1954 Martin Precision 103A spin reel

[Woodbilly]

You all know, I only use vintage reels for my crappie catching, here on The Lake of the Ozarks, so I just wanted to share my newest acquisition for the ever expanding arsenal.

It's a very rare and oh, so, beautiful 1954 Martin Precision 103A spin reel.

She's a red paint scheme with a clear side plate.
 Mfg. in Mohawk, NY.

Worm gear drive with switchable anti reverse.

Unique double foot stem with finger loop and zerk fitting at base for oiling and to act as bail arm trip.

Aluminum spool with Bakelite drag knob.

Straight crank arm with folding Bakelite knob.

Getting a gentle cleaning and lube refresh, only.

 I have 2 more green paint scheme ones en route, so at least one of those, will receive a full stripdown and restore. Just how I roll. Lol

Spooling with 6lb test and giving her a replay of her past life.

Peace!

[Swami805]

Wow, that's a good looking reel. The zerk for a bail trip is pretty much genius

[Woodbilly]

Wow, that's a good looking reel. The zerk for a nail trip is pretty much genius

Indeed.
If you notice, on the green reels, the bail trip is the chromed "arm" at the front top of body.

The zerk, red paint, and clear plate, I guess, were this package, only. IDK for sure...

[DougK]

thank you for posting these.. never even knew that Martin made a spin reel.
I have half a dozen Martin fly reels, some branded as Browning, all have the same thoughtful and clever engineering as in your spin reel.
My spinfishing is for small trout, bass and walleye, so one of these would work nicely.. and down the rabbithole we go ! ha.

[Woodbilly]

and down the rabbithole we go ! ha.

Lol! Have fun sliding!!

[happyhooker]

Very interesting.  Looks like quality components.

Frank

[Dominick]

New to me, beauties.  Dominick

[Woodbilly]

Very interesting.  Looks like quality components.

Frank

Very nice quality and overall feel to it.

[Woodbilly]

As always, in my case, rare reels I have been searching high and wide for, sometimes for long periods of time, always seem to come two's.

I just this morning, nabbed this off ebay!
$130 buy it now.
WTF?

[Swami805]

I was thinking you could add a plexiglass side plate to the green reels but I guess you can't due to the bail trip needing a custom cut. The zerk is a clever idea to keep the plexiglass side plate flat

[foakes]

Wood Billy has done some great work on vintage spinning reels!

And he knows what he is about.

This thread inspired me to pull out one of the old Martin tiny spinners out of the bone pile.

And to do a restore on it —- no paint, just working as new (it is smooth and perfectly operating now).

An amazingly well engineered little reel from the early 50's.

The clear plastic side plates on Woodbilly's reel likely are examples of "salesman reels", used for demonstration purposes.

Exact center double-supported worm drive, excellent material selection, tight tolerances.

Martin Precision 27.

Well made equipment.

I'll end up selling it or getting rid of it —- but in the meantime, it gets a new life after 73 years.

Best, Fred

[Woodbilly]

 

I was thinking you could add a plexiglass side plate to the green reels but I guess you can't due to the bail trip needing a custom cut. The zerk is a clever idea to keep the plexiglass side plate flat

I thought of that for some of my other flat side plate reels.
 It would be an easy customization.

[Woodbilly]

Wood Billy has done some great work on vintage spinning reels!

And he knows what he is about.

This thread inspired me to pull out one of the old Martin tiny spinners out of the bone pile.

And to do a restore on it —- no paint, just working as new (it is smooth and perfectly operating now).

An amazingly well engineered little reel from the early 50's.

The clear plastic side plates on Woodbilly's reel likely are examples of "salesman reels", used for demonstration purposes.

Exact center double-supported worm drive, excellent material selection, tight tolerances.

Martin Precision 27.

Well made equipment.

I'll end up selling it or getting rid of it —- but in the meantime, it gets a new life after 73 years.

Best, Fred

That's awesome, Fred!
Glad to inspire any refreshing of vintage reels, especially when it's for use vs. display only.
 Mines going out tomorrow!