Shakespeare 1870

[Alto Mare]

I recently received this beauty, I'm a happy camper:

pics don't do this one justice, the reel is gorgeous




These are extremely hard to find, you might run into one, but I'm sure it won't be in this condition.

The reel goes nicely with my Fenwick


It came from the same gentleman that sold me the Fenwick, age is creeping up on him and he doesn't get out as much as he used to.
He did not want to part with this reel, but after a few conversations, he decided to let me have it.

Hope you enjoy it!   

Sal

[Shark Hunter]

I'm sure you feel like a kid in a candy store Sal.
Very Nice.

[Aiala]

Shiny! What year is it? 

I'm a bit baffled... how can a spincast reel be a "levelwind"?   

~A~

[Marcq]

Nice

So there's no push button, how does it work?

Marc..

[BryanC]

It looks brand new!  Very nice!

[Big Tim]

Nice Sal. My Uncle Richard gave me one of those when I was a youngin' I believe they came out in the 1960's ? but maybe they had something similar in the 1950's. Very Nice

BT

[Big Tim]

Nice

So there's no push button, how does it work?

Marc..

If I remember correctly you wind the handle backwards until it stops and that then releases the line pick up for casting and reeling forward then engages a line pick up to wind in ? Been a long time.

BT

[Marcq]

Nice

So there's no push button, how does it work?

Marc..

If I remember correctly you wind the handle backwards until it stops and that then releases the line pick up for casting and reeling forward then engages a line pick up to wind in ? Been a long time.

BT

I guess you hold the line with your finger and release it like a spinner?

Marc..

[Big Tim]

Nice

So there's no push button, how does it work?

Marc..

If I remember correctly you wind the handle backwards until it stops and that then releases the line pick up for casting and reeling forward then engages a line pick up to wind in ? Been a long time.

BT

I guess you hold the line with your finger and release it like a spinner?

Marc..

If I'm correct in the operation then yes you hold the line like a spinning reel

[Alto Mare]

Yup! you guys are correct, the advertisement state it's so easy to cast, you could do it blindfold.
You reel in the line, hold it as you would  your spinning reel, back the handle until it stops, usually less than a full revolution and off you go.

Tim, your guestimate on age appears to be spot on, the patent on this reel was issued in 1950.

Sal

[Big Tim]

Sal I can't remember what I did yesterday but can remember 1969 ? Go figure. Nice reel

BT

[foakes]

The age can be determined acurately by using this table --

There will be a two letter code on the side of the reel body --

Shakespeare Reel Series Dating Formula
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
K J H G F E D C B A
V U T S R Q P N M L

Great historical example...

Best,

Fred

[Alto Mare]

Fred, very interesting... thank you!
The two letters are FC, so it makes it from 1958.

Again, very close Tim, good job

[Big Tim]

Sal the earliest ads listed for this reel that I can find is 1958, so you may have the first year of production? Very cool

BT

[Tightlines667]

Great piece of history you have there Sal.  I found the following regarding this reel on ORCA..

"
Shakespeare made that style reel for about 50 years in various models. It's kind of a niche reel that has fans in isolated areas of the country. Here in MI it's popular with steelheaders on long, whippy rods with light line.
It requires a rod with a different grip/seat configuration than a standard spinning rod because there's not enough space between the reel and the rod for your fingers. One grips the rod ahead of the reel, thus, the reel seat must be placed farther back on the grip. Picture a spinning rod with the longer cork toward the tip and the shorter cork toward the butt, or a rod with a sliding reel seat that can be positioned anywhere along a long smooth cork grip.
Personally, I prefer them over a spinning reel... less to get line tangled on and you don't even have to look at the reel to cast, which was one of Shakespeare's advertising points.

A Tennessee type cork handle with slip rings works good, too. I always thought the brake adjustment by tightening the spool housing was an interesting, to say the least, idea. I'd think that adjustment scenario would take awhile to get used to. I suppose, like anything else, though, eventually it becomes automatic.
"

There are also some great articles regarding these early Shakespeare reels in some of the Reel News articles (I think from the early/mid 2000s, if memory serves me correctly.

I attached a photo from ORCA Reel News V1, No.02. (April 1991).

There are also relevent articles in the following Reel News issues...

-Spring 2000
*-August 2001
*-October 2001
-January 2002
-September 2002
-March 2002
*-November 2005

Also, for more information on these early spinning reels, consider Ben Wright's book, or check out his blog.

http://fishinghistory.blogspot.com/?m=1