Alvey OffShore

[Reeltyme]

Just received this N.O.S.reel today! I have a couple old wooden Alvey side casters but didn't know they were still pumping out reels. This thing is beautiful and built!

[ExcessiveAngler]

Yep, got a whole new line of spinners, and bait casters I do believe as well. Definitely saw a nice spinning reel called an orbitor 60. Seemed to be very well-made.

[oc1]

Where is the factory?

[alantani]

any indication as to where these are made?

[Reeltyme]

The hang tag says Queensland Australia. I don't know if the reels are made there or that's just their headquarters. Amazingly smooth though!

[Reeltyme]

Well, I did a web search and this is what I found,

Alvey Reels
Australian company
alvey.com.au
Alvey Reels is an Australian manufacturer of fishing tackle, primarily known for fishing reels and rods. It was founded by Charles Alvey in Brisbane in 1920, making it one of Australia's oldest family-owned fishing companies. On the 20th of July, 2017, the company announced that it would be closing. The managing director Bruce Alvey, great-grandson of the founder, said the company had "suffered a dramatic drop in sales, particularly in the last six months." In mid-2019, Alvey was saved from closure and is still producing reels. Wikipedia

After that, I checked several different sites and everything I read indicates that they are still produced in Australia. I hope it's correct!

[Reeltyme]

Oh well, I guess it's the same as Shimano and every other mid grade reel made today. Still a beautiful reel.

[boon]

Australia Designed and Engineered! Rigorously tested! Blah blah blah...

It's yet another generic Jigging Master clone, here's the same reel (except with a t-bar handle) from a generic chinese seller:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008833553540.html

I'm sure you could find an even cheaper example if you hunted around a bit.

They're very pretty reels and the machining tends to be top notch, performance can be....... variable.

Sad day when an old and unique brand like Alvey is now just putting their name on "shelf" reels.

[ExcessiveAngler]

Well, it's probably more like, roll with the times, or be left on the way side! At least they tried to keep their operation in Australia. Shame it is a nice looking reel. I hate to say it! Basically, all the manufacturers are doing the same thing now. A lot of them already did it lol. They were making the Alvey side casters in Australia still. Wonder if that changed now as well? Always wanted a big old Alvey side caster in the worst way lol. I actually got to cast one once. Was definitely an experience for sure lol.

[boon]

Basically, all the manufacturers are doing the same thing now.

Not so. There is an enormous difference between a manufacturer opening a factory in China to produce a product, versus someone paying a generic chinese factory to put their branding on an item they will produce for anyone.

A Shimano made in China has Shimano R&D, Shimano Quality Control, and is an exclusively Shimano product. A shelf reel is likely the product of a mishmash of intellectual property rights infringement, and built by a factory that does very nice machining but doesn't have the faintest clue about fishing.

[ExcessiveAngler]

OK, I can agree with that comment. I guess I kind of generalized them all. I guess I should've said "a lot" of, instead of all. And probably should've said Companies, instead of manufacturers. It's kind of late and I'm tired. I will knock them, for that price tag though lol.