Collection Question

[broadway]

Hey Crew,
     I need some advice.  If you were to start a reel collection today of vintage penn senators, what would you do?  Would you leave the crappy drags in and just clean them up, or would you put carbontex or penn HT-100's (if applicable).  Would you grease the carbontex or HT-100's if you answered yes to one of those? Also, what do you guys use to get the sideplates a little deeper and richer in color like they were 50 years ago? Any other suggestions or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks
Dom

[Norcal Pescador]

Hi Dom -

I've been doing the Penn fix-up / rebuild / resurrection thing for about 6 months now, so I'll give you my 1-cent's worth.

So far I've rebuilt a 285 and a 114H for friends (and they're still friends!) and my own 60, 111, 114H, and presently an 85 Sea Boy. Every one of the fiber drag washers was bonded to a brass washer. I've also opened up my Jigmaster and new 113H to make sure everything was in order inside (it wasn't). I replace all the drag washers in the oldies with HT-100's and replace other parts only as necessary. All other parts are cleaned and the reels are lubed a la Tani.

As you see, I've pretty much kept the reels as original as possible, but fully functional to be fished whenever desired. I like fishing with the old reels and to show what a crusty old relic can do with a crusty old relic.

Rob

[broadway]

Rob,
      I here ya on the old, crappy drags!  I can't believe people caught fish with them...and BIG ones at that!  I will use them as well, probably a good reason to put in the 100's.  Kudos on the new "repair shop" you got going on with all those reels.  I myself, have done about 2 dozen in the past 3 months, but they've all been senators from 3/0-16/0 (presently) and 1 newell 235. I like working on these things, but it's tough to keep friends if you screw up their gear Keep it up, and thanks for the advice.  Anyone else with any ideas.  Thanks
Dom

[Irish Jigger]

I imagine you would need the original reel box reflecting the type of spool etc along with the instruction and parts manual,spanner/s and the little lube tube which is no longer made due to the lead content of the tube.

[wish I was fishing]

There are any numbers of plastic polishes online and Ebay, that should bring out the original side plate colours, some of the specialist polishes for Perspex and hard plastics and Bakelite should be suitable? Try them out on the underside first to make sure they don't adversely react with the plates

[Bryan Young]

If the reels are not going to be fished, I would clean out the reel really well and get as many stock parts as possible, which includes those crappy washers.  To an avid collector, it's all about original. 

If the reels are going to be used, then the HT-100s.

I've got some old reels, some one of which dates back to th early 1900s, all original, including the leather thumb pad and drag washers.  Never used, and never to be used.  Will never replace parts with new tech stuff.  Would devalue the reel. 

[broadway]

Alright, great! A wealth of knowledge from the A.T. Crew.  All advice will be taken into serious consideration.  I think the trick for me will be to load the 2/0-9/0 with new drags (saving the old stuff, of course) because any of these might need to be called on someday for my type of fishing. The 1/0 + any bigger than the 9/0 will be kept stock.  As for the boxes, I agree, Jigger.  Thanks again guys
Dom

[Norcal Pescador]

Dom,
Are you trying for a collection of each of the black and "red" sideplate Senators? Wow!
Bryan has a very good point in keeping a collector's collection pure. Good idea in keeping all of the original parts. I saw one of the 113H2 reels during my recent trip to Alaska, and there was no mention of "Made in the U.S.A." anywhere on the reel. Obviously from China. I know I won't be adding any -2s to my stock.

Good luck on the collection and have fun at it!

Rob

[broadway]

Rob,
    That's exactly what I'm doing.  I'm going for the entire right handed senator series for now.  I hope to save enough to go for the lefties after that.  I am a natural lefty, but I fish mainly righties because I drive the boat.  No one I take out knows how to use a lefty so I decided to only use righties on the boat that are used for trolling (I'm usually draggin' the line- trolling.) However, my bait sticks and jiggers are lefties.  Am I correct by saying- there aren't any senators over the 9/0 made for lefties?  Think Novus or Plexus would work on shining up those sideplates?  Thanks
Dom

[Norcal Pescador]

"I am a natural lefty, . . . .  Am I correct by saying- there aren't any senators over the 9/0 made for lefties?  Think Novus or Plexus would work on shining up those sideplates?"

Dom,
To answer your questions first: I'm not familiar with those products, but I would think a cleaner-polish made for synthetics should work. I've got some Gel-Gloss RV cleaner polish that I'll try some day. As far as left-handed Senators, have you checked out the reel spec page or the parts lists at Mysticparts.com/Scott's? They seem to have a decent library of what's been made. Maybe someone else has an idea.

I'm a lefty too, but all my reels are right hand cranking. I let my right hand feel useful now and then.
Rob

"Edited as per Moderators to correct Scott's Bait & Tackle over to their new store name Mystic Reel Parts / www.mysticparts.com"

[broadway]

Hey Rob,

    I live on MysticParts.com...and never noticed the 12/0 and 14/0 lefties, Damn.  I also forgot about the 113mtl and 114mtl (metal senator).  This is no small undertaking evidently.  I guess the lefties are gonna have to wait a WHILE!  Thanks on the cleaning solution ideas.  I'll let ya know how it goes.  This 16/0 that I'm rebuilding is a beast! Thanks
Dom


"Edited as per Moderators to correct Scott's Bait & Tackle over to their new store name Mystic Reel Parts / www.mysticparts.com"

[Norcal Pescador]

There are any numbers of plastic polishes online and Ebay, that should bring out the original side plate colours, some of the specialist polishes for Perspex and hard plastics and Bakelite should be suitable? Try them out on the underside first to make sure they don't adversely react with the plates.

Think Novus or Plexus would work on shining up those sideplates?  Thanks
Dom

I used some regular Gel Gloss on my bakelite-sided Penn 85 and three "newer" Senators. The 85 was dull and had no shine to it before, but has a nice luster to it now. The Senators all look better but there wasn't much increase in gloss as they already had some gloss to them. The chrome looks better on all of the reels after using Gel Gloss.

Bottom line - Gel Gloss cleans light soiling and gives a good sheen to most synthetic surfaces and chrome (I've used it on fiberglass and other materials as well) and leaves a water-resistant finish. That should make after-fishing cleanup easier. I'll keep using it.

I'm not familiar with any others but the Plexus and haven't tried it on reels. Is Gel Gloss is available across the ponds?

Rob

[broadway]

I'm gonna order that gel gloss stuff... looks like that might do the job!  Thanks Norcal
Dom

[Norcal Pescador]

Dom,

Don't know what you have for stores in NYC, but a lot of good grocery stores and most of the big box stores - WalMart, Lowe's, Home Depot, will have it in the section with cleaners and polishes. It's main purpose is polishing fiberglass showers, etc. Good Luck!

Rob