One of Penn's most collectible reels, these beauties have been listed for crazy money on the big site lately. It's not uncommon at all to see boxed examples listed at $300-$500. Although these reels were manufactured over 60 years ago, many show up for sale in great condition. I feel that is because they were a "pretty" reel...wives bought them as Father's Day gifts...and Dad tucked it into his sock drawer for fear of scratching it. Some got fished hard though, like this one I scored recently.
These pics show the reel's condition as I received it. The chrome is shot and the handle knob is loose, but those Moss Green side plates are grade A, and that was all I was concerned about.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1756/27517793067_190a872216_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HVDTb4) (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/894/40579890960_4bab3d6169_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24PUxNq)
A while back I had procured a super clean 209 with a cracked tail plate for 10 bucks, just the donor I'd need for this project. The pic below shows the chrome crisis a little clearer. That donor bling is just what the doctor ordered.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/877/40579890330_8e5aa88b5f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24PUxBy)
Same story on the bottom side...a lot of rash to get rid of.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1739/41664500904_89d8b499fe_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26tKsxS)
Popping the head plates off the reels hammered home the fact that my donor has never been wet. Under the hood of the greenie was just about what I expected, lots of smelly old grease, limbered up by the famous "eBay oil bath".
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1736/28514586168_cd3f103c96_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KrJH31)
The greenie's parts could be cleaned up fairly well, but they just won't "pop" enough for what I'm expecting when finished. Look at that dog spring...ouch!
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1740/41664499404_42dba2810d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26tKs71)
I never cleaned the donor head plate or components at all. What you see is exactly how the parts fell out. I'm thinking these bits and pieces will work much better for what I have in mind.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1722/28514585508_28789ff59d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KrJGQC)
The donor bridge and gears mounted on the green head plate. This illustrates just how blue the green actually is. Now compare that Penn blue grease on the eccentric jack to the green plate...hardly a difference! Be that as it may, nobody was ever gonna call these reels a "bluey"! :D
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1729/41664498274_f1edc03761_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26tKrLw)
All slapped back together she is stunning. I opted for a cream/lemon colored handle knob. Whether you hate Penn levelwind reels or not, it's hard to argue the beauty of one. Especially the Moss Green Coloromic 209...the '57 Bel Air of fishing reels! 8)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/874/40579883560_e2a72a53b2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24PUvAQ)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1743/40579885120_ddd1132c6b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24PUw4J)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1731/40579885030_c7336f7101_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24PUw3b)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1736/28514585008_5e4a9c47d0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KrJGG1)
You did good on that one!
Ron
Great Work Mo.
You turned that eyesore into a looker. :o
Wow! That is a beautiful 209.
Saw a green 209 a day or two on the big auction for about $350. Also there was a green 109 that no one had bidded on. Only green Penn I own is a Jigmaster with a green handle knob.
Mike: You knocked the Greene out of the park, great job! :o
Joe
Hey Mo,
You just turned $60 in reels to one reel worth about $150 give or take (get the box and it's $200) ...not to mention the fine restoration you provided that reel.
People list those greenies for big money but if you look at advanced listings on ebay they usually fetch $200 (boxed) or so. You couldn't have picked a better handle color. Lemon/lime!
Thanks for sharing another super rescue with us,
Dom
Beautiful job Moe, Sweet reel!
About as good as it gets mo! Nice work,
..............Lou
Wow, looks like you won that gamble. Thanks for the inspiration. Great job. Very nice now. Green must be very limited with these? Who would have thought to invest in these? 🤷♀️
Classic Salmon reel!
I finished a New in the Box Maroon 209 yesterday. Mine has a 3 pc. Spool & HT 100 Drag washers in it. This is the way I bought it 2 yrs. ago.
Mike
Mike that reel looks like crap. You can send it to me and I will set it next to my 9 and 109 :)
Fantastic work. These are some of my favorites and I'll nab a 209 greenie one of these days. Great post of the rebuild too.
John
Beautiful reel Mike. Good think you had the donor, I have a hard time buying donors, the OCD in me want to fix them all.....Bill
Turned it into a beauty of a shelf queen, I Fai ever run across a box Ill know who to send it to.
Thanks everyone for the good words, glad y'all enjoyed the reel. 8)
Quote from: Bill B (Tarfu) on May 28, 2018, 05:51:37 PM
Beautiful reel Mike. Good think you had the donor, I have a hard time buying donors, the OCD in me want to fix them all.....Bill
The donor was reassembled Bill...from all the crusty parts...but it is fully functional. The cracked tail plate is held fast by the screws, it could be fished trouble free for years. Someone will give me my $10 back and fish the hell out of this thing. It even comes in this lovely patinated box. :P
Great work as usual Mo. Funny how you compared it to a Chevy. Sometimes my 2/0 reminds me of a Harley. Must be all the chrome.
Greg
Sweet reel Mo. Looking at the shine on those plates, I'd say that reel was never abused, just lightly used and possibly put away damp
About 10 years ago I got into the green Penns and did this exact rebuild to (23) 209's, and several green #9 and 109's. I always doubled my money no problem. These plates are prone to cracks and chipping, so always watch out for that on these greenies from the 50's
Quote from: Maxed Out on May 28, 2018, 10:18:15 PM
Sweet reel Mo. Looking at the shine on those plates, I'd say that reel was never abused, just lightly used and possibly put away damp
About 10 years ago I got into the green Penns and did this exact rebuild to (23) 209's, and several green #9 and 109's. I always doubled my money no problem. These plates are prone to cracks and chipping, so always watch out for that on these greenies from the 50's
I think the days of making money on these reels is coming to a close. I got really lucky on this one by getting that mint donor so cheap. If you had to pay market prices for all the parts, you can buy one completed for the same money and save the headache.
The shine on those plates is real too, there's no oil or armour all on them, they are dry. I looked the plates over real well in the eBay pics, and I knew there were no cracks, but I didn't see the shine until I unwrapped the reel. I think this reel was never stored in sunlight...that seems to be harder on plates than anything.
Guys the Green 209 is Mo's reel not mine - I wish that I had the Green one. I just happened to do a Maroon 209 at the same time. I do not credit for Mo's reel.
Mike