Was looking through some of the boxes and bins --
Realized that there were quite a few older reels from the 20's through 60's.
Baitcaster, fly, conventional, spinners, salt, and fresh -- maybe 800 to 1000.
They are worth very little as they are --
Idea:
Make desk, table, den, or office lamps out of these -- or bookends.
Get a complete offset lamp kit for around $6.50, add a lampshade that looks like the outdoors, use a solid base made out of broken granite counter-top material, or 8/4" stained and lacquered finished Oak, or?
Seems to me the market could be around $75 to $100 for these.
Might be fun -- what other ideas can you come up with?
Best,
Fred
That's alot of old reels there. Fred, what is that reel in the bottom picture right-side, second box up far right? A dam Garcia, or fox?
An old Sears Trolling reel, John -- obviously, made by some other company such as Pflueger, OC, or who knows -- maybe A. J. Fox Gun Co? Spool looks like True-Temper, though.
Sears sourced many quality companies over the years -- and just rebadged the reels as per contract agreement to provide. I even have an old JC Higgins, Sears Roebuck, or Ted Williams spinner, somewhere -- that is made by Alcedo in Italy.
No handle, busted tailplate -- but a good display item for a lamp -- with a quick squirt, wipe down, and a replacment crank.
Might be from mid 50's to late 60's?
Best,
Fred
I am sure a few of those reels are surely treasures... Ted Williams, and Alcedo spinners are cool. So are some of the earliest Shakespeare casting reels. A few of the regional named trade reels produced for hardware stores (i.e. Arrowhead) have some cool history, and collectable value as well.
Fred,
I have access to pieces of countertop material. Some pretty unique.
This particular piece is polyester, but pretty neat.
(http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p569/ddyer3/IMG_3467_zpscayakaef.jpg) (http://s1156.photobucket.com/user/ddyer3/media/IMG_3467_zpscayakaef.jpg.html)
This is kind of odd ball but drill holes in spool like the areo-spool thread and wire some LED lights inside. 1 reel for a night light or something and multiple reels for a candelabra or chandeliers. I've seen all kinds of stuff made out of antlers, seashells and the like, it's not that much of a stretch. Hey they might even provide some useful light.
I've heard there's an EBay Expert on the forums somewhere.
take all the worst, most incomplete & useless ones & make one REALLY BIG "THING"... a backyard fountain, a statue of a fisherman, A THRONE (maybe a torch could mimic Dragon Fire, LOL)... Swami's chandelier idea is pretty good, if you really THINK BIG!!!
it may go against the grain, for such a handy, practical guy as yourself, but "BIG & interesting-looking" should supercede "functional" to enter the Modern Art territory
THINK BIG! If you look at them as a mass of gears, wheels and metal, Maybe a Rube Goldberg, Jackson Pollack kind of thing. Just what you need is another project in all your "spare" time right?
I am always trying to think big -- but sometimes it hurts too much!
However, I have thought about this for some time, now.
Here are my parameters so far:
-- Must be in the $75 to $95 price range
-- Must be practical as a light
-- Must have a heavy base of 2" hardwood, or rough broken granite for that natural look
-- Marketing would be online, craft shows, and other opportunities
-- a reel would be fastened to a slightly raised area under the light -- so that the handle, spool, and clicker all
operate smoothly
-- Must be non-labor intensive to a point -- a sharp little project that I might be able to knock out 5 or 10 a day
of -- that would hopefully be a desirable item for some folks
-- These reels would be clean -- but have the Patina of age on them
-- Must be easy for a wife to buy for someone special who likes fishing -- for their den, cabin, office, etc..
Found another few hundred this afternoon -- that are from the 20's through maybe the 60's.
Mostly US made -- no Asian stuff -- Pflueger, Sumco, 4 Brothers, OC, True Temper, South Bend, Bronson, Shakespeare, Johnson, and many others.
Conventional, baitcasters, old pillars, fly, spin, spincasters, automatic fly reels, etc..
Around 500 so far -- this does not get into the Mitchells, Quicks, Penns, Abus -- and others that I keep separate.
Most women would not know the difference, anyway -- except for Aiala & Mo -- so, basically a nice light with a good old reel.
This is going to happen -- so I will start.
Figured out that these reels are doing no one any good just in bins.
Best,
Fred
Fred,
Call me about base material.
Let's see here, just this week,
Granite , onyx , quartz crystal , limestone , marble , volcanic tuff , ummmmmmmm I know I missed something😁
I throw away 3-4 tons a month of stuff that will work for you......
Best,
Jonathan
That sounds perfect, Jonathan...
I will call you tomorrow --
Should be a couple of lamps in this for you --
PGE wasn't scheduled to drop trees on our property for a couple of months -- but they came by yesterday, and started at 6:10 this morning. Worked until 4:00 -- seven guys -- super professional -- tree climbers and directional tension line fallers. So the tree is safely dropped.
We had already dropped 38 that we were responsible for -- because they were dead, but not close to any power lines -- and we will have more to do.
PGE dropped 22 out of 33 marked today -- up to 145' tall and 5' at the base.
They will be back tomorrow to get the larger and tougher positioned ones.
They are limbing and chipping -- but we will be handling the wood.
Not much work for me today -- but a lot of supervision and watching so the trees are positioned the best possible for cutting into rounds and splitting.
Glad they are doing it now both for fire safety and also so their heavy equipment doesn't tear up our meadows come October or November..
Best,
Fred
It's about time PG&E spent money on something worthwhile, instead of useless commercials on TV. Dominick
We have dropped 28 and PG&E has made a huge mess with 7 out of 11 down. Left massive slash piles and trash from their lunch just thrown on the ground. That was 2 weeks ago. They left the tech trees closest to the house standing and those are the trees that are hazarding the 12 kv line.
Hope I get your crew next.
I'm calling PG&E again this morning.
Call me any time Fred and I will send some photos of pieces for you to select from.
Most of the material is 2 cm thick,perfect for lamp bases.
Best
JT
Thanks, Jonathan --
Plus, everyone for your comments & ideas.
As to the art forms -- experience is a cruel teacher...and I have somehow learned to run all ideas through the War Department. Then it will become a team effort (great idea, Honey...sez I).
She sez I have good taste -- and it is mostly in my mouth...
Best,
Fred
How about a lighted shadow box table with a glass top or one with a large rim so that you can admire the reels and take them out to handle them if you wanted to. Also the light will add a glow to the room while displaying the reels.
Now, if you wanted to make a lamp, I would suggest affixing the reel(s) to the base and use the reel to lower and raise the lamp shade(s) for more or less light via spectra. The spectra could be routed up the post via old guides. You may also use portions of old fishing rods for this as well.
Sounds like a fun project Fred.
Too bad you don't have a mill. I can only imagine how many good planks you could get from that wood. Not to mention the burly wood from the base.
Quote from: Bryan Young on August 18, 2016, 01:50:45 PM
How about a lighted shadow box table with a glass top or one with a large rim so that you can admire the reels and take them out to handle them if you wanted to. Also the light will add a glow to the room while displaying the reels.
Now, if you wanted to make a lamp, I would suggest affixing the reel(s) to the base and use the reel to lower and raise the lamp shade(s) for more or less light via spectra. The spectra could be routed up the post via old guides. You may also use portions of old fishing rods for this as well.
Sounds like a fun project Fred.
Too bad you don't have a mill. I can only imagine how many good planks you could get from that wood. Not to mention the burly wood from the base.
Unfortunately, Bryan --
No room for a shadow box table -- however, the War Department has given me her "official approval" to install a lighted LED vertical display, controlled by a dimmer -- at the end of the upstairs hallway -- as you enter either the guest room or the inside reel shop.
This will include (10) Senators -- constructed of Oak, with some plex, a mirror in back, and hung into the wall studs with a French Cleat system -- since just the 10 reels weigh 49 pounds.
A big thanks to everyone who helped to make this Senator collection possible --
Will need to ask advice from Daron on the Plex option.
Part of this little lamp project is keeping it simple to build, attractive, and affordable.
Thinking about pricing them at $95 each -- or a pair for $150.
Have a trophy shop fellow who will do a really professional placard in any color needed --
Something like --
JOHNSON CENTURY --or-- MITCHELL 300
Circa: 1960 Circa: 1959
USA FRANCEPayment for this display privilege was rendered in advance by installing two ceiling fans, dimmer controlled track lighting, making a shelf by the guest bed out of Oak, rewiring the guest bedroom with new receptacles, repairing a 87 year old door, changing out the headboard on our bed, and installing two sets of mini blinds.
The opportunity must be redeemed within a short period of time -- otherwise, additional HD's will be added -- or window of opportunity will evaporate.
Even with all of this loss of Pine trees -- we can find things to be grateful for -- the flowers and deer show us this.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: Bryan Young on August 18, 2016, 01:50:45 PM
How about a lighted shadow box table with a glass top or one with a large rim so that you can admire the reels and take them out to handle them if you wanted to. Also the light will add a glow to the room while displaying the reels.
Sounds like a fun project Fred.
Too bad you don't have a mill. I can only imagine how many good planks you could get from that wood. Not to mention the burly wood from the base.
Taking this one step further, what if you could totally enclose each reel in a cube of lucite or some other clear plastic? Maybe with a little engraved sticker with some reel information. You could then use that as a gift, or incorporate it into something like a lamp or a bookend - but the lucite protects and preserves the reel forever; and the reel is available for inspection from all sides (except the inside). Variations could be made containing one reel and both open halves of a second, identical reel, to show internal workings. I know the technology is available to do this. I don't know how much anyone would pay for one or how much it would cost to make one or have one made, but I could see these becoming popular gifts if they can be sold for <$150 or so. Glad to help with a prototype.
Sid
Hi Sid --
Thought I saw you had a need for a rare thumb-slot screw on that old Portage Pastime LW.
Now, I cannot find your inquiry?
Did you find what you needed already?
Anyway -- I could not find a screw in any of the bins or drawers, or other reels -- so I took one off of this nice little ruby handled reel -- and just substituted a similar German Silver regular slotted.
If still needed -- just let me know, and I will send it along.
Best,
Fred
This lamp idea is really sounding cool.
Can't wait to see how the project turns out.
Fred, you seem to have a lot of old rods too and those are probably even harder to get rid of than the reels. You could use the rod handle and, perhaps, part of the blank as the upright for the lamp. You would have to bore a hole through the rod handle or do something ingenious to hide the lamp wire. The reel would be mounted in the reel seat so you could still twirl the handle.
-steve
Quote from: foakes on August 18, 2016, 05:32:44 PM
Hi Sid --
Thought I saw you had a need for a rare thumb-slot screw on that old Portage Pastime LW.
Now, I cannot find your inquiry?
Did you find what you needed already?
Anyway -- I could not find a screw in any of the bins or drawers, or other reels -- so I took one off of this nice little ruby handled reel -- and just substituted a similar German Silver regular slotted.
If still needed -- just let me know, and I will send it along.
Best,
Fred
It was just above, Fred. I would very much appreciate if you could send that screw, or one like it, my way. I saw several old Pflueger/Four Bros reels in your recent pics with these screws - just letting you know you have several to choose from. Thanks.
Sid
Here is the first batch of reels for the lamps -- 453...
99% are from the early1900's -- up through about mid 60's...
All US, French, Swiss -- and a few older Japanese I thought were neat from the 50's or 60's.
There are some pretty neat reels in here --
These have just been in bins for many years --
163 old baitcasters -- Shakespeare, Pflueger, Bronson, South Bend, Langley, OC, Sears, and others
51 open face spinners -- Bache Brown, Shakespeare, Nyolite, Zebco, Sears, Airex, and many others,
64 closed face spin casters -- too many brands
36 fly -- Assorted brands
26 automatic fly -- Assorted brands
113 conventional salts -- OC, Coxe, Pflueger, Shakespeare, Coit, 4 Brothers, True Temper, and many more
If these reels could talk -- what stories they could tell about the lives of the anglers who treasured them -- and the fishing trips that made lifetimes of memories.
Best,
Fred
While waiting for the first lamp kits to get here --
Was going through just a couple of the boxes -- some interesting names -- most I have not heard of...
Front Row, Starting at Left:
Shakespere Samson 2202
Pflueger Alpine 2657
4 Brothers Sumco 2257
OC Fortesque -- plus reads German Silver
4 Brothers Sumco 2257
Back Row, Starting at Left:
JA Coxe 1315L
OC St. Lucie
Pflueger Tempco
Pflueger Pontiac
OC 110
Pflueger Interocean 1885
Abbey & Imbrie Seabright
A. H. Fox Gun Co.
OC -- no markings
OC Jones Beach
Tried polishing one of the brass 4 Brothers -- turned out almost like new.
I think there may be a few interesting reels in the old baitcasters also.
Best,
Fred
Fred if you get some time would you segregate the AH Fox Gun Co. reel and post a photo of it. I never heard of the company until I read Mike's book. I'd like to see a clos-up of that reel. Dominick
What happens to those huge stumps, Fred? ??? Do you just leave them to slowly rot away? I can't begin to imagine how hard it'd be to dig them out. :P
~A~
Quote from: Dominick on August 20, 2016, 08:26:45 PM
Fred if you get some time would you segregate the AH Fox Gun Co. reel and post a photo of it. I never heard of the company until I read Mike's book. I'd like to see a clos-up of that reel. Dominick
This is a pretty rough example, Dominick -- but it would make a nice lamp base, I think.
Had one years ago in much better condition that I sold to a collector.
Headplate is cracked -- and looks like someone made a thumb drag out of whatever leather they had laying around.
Handle is possibly not original either -- but I would not know.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: Aiala on August 20, 2016, 08:27:46 PM
What happens to those huge stumps, Fred? ??? Do you just leave them to slowly rot away? I can't begin to imagine how hard it'd be to dig them out. :P
~A~
Not sure yet, Aiala --
For now, it is just getting the trees down safely -- to where we can handle them.
So far we have dropped exactly 75 Ponderosas -- which is considered a species of Yellow Pine. Possibly have another 10 or 15 to do.
Then it is a steady race to limb, cut into 16" rounds, split & stack, and clean up the forest -- before first snow generally about November 15.
Aesthetically, and ideally, I would like the stumps gone -- practically and financially, they may end up just being cut as low as possible for now.
Some of the stumps and logs are right at 48".
I worked since 6:15 this morning cutting rounds and clean up. Just called it quits a few minutes ago -- bushed.
One tree close to our house -- tree guys said it was 180' -- I think more like 140' -- with a 50" base -- took 3 very experienced guys all day yesterday to get it down to 35'.
They came back this morning to drop the rest. There is a LP tank, power lines on either side, plus our house, our shops and garage, a septic system, a couple of apple trees -- every limb and chunk of trunk needed to be pulleyed down.
These guys were really good -- PGE had another company working up here, the story is: they would camp out, get drunk, and were not very professional. After they dropped a giant tree on a house -- PGE hired this other company to do the more dangerous and technical cutting -- that we were lucky enough to get. Every day for the last 4 days -- they said they would be on site by 6:30.
Every day, they got here by 6:10 -- and were working by 6:20.
They have good safety equipment -- and 4 of the 6 guys have been doing the same work, for the same company, for up to 36 years. They are sober, alert, neat, careful, and polite. All good things.
We are fortunate to have these dead trees down. If we needed to evacuate because of a wildland fire -- we could likely just stay on scene. The Roman Candles around our house are gone now.
We still have smaller pines, mature cedars, fir, oak, and manzanita -- so it is unfortunate about the Ponderosas -- but we needed to get rid of some of the old big ones for safety sake -- and just being good stewards of the land.
Best,
Fred
That is some Giant wood Fred.
I have a dead ash in my back yard, probably 60 feet tall. Problem is, it is a split tree and right next to power lines on a downhill slant.
I hired a guy to cut it down next week. I'm afraid if I pull on the top after notching it, the top will break off. It has been dead for several years.
He is only charging $100 to drop it and another $300 to haul it off. Money well spent.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on August 20, 2016, 09:41:37 PM
That is some Giant wood Fred.
I have a dead ash in my back yard, probably 60 feet tall. Problem is, it is a split tree and right next to power lines on a downhill slant.
I hired a guy to cut it down next week. I'm afraid if I pull on the top after notching it, the top will break off. It has been dead for several years.
He is only charging $100 to drop it and another $300 to haul it off. Money well spent.
That sounds good, Daron --
Make sure your Homeowner's is current, and covers this type of potential issue.
And also, remember, there will most likely be no issues -- but if there was an issue, you just hired him to help YOU -- as a hired labor helper -- not to do the entire job.
Because he may not be licensed or insured -- so you need to protect yourself with your insurance, if necessary.
Best,
Fred
Cutting down a tree that close to powerlines requires a licensed arborist if anything goes wrong.
You can be fined for not doing otherwise if someone calls the law.
That $400 will be money well spent while I'm at work.
He is Licensed and insured and has some serious credentials. I would do it no other way.
I am not scared of cutting that tree down by myself, I have just weighed the options and it will only cost me one day's work.
It would take me several days to get rid of all that wood on a double trunk tree of that size since I don't burn it.
I cleared out the fence row in the back of my property and it took me two months and dozens of trips to the local mulching company.
I'm not scared of work, but it just makes sense to me know.
That is a good price for the work involved.
I am nowhere near the lumberjack as you Fred, I just know how to work a chainsaw when I have to. ;)
I agree Daron. Actually, anything you get done on your property, make sure the contractor is fully licenced and insured.
Fred thanks for the photos. Dominick
Starting to clean, service, and restore these 40 first...
Mostly old knuckle-busters -- most have no star drags.
They do not have to be perfect for the lamp project -- just clean, serviced, attractive, and operable.
What do some of you think -- clean the spool and install the old linen or old fashioned line -- or display with no line -- or a combination?
Best,
Fred
Why not try some both ways. I was thinking mounting the reel on an old rod handle vertically with the lamp fixture on top would look great. An old linen fishing line running from the reel to the light pull on/off switch (where you just pull the line to turn the lamp on or off, would be pretty cool. Mounting the light hardware to the end of the handle wouldn't be difficult, but running the cord through the handle might prove problematic on solid wood handles. I guess you could use a short line directly to the arbor, where rotating the handle partway would turn off or on the switch as well. Just thinking out loud here.
I thought the OC 112 with red sides is a rare find and there is Fred with 2 in that old box of reels. Dominick
I would love to come across an AH Fox reel. My bird gun is a 1920 AH Fox and I've always been fascinated by the brand. Your collection is always a sight to behold.
Quote from: spc7669 on August 23, 2016, 11:55:23 PM
I would love to come across an AH Fox reel. My bird gun is a 1920 AH Fox and I've always been fascinated by the brand. Your collection is always a sight to behold.
Those fox reels are around. I would like one as well, even though they are not particularly valuable, they have been selling for more then I have been willing to spend.
Quote from: Tightlines666 on August 24, 2016, 12:04:15 AM
Quote from: spc7669 on August 23, 2016, 11:55:23 PM
I would love to come across an AH Fox reel. My bird gun is a 1920 AH Fox and I've always been fascinated by the brand. Your collection is always a sight to behold.
Those fox reels are around. I would like one as well, even though they are not particularly valuable, they have been selling for more then I have been willing to spend.
You are right about that. The ones I find are on vintage shotgun sites and they are way overpriced. Fox also made some toys and an automobile. Those bring a fortune. I'll trip over one someday.
After doing a few reels this morning -- did this old Pflueger 2657 LW for the lamp project.
No drag, no A/R, -- 25 seconds of free spool with no line on the spool -- with a LW.
Best,
Fred