Shakespeare/Ted Williams 930

[CincyDavid]

Here's one you don't see everyday. 1970s era Ted Williams 930 with some truly unfortunate engraving on it, presumably a reference to 150 yds of 25 lb line. Big heavy son of a gun.

[CincyDavid]

And a closer view

[Gfish]

Some people mark 'em like that. Solution? Scratch mark it on the inside, or the underside of the seat and silver Sharpie marker on the outside.

[oc1]

In the 1970's people were engraving their social security number on their reels and everything else in the house.

[Midway Tommy]

Hell, in the late '60s & early '70s one's SS# was their college ID number. 😲 🤯

[jgp12000]

My 1st baseball glove was Ted Williams from Sears,assuming
That's who sold the reels back then ?

[Midway Tommy]

Almost every sporting goods item sold out of the Sears sporting goods department after 1960 until around 1971 had the Ted Williams signature/logo on it.

[jgp12000]

I was thinking boat motors too?

[Midway Tommy]

I was thinking boat motors too?

Yeah, I think most of the TW outboards were made by McCulloch and Eska. I don't think any TW outboards were made by Elgin.

[oc1]

A lot of us with very little money trying to get a boat went for the small jon boats and air-cooled Eska outboards from Sears.  They were marked either Ted Williams, or Gamefisher.  J.C. Penney's, Montgomery Ward, Western Auto and probably others sold the same Eska outboard under various names They were notoriously fragile, and undependable in saltwater and were almost impossible to repair.  The saying was that if you need an inexpensive outboard then go to Sears and Row Back.