The year was 1958 — 64 Years Ago

[foakes]

D.A.M. Quick had a very successful line of reels after rebuilding their bombed out factory in Germany.

SW68, 250, 240, 245, 280, 285, and the large 270.

But the competition was manufacturing lighter and smaller reels —- targeting the North American Angling market.

So engineering was given the task and marching orders to develop a Microlite sized spinning reel.

In 1960 —- the finished version was unveiled —- and became an instant best seller and success.

The 265 Microlite.

How did they do this?

Well, they took their strongest reel, the large salt-water 270 Super —- and Shrunk down the casing and components.

Why make things more complicated?  —-  stick with what is proven and works very well.

The design and parts are so similar.

Both the 270 & 265 were built to last generations —- and are still in wide use today.

Metal spool, over-sized bearing, steel worm pinion with a rear oscillation gear, bronze main, aircraft-grade aluminum frame & rotor.

The Super has a gear ratio of 3.2 to 1 —- the Microlite is a high speed model of 5.0 to 1.

The Super weighs 21 ounces —- the Microlite is exactly 8 ounces.

Neither are very expensive today.  They are very good values and exceptional reels.

I would like to think that the engineers would not settle for making the Microlite a cheaper version by using less expensive materials and short-cuts in tolerances and engineering.

But in addition to that idea —- they also did not have the technology or mindset to make things cheaper.

These engineers were multiple generations of expert machinists who were also weekly anglers.

These were not cheap (in price) reels when they came out in 1960 —- but they were possibly the best.

Here is a 265 that just got cleaned —- I will replace 3 small parts (trip lever, bail spring, crank knob) and it will be as new when completed later today.

Best, Fred

[foakes]

Back in service and ready to fish.

Replaced goobered screws, bail spring, trip lever, trip lever spring, ratchet lever, ratchet lever spring, slide roller, main bearing, crank knob, drag knob, cleaned, serviced, adjusted, and micro-tuned.

Best, Fred

[scrinch]

...but other than that, it's the same ol' reel!