Bakelite "blisters"?

[sdlehr]

I've seen a few reels on Ebay lately that have these blister-like marks on the bakelite surface. I suppose they could be dirt, but I'm wondering if this is a known issue with the bakelite that composes these reels. I've attached an example image I lifted off of Ebay....

[swill88]

great question...

[Dominick]

dunno.  Dominick

[alantani]

seen it before.  not sure of the reason.  probably just got past the QA guys......

[Maxed Out]

  I believe it was just a poor quality batch of plastic and they didn't waste diddly, so there it goes into their cheap reels.

   It is more common to find in lower end reels from just after WWII when they were still very limited on raw materials and had some very poor quality plates leaving the factory....functional, but not very attractive.

  Ted

[sharkman]

I have a few older reels like that both are Delmars.

[RowdyW]

I have a couple like that. They are Longbeach 66's. It's the later ones with the rounded plates & no pictures. Mostly the left side plate is blistered.

[foakes]

Monday morning -- new guy pouring -- no use to throw out -- just assemble and ship them out.

50 years and still ticking.

Best,

Fred

[sdlehr]

Thanks, Fred. Where you trying to answer in rhyme, or are you just a natural? Like the poet that didn't know it?

[Lunker Larry]

I've seen that on all sorts of old bakelite stuff,  cookware, etc. I always took it for granted that that's what it just does.

[STRIPER LOU]

I'm not absolutely positive but I think on occasion some of the scrap pieces get ground up and mixed with the new stuff and re molded. If that's the case someone has to get parts from the lousy batch. I believe Fred is correct,  not much got wasted!
.......................Lou