True Temper 333, presumed Zangi build

[CincyDavid]

This is my $5 FB Marketplace buy from over the weekend. Ugly, but after a good cleaning, runs like a Swiss watch.

[CincyDavid]

I saw a reference online to this reel only being built for 2 years because True Temper wasn't buying enough and Zangi canceled the agreement. What I don't know is what those years were. This reel had more dried salt residue on the spool and line than I have ever seen in my life, dust was flying everywhere when I removed the line.

[Midway Tommy]

That sure is a big ol' ugly one, but nice find as they're pretty scarce. TT 333 was the biggest one, same size the Titan and TW & Pescador 510s. I'm not sure of the exact contract dates but it was in the mid 1960s. There were a few, but very few, all black models sold, also.

[CincyDavid]

Tommy, it's funny, the paint on the body held up relatively well but the bucket and spool look awful. I scuffed off the loose chrome from the crank handle and oiled it with Hoppe's No. 9 gun oil as a stopgap. It is NOT pretty by any stretch but it may make a good beater reel to just keep in the car.

[Midway Tommy]

Not trying to hurt anyone's feelings but I've always felt like the Italian made reels from that era had the worst lasting chrome quality of just about all the makers. Evidently their adhesion process needed a lot of help since most of reels that saw a decent amount of use have extensive chrome deterioration and peeling. 

[CincyDavid]

The question becomes, what do I do with it as this late juncture? I used a maroon Scotchbrite pad to remove the loose stuff, and oiled it. I toyed with painting it but I just knot it won't look right.