Quest Outdoors

Pinner · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:08 pm Post subject: Pin Rundown

Going by BrianD idea to compile some info on reels, I thaught I would start it off.

ABI Xtreme
This reel is currently being made in very limited numbers, in Burlington Ontario by Adam Ibotson. It is 4 3/8" , The first few protype reels were blue in colour, then switched to a pewter anodizing. The first run of reels was 10-15 in production and the second run 15-25. The reel does not use a standard click and pawl clicker but instead uses a cam design to put pressure on the spool to aid in locking the spool when walking between spots. It also uses 2 very high tolerance bearings on which it spins.
www.abixtreme.ca

Pinner · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:21 pm Post subject: Anspec

Anspec & Anspec Offset
These 2 reels design by Tom and George Cheng are still curently made in the Toronto Ontario area "dont know exactly where", and they are pretty much the cats meow when it comes to pin design. The reels come in 2 designs "straight" and "Offset", both reels comes with options such as "Disc drag" and also "Anti reverse" the disc drag is pretty straight forward in explanation, BUT the anit-reverse is really mind blowing when you see it, the only way to describe it is, if you have too much pressure on the rim on the reel when a fish runs, the rim will stay stationary and the center spool will still spin. These reels run depending on options anywhere from $500.00-$1000.00 canadian dollars. And yes you see quit a few of them on the river.
www.anglingspecialties.com
Anspec "Straight"

Anspec "Offset"

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

I did a review of my Chris Lythe 1915 pattern here:

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/reviews/ChrisLythe.htm

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

I'm a bit gutted because I had one of these lovely reels on order, then Paul decided to stop making them (again).

Anyway, this is one of Paul Witcher's . 1920 pattern Aerials - specific features of note are that the reel seat is part of the backing plate (rather than a separate piece fitted on) and Paul's antique ageing affect that he applies to give the reel a vintage look.

A friend has one, and they are lovely reels.

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

Richard Carter made a number of patterns, this being the "Bernard Venables" model. Richard now works as an engineer in the F1 motor racing industry so does not have the time to make these reels anymore. Maybe one day he will again!

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

Another of Richard Carter's reels - this one I really would love to own! Plain in looks, but just lovely:

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

Barry Grantham is still actively making a range of reels, but this is perhaps the reel he is best known for.

Here is his website (which I've just discovered!):

http://www.classic-angling.co.uk/

In the UK there is a very famous (now deceased) angler called Richard Walker. {richard} Walker is legendary over here, but for you in the US, one of Richard's many contributions to angling was that it was HE who suggested the use of carbon as a material in rod manufacture! {richard} Walker designed this pattern of reel, and made a number of them, one being for BB (Denys Watkins-Pitchford, the well known late author).

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

The . '39 Match was only made for one year (1939) - the molds for this reel were destroyed in the Blitz, so no more were made.

Chris Lythe does a superb replica called the Spitfire and I have one on order!

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

Dave Plowman made about 35 reels in all. this is #31. He made difference designs, and his reels are considered some of the finest made. However, I was once told that his reels were so finely balanced, that they soon went out of true when you fished with them!

Still, nice for the collectors!

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

It seems the American/Canadian reels are of a very modern (and very nice) style, whereas we Brits are still in the dark ages as far as styling is concerned!!!

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

LG Gough - only 5 of these ever made. I have the engineers drawings for this reel if anybody fancies making me one!!!

Chromebuck · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:28 am Post subject:

Spindle,

Very wonderful collection of fine English history. What a fresh breath of knowledge to run across. These boards are filled with so much "high input/ low knowledge" types its always refreshing to know immediately that your not dealing with a 17 year old neophyte behind a keyboard!

Anyway, your collection of images are very interesting as well as valuable. I've always had a question regarding many of the English made reels and that is were they all bushing style races? Here in North America most of the replica style british reels were with the exception of one(the Norm Macdonald reel). Not that one style is better than the other I just personally like the inertia generated from ball bearings versus bushings. Especially for casting large weight on big flows with gradient. Wallis casting just doesn't apply....One just doesn't go to the Niagara or the Thompson in British Columbia and expect to employ a Wallis cast...I hope...

So to make my contribution I will submit my image of reels that are more derivatives of what youv'e submitted. The front row represents all the bearing styles that I'm aware of in float reels. The left reel is a HOH, Silex replica by John Milner called a Talisman (bushing reel). The middle front reel is the Norm MacDonald a gorgeous reel and whos maker is now deceased(British Columbia). Ball bearing reel. The front right reel is another HOH, Super Jewel replica by Jerry Wong. A wonderful reel with the actual agate and spindle style bearing mechanisn, if you will...
The rest are all ball bearing style reels including a couple early Islanders, Adams first run of ABI's, Apex, Hanson, Spahr, and a couple Stantons.

Nice post Pinner and Spindle!

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

Wow! That's a beautiful collection of reels you have! I notice that over the pond you don't seem to use the traditional spoked aerial-type reels much. I wonder why?

At the turn of the 20th century centrepins had largely replaced winches as the reel of choice. These were all, I believe, simple bush and bearing models. Not sure if ball-bearing races were used (or even invented??).

Anyway, it does appear that many modern makers like to re-create their reels with the simple bush/bearing - perhaps for simplicity (they can easily be created on a lathe) and because they like to make the entire reel themselves. Chris Lythe for example even makes his own screws on his lathe! I guess he isn't tooled up to make ball-bearing races and would prefer not to buy these in anyway.

On the other hand, JW Youngs and Chris . come to mind as those english makers who do use ball-bearing races. The Youngs Bob James that I have uses low-inertia bearing races to create a smooth running reel that is designed specifically with Wallis Casting in mind.

To be honest I prefer the plain bearing over a ball-bearing reel, but it's all a matter of feel and personal preference rather than for any particular engineering or angling benefit. Also, I enjoy cleaning them up and oiling them - something largely pointless with sealed bearing races!

kevanf1 · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:59 am Post subject:

Some very nice looking reels there. No, sorry they are all very nice looking reels Smile

If I could sort out the problem I am having in posting images to the forum I would photograph my collection. It would probably need more than one photo though. If you check one of the other threads I have detailed my collection.

It's good to know that there is interest in pins outside of the UK. Far too often over here us pin enthusiasts are looked upon as being somewhat quaint - odd - as Spindle will testify to.

spindle · Lunker Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 130

Kevan - bear with me, I'll email you about how to upload pics!