This is 1bad350's shot of a first year Penn Long Beach he posted in the "Penn reels as you find them" thread.
The reel almost looks like the day it was boxed in 1933 except the handle. I've seen this on other reels displayed in collections, everything cleaned, polished, and made spiffy except the handle. I know some collectors love the patina and leave the old stuff "as found". Is there any reason the old wood handles are ignored when the elbow grease is applied to the rest of the reel?
Originality I would guess. A difference between cleaning and restoring. But it could be refinished like new easily. Purists would shrink in horror.
Wood finishing is completely different then other aspects of cleaning up a reel. I know a few people that aren't interested in diving in.
The Man
Absolutely no refinishing was done to that reel. What you see is exactly how I received it. All I did was clean it.
Chris,
Never said a word about refinishing the reel, just making it look all spiffy with the wood being pretty much left as is. I see that quite a bit at the shows and on some of the web and auction sites. I'm guessing that cleaning the handle up would be avoided as it may, unlike the rest of the reel be destructive in that "weak" paint may flake off in the process. As the serious collector you are would you view a cleaned up "10" reel as being devalued by bringing the handle up to the level of the rest of that reel?
When you polish anything, be it metal, plastic or wood, material is being removed that can never be put back. Luckily, there are no reel police so you are free to do what you wish.
-steve
If there were, you would be the Chief. ::)
Bob,
I selectively chose the pics posted of that reel. In actuality its not perfect. Here are some close ups
Yeah...maybe not "perfect", but pretty darn nice !! I look a hell of a lot worse that it does, and I'm not that old ! ;)
Quote from: 1badf350 on May 21, 2020, 10:41:42 PM
If there were, you would be the Chief. ::)
The issue of conservation versus restoration will never be resolved by collectors, curators, archivists and the like. There is the same argument with everything from fine art to motorcycles and cathedrals to fishing reels.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on May 21, 2020, 08:03:12 PM
When you polish anything, be it metal, plastic or wood, material is being removed that can never be put back. Luckily, there are no reel police so you are free to do what you wish.
-steve
Steve when a new Penn reel left the factory do you believe the chrome was polished ?
If so the removal of material started then. What we do is clean off the corrosion and give it a polish. This helps to possibly save a reel that would otherwise disintegrate into a pile of dust over time.
Regards
Alan
Quote from: AC49 on May 22, 2020, 09:52:23 AM
Steve when a new Penn reel left the factory do you believe the chrome was polished ?
If so the removal of material started then. What we do is clean off the corrosion and give it a polish. This helps to possibly save a reel that would otherwise disintegrate into a pile of dust over time.
Regards
Alan
I think what you describe would be considered conservation Alan. Stripping the paint off the handle and refinishing it would probably be considered restoration. Replacing or re-plating the pitted posts would be restoration.
Since the relative merits of conservation versus restoration can never be resolved, some just punt and say it depends on the intent and situation. If the intent is to have reels to study their construction, evolution, durability, etc. then you would want to conserve them to slow further deterioration but not modify, refinish or replace anything. If the intent is to create an attractive display then restoration may be in order.
Personally, I think a well-worn and crusty old reel has a beauty of its own.
-steve
Thanks Steve
Personally, I think a well-worn but conservatively restored old reel has the ultimate beauty – but as they say, beauty is in eye of the beer holder !!
;D ;D
Regards
Alan
Yes I have seen some beautiful beers, till I dismantled them, cheer Don.
:D
Usage wear is part of the history of the reel in regards to wooden knobs. I guess heavy metal corrosion and from lack of maintenance and abuse damage is, too, but the wear on the knob is considered "honest" wear. "Honest wear" is a term is see often in regards to all sorts of things vintage.
I think it would've been interesting if Penn had made a percentage of their conventionals with un-plated brass parts. Aged brass develops some nice patinas and I'm assuming the external corrosion problem would be reduced considerably. In that case the issue might be whether to polish or not, but even if you did, a patina would eventually develop again.
Quote from: wfjord on May 22, 2020, 08:31:19 PM
I think it would've been interesting if Penn had made a percentage of their conventionals with un-plated brass parts. Aged brass develops some nice patinas and I'm assuming the external corrosion problem would be reduced considerably. In that case the issue might be whether to polish or not, but even if you did, a patina would eventually develop again.
Sometimes you will see a reel come by at the auction where someone has removed all the plating and left everything raw brass. Not to be confused with the older reels that were made unplated. Doesn't look half-bad if you're willing to keep up with it.
-steve