The year was 1960.
D.A.M. has been enjoying a successful run of spinning reels for a decade, or so.
S.W. 68, 250, Standard, Junior 240 & 245, Finessa 280 & 285,
Super 270, and the newly introduced (1960) tiny Microlite 265 (one of the top Microlite reels of all time, still to this day).
However, the 265 Microlite was expensive for the average consumer in Europe and North America. They sold a lot of these —- but needed to sell more reels at a lower price point.
The larger sizes were covered pretty well —- what was needed was a smaller line of ultralight reels at a more affordable price.
They came up with this series of reels that were the 218, 228, 238, and the 248.
The worm drive was eliminated —- and a few other parts were changed out for lighter ones.
However, in typical DQ fashion —- they decided to use stockpiles of previous reel parts for much of this new series.
So, while the line was new —- the aircraft grade aluminum frames, rotors, bails, spools, etc —- stayed the same.
The main difference was a lower price to attract anglers to the market and into the DQ family.
These reels were imported into the North American market —- but only the 238 Cadet, and the 248 Quadrex. The smaller 218 & 228 remained European only.
Here is a set of all (4) reels.
In a few more years —- DQ decided to introduce the (7) reels in the new Finessa Line —- and these were discontinued.
So these were a kind of test market transition from the DQ reels of the 50's to the modern era.
The 238 & 248 came in grey or green wrinkle paint. Herters contracted with DAM to bring out the 248 & 238 as trade reels with the Herters emblem riveted on the side. These were black wrinkle paint.
Best, Fred