Where for art thou...... Shakespeare Marhoff Level Wind Model 1964

[cdaline]

So ... was out and about today and stumbled across this lil' gem .
Shakespeare Marhoff model # 1964 level wind with adjustable drag.
As close to new old stock as I'll ever find. Complete with oem packaging,
manual, soft bag case, wrench , and most unbelieveable original
sales receipt. Sold in Pittsburgh, PA., by the "Union Supply Company".
Date on receipt indicates sale made on " 4/21/1950 " for $13.20 !
I gave too much.... $15.00.
I'm not sure it was ever used.... does not look to have been. The original
"plastic arbor" (removeable) is still on the reel. With or without arbor
allows 100 yds of 15 # test or 50 yds. . The handle grips look to
to be bakelite. The reel caseing is embossed "nickel silver" and the
package insert the kibbles and bits to be anodized aluminum (as used
by the Navy Department on the aluminum floats on their sea planes...
with the recommendation to fresh water rinse after use ).

So, above all else, "the Team Tani creed" ...do no harm. Will be a man
cave display piece until I decide what to do with it. Perfect history. I
am grinning  ! Museum piece worthy.

Originally sold to a Mrs. H.M. Reed ... don't know the rest of the story.

Charles

https://imgur.com/a/UG1zFZI

[Wompus Cat]

Absolute STEAL of a REEL DEAL !
look for some embossed letters like FE stamped on the side plate and we can get close to year of manufacture if it's not on the Receipt (another Plus )in you find .
Congrats

[cdaline]

Thank you Wompus !!! With the aide of a lighted magnifying
glass I can clearly read "GE" embossed on the side plate.

Unbelievably smooth action on retrieve. Quiet. Very cool
sounding "Click" . From an era when even these small reels had
attention to detail and quality construction. The marketing for the
"Amazing Wexford line " on the box and "Built like a Watch"
are some of my favorite bonuses.

[Wompus Cat]

The GE corresponds to the year of manufacture as 1946 .
Not necessarily THE YEAR your Reel was made but that particular model was introduced in 1946.
And this is NOT necessarily true as other tell tale signs are in the patent markings on the foot ,shape of   insignias  on it
   (LIKE )  Built Like a Watch and or Honor Built and some more lil things to look up .

[cdaline]

Thanks again for the data points. My brothers suggest I try to locate
surviving family members and move the reel/collection on to them.
My wife is good at family tree research...may just give it a try.

Charles

[Wompus Cat]

I commend your Good Intentions with exception in that I see this way too often these days where a family member collector for many years has a vast amount of Reels he has built up for years to leave to his siblings who after their demise can't wait to dump them to the curb or Good Will or just stick them in a yard sale otherwise you would not have it to show us now.
Sad but True.

[cdaline]

Duly noted Wompus. Sometimes I get caught up looking at
this stuff with my heart not my head.

You guys are probably already aware of this .... a "go to"
reference source.

Charles
https://www.orcaonline.org/marhoff-reels/

[oc1]

There is information on line about Marhoff the man and his relationship with William Shakespeare Jr..  He was well-respected by all and the Marhoff model is at or near the top of the Shakespeare line of direct drive baitcasters.

[Midway Tommy]

They're a nice little reel but there are a ton of them out there. A nice box, etc., is a great bonus. I picked one up at an antique store a couple of years ago with the pouch & all the goodies in the earlier box for $10. I couldn't pass it up even though I don't collect casting reels. 

[cdaline]

oc1 ...thank you for the reminder to widen my search.... looks like a
talented reel designer. Sad about his tuberculosis but glad to learn Mr.
Shakespeare brought him back on board to help with medical bills until
his passing. Mr. Marhoff should be in the Fisherman's H.O.F. (if there is
one) . Love the history.

Charles

[cdaline]

Tommy... thanks for chiming in. I was hooked when I saw all the
accoutrement that came in the packaging. Sure would be interesting
to find how it made the journey from Pittsburgh P.A. out here to
locale in the desert southwest. Most of these Marhoffs I've come
across are in massive disrepair and I usually just pass. One might
say ...this one reeled me in... 

Charles

[Crow]

Nice find !

[Paul Roberts]

Nice find! The green GE model was quit popular and for good reason as they were touted for their fishability. Quite a few of them to be found online but such a nice one, in person, is an exciting find. I have several Shakespeare Marhoff's going back to the 1926 model (a black model), and a couple GE's (green, 1946>), one in nearly new condition. I plan to fish with them and so have painstakingly disassembled, burnished, lubed, and tweaked them to get them into fishing shape. They cast very well once dialed in.

Oh yes... the handle knobs are of a celluloid plastic called Pyralin.

[cdaline]

Crow and Paul.... Thanks. Most of these reels
that I see in the "wild" out here in the desert
aren't in good enough condition to warrant rescue.
Can honestly say I've never heard of "Pyralin".
Thanks for that info. I've seen the exploded view
of the Marhoff type reels and it looks beyond
my current skill level to re-hab....unless I pick
up one of those beater models I've occasionally come
across. Complex looking engineering crammed into
a small space.

[oc1]

the Marhoff type reels and it looks beyond
my current skill level to re-hab

You'll be surprised.  There's not much to them.  Four screws and you're done.  Marhoff came along slightly before the trend toward using a bridge to give more stability to the main gear.  They still cast pretty well due to good old fashioned precision.  What they called an adjustable "drag" we would call a friction brake today.