Penn no. 15

[PrivateIdaho]

Picked this reel up as part of a "Lot".  Just curious about approximate history, age and value.

[Swami805]

They first showed up in 1939, apparently they made a lot of them. Without a the box or catalog it's hard to give an exact year.

[PrivateIdaho]

They first showed up in 1939, apparently they made a lot of them. Without a the box or catalog it's hard to give an exact year.

I would have thought that direct drive reels would have been obsolete when the free spool reel was invented but I suppose the price of the direct drives would have kept them in the market for a while.  I think the pflueger leather thumb drag is pretty cool.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Great find.

Seems like DD reels continued being made for a long time after reels with an internal drag showed up.

For a while I wondered why. But then I remembered that roller clutches have been around for 30 years or so, and many still prefer a mechanical AR. Or the many other "advancements" that many folks have completely disregarded in favor of continuing to fish the way they're familiar with.

I'd have thought most would give up mono the instant braid became a thing. But, see above.

[PrivateIdaho]

Great find.

Seems like DD reels continued being made for a long time after reels with an internal drag showed up.

For a while I wondered why. But then I remembered that roller clutches have been around for 30 years or so, and many still prefer a mechanical AR. Or the many other "advancements" that many folks have completely disregarded in favor of continuing to fish the way they're familiar with.

I'd have thought most would give up mono the instant braid became a thing. But, see above.

Yep, I fish braid or fluoro on my modern rigs and mono on my old reels like the Penn 4/0 that I've been fishing with since 1980.

[Maxed Out]

 Your reel has a waffle click button. Those were phased out in 1939, so your #15 is circa 1939. The #15 was Penns low budget reel. Collector value of $20-$25 max.

[JasonGotaProblem]

I figured the waffle clicker alone is worth that.

[oc1]

The leather thumb stall, remnants of Cuttyhunk-style twisted linen line (possibly not original) and green patina tell you it was probably used for surf or bank fishing.  You don't need a free-spool clutch if the lead weight is heavy enough.  It was almost certainly paired with either a split bamboo or whole-cane banboo rod.

[PrivateIdaho]

Your reel has a waffle click button. Those were phased out in 1939, so your #15 is circa 1939. The #15 was Penns low budget reel. Collector value of $20-$25 max.

I knew from reading old ORCA news letters that the Senators last had waffle clicker buttons but wasn't sure if that was true of other models.  Thanks for the info!