Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Penn Senator Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: jgp12000 on December 03, 2021, 10:09:32 PM

Title: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: jgp12000 on December 03, 2021, 10:09:32 PM
I know it's probably already posted here somewhere. I was just curious what are the different sizes and manufacture dates of Senators?
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: RowdyW on December 03, 2021, 11:24:47 PM
Best bet would be to get the book of Penn Reels. available on ebay & other sources.      Rudy
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: Gfish on December 04, 2021, 05:18:16 PM
Rudy! Was wonderin where you was...Hope your health is improving.
JPG, you can also get some generalized info from the Mystic Penn Parts site. Prolly not much in the way of little changes, but more like production/discontinued dates. It'ed be in the "more information" section.
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: foakes on December 04, 2021, 06:15:32 PM
We are fortunate here — to have Michael Cacioppo, as one of our members —

Mike wrote a few books on Penn reels — all of which are considered the Bible or Blue Book on Penn reels.

The Chronological History of the vintage Penns from '32 to '57 is professionally done, lots of photos, and tons of information — the Price Guide Companion is also equally well done.

These are not expensive — and for a Penn-Head...an invaluable resource.

There are many, many variations of Senators — old style, new style, high speeds, Chinese manufactured on some models in recent years, etc.

The basic (10) sizes of the Senators are:

1/0 - 2/0 - 3/0 - 4/0 - 6/0 - 9/0 - 10/0 -12/0 - 14/0 - 16\0.

Of these, the harder finds would be the 1,2, 10, & 16 — since they were discontinued.

Here is a complete set on display in a hallway bookcase outside my upstairs shop.

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: jgp12000 on December 04, 2021, 06:40:38 PM
That's good info guys ! My buddie just got a new boat in Destin,Fla. and may need some new combos. In Destin you don't have to go out too far for red snapper or black bass(3-5 miles). He mostly bottom fishes, Rudy suggested a 113H on an earlier post I made, where does the 113H fall in the size line up ?  I was happy with my little peerless 9 and 109,ya'll are making me want one just to look at, nothing in my 2 acre pond warrants having a reel that large. It's more of a want than a need, does it ever end.... GO DAWGS!!!!              
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: foakes on December 04, 2021, 06:54:59 PM
Thought it was posted —

ALL of these reels were made possible with the help of members —

Jonathan, Dominick, Sal, Randy, Ted, Daron, Alex, and others.

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: jgp12000 on December 04, 2021, 08:53:23 PM
Fred,
the 1st time I looked the pics weren't there, then they were, on my end I suppose? Your collection is impressive as always!
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: foakes on December 04, 2021, 09:13:14 PM
Quote from: jgp12000 on December 04, 2021, 08:53:23 PM
Fred,
the 1st time I looked the pics weren't there, then they were, on my end I suppose? Your collection is impressive as always!

Good...over the past (2) years — I have gotten rid of most of my conventional Penn reels & (15) crates of parts.

Plus a lot of other stuff went bye-bye also.

Just saved these, and maybe (3) other crates of complete Penns.

And a few cosmetic parts like rings and posts, and some cranks — just to keep some of my old-time clients going.

Got a fair amount of new rings.

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: PacRat on December 04, 2021, 09:27:55 PM
Since your buddy is fishing out of Destin, don't overlook the older 113. It will usually be cheaper than the 113H (high speed) because it has smaller gears and drag plus it has bushings rather than bearings. I believe these will really shine in the Gulf since you guys won't need to cast and the lower gears are very useful. Do a search here for 'grouper+special'. Here's one: https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=9979.0

https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=5320.0

https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=9874.0

I dropped in a couple more links just to give you some ideas. I've only fished the Gulf once but I think any of these builds would be well suited for those waters. Out west we like the 113H for casting and Jigging where we need the distance and retrieve speed but dropping bait to the bottom in the (relatively shallow) Gulf the  older (cheaper) Senators will shine with just a couple of upgrades...Bryan's drag and then gear sleeves and then frames, narrowing and double-dogs if you feel you need them.



Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: jgp12000 on December 05, 2021, 03:14:00 PM
Good info Mike ! An EBAY search appears the 113H is a 4/0 ? I read a post once somewhere the x/0 sizes are correlated to line size 4/0 for 40lb ?
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: Swami805 on December 05, 2021, 08:31:19 PM
Not much correlation between the model number and line size, I wouldn't use that as a guide, maybe in pre monofilament days. Made some sense with the old Internationals but not with the senators
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: 1badf350 on December 06, 2021, 12:59:27 AM
This thread will answer most of your questions
https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=12533.0 (https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=12533.0)
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: jgp12000 on December 06, 2021, 10:50:33 AM
Call it sentimental or goofy when I look at Fred's display I always wonder, if those reels could talk? All reels have a history or story of some sort. Who was the first owner or was the reel a gift. Where and when was it purchased? Was it passed down from father to son to grandson. How many and what species did it catch, or did it ever see the water. Was it lost and found by another fisherman that just happened to retrieve from the ocean's floor? Does anyone else ever ponder such as myself.
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: jgp12000 on December 06, 2021, 11:03:12 AM
thanks F350!
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: Wompus Cat on December 06, 2021, 02:22:24 PM
Quote from: jgp12000 on December 06, 2021, 10:50:33 AM
Call it sentimental or goofy when I look at Fred's display I always wonder, if those reels could talk? All reels have a history or story of some sort. Who was the first owner or was the reel a gift. Where and when was it purchased? Was it past down from father to son to grandson. How many and what species did it catch, or did it ever see the water. Was it lost and found by another fisherman that just happened to retrieve from the ocean's floor? Does anyone else ever ponder such as myself.

I have often pondered that very thought and many of my collection show Battle Scars or Bottle Scars ?
and obviously were used to fish (maybe not Catch ) many a day. And some look as though they never got wet.
But all have some History for sure and every once in a while I get one from the Family member  that knew the history and didn't want to keep it or them .
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: Gfish on December 06, 2021, 03:31:00 PM
Yup, same here.
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: jgp12000 on December 09, 2021, 12:50:13 PM
Years ago I would go fishing with my good elderly neighbor, he had a farm pond(honey hole) where we caught 1lb+ bluegill. We always fished on the bottom for these monsters with LA. pinks hooked once so they could "dangle" according to his instructions, it always worked. If you left a pole unattended these guys could easily drag it off the dock. Long story short I caught a pole our other neighbor(passed on) lost this very same way, I still have it.
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: Cuttyhunker on December 09, 2021, 01:40:27 PM
Here's a years of Penn models production list
Title: Re: Senator Models/Manufacture dates
Post by: jgp12000 on December 09, 2021, 04:06:07 PM
thank you CH