Vintage Fin-Nor

[54bullseye]

Howdy John Taylor here and I want to share a quite scarce Fin-Nor reel. It is a 15/0 "GD" model and it's on the cover of the first Fin-Nor catalog which also includes the Big Drum reel made around 1937 through 1939 so this is an oldie !! This is the only GD model that has surfaced in the collector world so far so I guess you could call it scarce. It is a single speed reel that gathers line in on bottom as it's direct drive
1 to 1 ratio. The "G" model was a two speed also made in same time frame so many anglers probably chose that over the "GD".

They advertised it as a Giant Bluefin Tuna reel for the power in bringing them up from the depths !!! Must have sucked if the fish ran to you LOL !! My buddy came across a picture of a woman which I will include that caught a big Bluefin on a "GD" mounted on a big old Tycoon rod. Notice how reels handles come out of middle of reel also look at set in old wooden rod.  I have the picture in my living .This is a big son of a gun !!  Here are some pictures of the reel below. Another thing to notice is the Fin-Nor emblem in the picture that is blown up is engraved by hand as were most made before 1940.   Enjoy !!    John Taylor

[funhog]

This is a GREAT POST.
   The photos
   The history and story of the reel
   The marketing piece showing the cursive print of the era
   Harriets signature
   and the two guys in the background with the guides name on the fish

  First story or the day with my first cup of coffee. NICE!

[JasonGotaProblem]

with the guides name on the fish

Great marketing strategy!

[MACflyer]

Thanks for sharing John! The pictures are great.

[foakes]

Beautiful example, rare, and a great explanation!

Most of us will never be able to even see a reel like this.

Thanks!

Best, Fred

[1badf350]

It's in the right home. Great reel John

[boon]

Wow. Direct drive game reel weeeeew, I get sore arms just thinking about it.

[Midway Tommy]

Nice, JT! A couple more "Photos of the Week" for sure!

[Swami805]

A piece of big game fishing history, that's a beauty. Seems like it's right where it belongs

[Maxed Out]

 Another museum piece John !! Hard to top that. Great pics and historical tidbits

 I see the reel on the rod in that pic, shows what looks like the drag lever is pinned to max drag. Do you know anything about how much drag that would be ??

[Donnyboat]

Thanks John, true history, great reel I like the rod thickness, and thanks for all the nice pictures, keep well, cheers Don.

[jgp12000]

That lady musta been strong just to pick that reel up much less reeling in that fish! Wonder how much the reel weighs?

[54bullseye]

Another museum piece John !! Hard to top that. Great pics and historical tidbits

 I see the reel on the rod in that pic, shows what looks like the drag lever is pinned to max drag. Do you know anything about how much drag that would be ??

I have no idea ??  You can adjust the drag with knob on top of lever before fishing so depending where it's adjusted could be any amount even locked down. They used linen line so the probably had to be careful !! When done fishing that line had to come off reel and be rinsed in fresh water then dried so not to rot !! Tuff back then,  John

[Shark Hunter]

Super Cool John!