the holes you see the aluminum spool which is also ported. The back side plate is solid with both plates being aluminum. The reel is anodized in a deep blue color that has kind of a neon look to it. It has a classic look with a great color. This reel was made for Kalamazoo Tackle Co. by Shakespeare it is their Au Sable No.1864. The Au Sable is first offered in the Shakespeare 1941 catalog with the added side plate drag button. However most likely the Empress was offered post-war late 40’s – early 50’s. ( Bulldog has a post that shows this reel in a Wards 1951 catalog) My research shows no one has seen a Kalamazoo Tackle catalog.
As for the interior you can see by the pictures the unique drag feature. The round pad slides up and down depending on how tight you set the pressure with the side plate drag knob button. The pad rubs on the outside surface of the aluminum spool. This pad drag only works in RHW. You can change the reel to LHW but will only have the click-pawl and gear for a little drag pressure. When I got the reel it was set up for LHW and it worked okay but I wanted to be able to use the unique drag feature so I switched it back. I think the reason the drag pad is still there and in good shape is because the reel was used in LHW.
Reel 3 1/2in / Spool 3in x 7/8W x 7/8inD / 6.5ozNL / 6-8wt
I am thinking of matching it up to one of my 1948 Narmco Conolon 408 Cardinal 8 1/2ft or 1952 Falcon 407 9ft rods. Also a 9ft bamboo 6-8wt might be nice especially if it has a blue reel seat.

Always liked the way those looked,how they function i have no idea.Bid on a couple years ago but they quickly went much higher than i was willing to spend just based on cosmetics.

Enjoyed the details provided in your post on this classic fly reel.

I need one of the Kalamazoo models. The blue color is very stunning. I do have a green Shakespeare Russell 1889 GE.

Never found one when I had the rod, but always thought green AuSable would be a perfect match for the heavy tip section on a 1290T -
- especially the rod version with the spring-loaded green reel seat.

It is great to see some vintage, American made reel photos again. Thank you so much for sharing them.

I'm going to have to pull out one of my perfect clones to start fishing it. They are really nice reels.

Beautiful Empress reel. I recently saw one on eBay. I need another reel...

You have a very nice collection of vintage reels. Thank you for the image size tip.
Jim

Yes! Good eye, Barry. Probably quite a widely sold reel in its time, being from a major tackle maker that grew further as the plastics revolution came on. Look up enough Gadabout Gaddis stuff and you will probably find him using one. Looking over a lot of other outdoor media of the time would turn up still more, no doubt. Pfluegers were probably the most often pictured, but any of the makes common in hardware and country store sporting goods sections would show up in the mags.

excellent thank you.. I have that same reel, blue Empress, have not yet finished cleaning it up or fished it. My plan was to hang it off one of my South Bend 6wt cane rods..
I've seen them in green and red/maroon like bulldog's example as well, always liked the look.

Yep. He used one (along with a Panfish Special) in a bluegill fishing episode.