Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Other Reel Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: Tightlines667 on January 09, 2014, 07:40:35 AM

Title: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Tightlines667 on January 09, 2014, 07:40:35 AM
Has anyone ever heard if the Modena reels from Italy?

Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Robert Janssen on January 09, 2014, 08:11:27 AM
Yes. Why?

Looks like you've got a 6/0 in a cradle there?

.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Shark Hunter on January 09, 2014, 05:38:50 PM
funky cold medina? :D
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Tightlines667 on January 09, 2014, 06:08:14 PM
I'd never seen them before and ran across this one for sale locally.  Externally they look a little like cross between an Everol and the old style FinNors.  I assume they don't have a hydraulic fluid filled chamber.  It'd be interesting to service her. 
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: BMITCH on January 09, 2014, 06:32:12 PM
Quote from: Tightlines666 on January 09, 2014, 06:08:14 PM
I'd never seen them before and ran across this one for sale locally.  Externally they look a little like cross between an Everol and the old style FinNors.  I assume they don't have a hydraulic fluid filled chamber.  It'd be interesting to service her. 

What were they asking for it? What about that rod it's attached to?
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Bryan Young on January 09, 2014, 06:43:57 PM
That's a collector piece right there.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Robert Janssen on January 09, 2014, 06:53:26 PM
Quote
I assume they don't have a hydraulic fluid filled chamber.  

No, not at all. Quite simple, mechanically speaking. You shouldn't have any trouble with servicing it, although new parts may be a little tricky to come by.

They were and are still quite well known, and manufactured around 1967-1972 by a fellow named J.C. Rosetti and a company called OFMER. The torch was passed a few times, and the reels were sold for a time with the name Mitchell President. Some of the heritage remains in the reel business even to this day.

They aren't exactly rare, but a little unusual nowadays. Some collector interest for unusual or special examples. They come up on Ebay from time to time.

.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Tightlines667 on January 09, 2014, 08:25:34 PM
Gladiator reel & custom 'Blue Royal' pole ... $625obo.    It's in town here, so if someone wants it and seller is not willing to ship to ML, I might be able to help out.

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/spo/4278994119.html

Like I said, I'm not familiar w/ this setup or how 'rare' it actually is.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: BMITCH on January 09, 2014, 09:04:27 PM
Tightlines! Thanks for the link and posting it.
Bob
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Shark Hunter on January 09, 2014, 09:45:24 PM
Yes, Thanks for sharing John. That a cool looking setup. 8)
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Robert Janssen on January 10, 2014, 08:34:25 AM
Just noticed that the seller says it has dual speeds.

No... no, i'm quite certain that it is not a two-speed, and feel quite sure that Gladiator didn't make any. Not 100% sure on that, but still...

(part of a longer story... I know a fellow who was going to write a book about them; I provided a great deal of the information for him. And I just don't recall any two-speeds being mentioned.)

.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Shark Hunter on January 10, 2014, 05:14:24 PM
I don't see a shift lever.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: JoMa on January 21, 2014, 10:47:52 AM
My friend has one under the name Mitchell President 6.0 and I have serviced it once when a cow pulled so hard that it broke his rod holder and his rod and reel went for a dive ;D
It's built like a tank, and the interesting thing is that all bearings on it are doubled (as far as I can remember, 6 or 7 years passed since) so the spool is not on 2 but on 4 bearings. The drag is not carbon fiber, but it's made from similar material to that used on disk brake pads. I found some info about it on the net and, I think that I got a schematics from Mitchell maybe, but I lost it when my HDD went dead.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: OldSchool on February 24, 2014, 09:31:52 AM
This line of reels were made in Italy by J.C. Rossetti Co. who was in business from 1967 - 1970. The plant and the reel line were then sold to Mitchell of France who then offered it for three years as the "Mitchell President. I believe in its day it was approx $5,000 new. There about but would consider them hard to find and ive seen them advertised for sale for 300-500ea
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Shark Hunter on February 24, 2014, 09:35:06 AM
Wow! Funky Cold Medina, like I thought! ;D
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: OldSchool on February 24, 2014, 01:12:43 PM
(http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a424/Snapplizard/IMG_0003_zpsc8ce03e8.jpg)
(http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a424/Snapplizard/IMG_0001_zps893d232f.jpg)
(http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a424/Snapplizard/IMG_0002_zpsae65ab0a.jpg)
(http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a424/Snapplizard/IMG_zps5b3da5e1.jpg)
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: OldSchool on February 24, 2014, 01:28:11 PM
And as good as the day it was made for a 40+ year old reel.

(http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a424/Snapplizard/f003ce82-234d-4759-a9a4-e951eca6103f_zps6b89c210.jpg)
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: edo68 on February 08, 2015, 08:41:54 PM
Hello everybody from Milano Italy.
I need your help! I have just bought one of this old and strong Gladiator 6/0 that was Made in Modena a little town in northern Italy ( very near to the place where is built the Ferrari)
I think my model is older than the previous one.
My reels has a problem , the backstop doesn' t work at all, so I have opened the left side and I have founded that the machinery is under a black Nylon shield.
After I have removed the three inox screws I can' t remove the black nylon plate, so Someone could help me? How I have to do to remove the black plastic cover over the dogs of the backstop machinery?
I have left the left plate under a solvent for a week, and i have warmed it but nothing.

Thanks and sorry for my English!!

Edoardo
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Tightlines667 on February 08, 2015, 09:15:17 PM
Thsnks for giving us a look inside of these unique reel!  Can you show a photo of the outer side of the right drive  plate fully dissasembled?  I suspect that plate may be attached with 3 screws and am wondering if you access them from the outside of the drive plate.  You may want to call the manufacturer for advice here?
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Alto Mare on February 08, 2015, 09:40:05 PM
Benvenuto Edoardo! I'm not sure, but from your pic it looks like the (3) screws have threads under the spacer. Try grabbing gently with needle nose pliers by the smooth post and see if the screw gives a little. :-\
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: edo68 on February 08, 2015, 10:09:42 PM
Grazie del benvenuto.
I have already written to the factory but in the last 40 years the property had changed several times and now the production is totally different and from another place.
I hope at Gladiator ( Now in the family of Italcanna) someone remebers something of the old time.
In the pic I have left the 3 inox screws just removed from their holes, up side down on the black plastic cover near each hole.
The plastic cover dose n' t seem to have anything else that stops it in place, but I can' t separate it from the alluminium left side.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Tightlines667 on July 08, 2015, 05:41:36 AM
Found another one...

Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: edo68 on July 08, 2015, 05:44:49 PM
No more problems, I have boiled the two parts in hot water and I have openbsd them ( before i have done some  x ray to the parts in my Dentist Office.....)
Now it works like a swiss watch ;D
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Thad loves boats on March 14, 2016, 04:49:54 AM
Hey this is my first post on this website. Amazing info already thanks a lot for helping me service my reels. I have a classic gladiator 4/0 that I used the schematic above to help me out and for some reason the reel is still not functioning properly. I think I have a problem with a brass ring and which direction it should be facing, my fault for not taking a picture or remembering. The first time I put it together, everything worked but the handle would get harder to crank the more drag pressure was on. Now the when the drag turns, the handle turns with it. The anti-reverse must not be engaged for some reason. I will try and post some pictures of the inside below. I hope I get this reel running, cought some small makos with it last year before it started acting screwy, it needed to be looked at. Thanks!

Quote from: OldSchool on February 24, 2014, 01:12:43 PM
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Thad loves boats on March 14, 2016, 05:35:20 AM
Never mind folks, had the anti reverse backwards. Duh. Pumped on using his reel for another 50 years!
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Bryan Young on March 14, 2016, 03:16:34 PM
Reel looks similar to a Dual.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: foakes on March 14, 2016, 03:23:45 PM
Assuming that reel is going to get cleaned up, serviced, and lubed for "Salt Ready"?

Got to take care of these old soldiers...

Even though they are built like tanks -- unless cleaned and serviced regularly (once a season) -- the life expectancy and performance is severely limited.

If maintained properly -- they will outlast most of us.

Plus, the parts for these are past impossible to locate anywhere, to my knowledge.

Nice job figuring it out...

Best,

Fred
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: thorhammer on September 14, 2016, 12:41:24 PM
Quote from: Shark Hunter on January 09, 2014, 05:38:50 PM
funky cold medina? :D


that's funny right there.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: redsetta on July 10, 2022, 09:18:51 PM
Hi lads,
I had the very good fortune to be able to buy a stash of Modena-era, NOS Gladiator parts.
Many of the parts are universal and for all models, but there are also quite a number of model-specific parts - gears, shafts, drag plates, handle blades and handles etc - for the 4/0, 9/0 and 12/0.
My main aim in buying them was just to save 'em from ending up in the landfill.
It'd be great to see them back inside working reels, so if you have any specific needs or even want the whole lot, flick me a PM.
I'd also be keen to hear if there are any old Gladiators out there that could do with a new home...
Cheers, Justin

(https://alantani.com/gallery/36/3590-100722205751.jpeg)
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: 54bullseye on July 11, 2022, 01:59:56 AM
I need a 9/0 foot or stand for a Gladiator or a Mitchell President. I bought a 9/0 President that foot had been filed heavily.   John Taylor
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Robert Janssen on July 11, 2022, 10:18:31 PM
Oh, wow... so you bought those. I remember seeing that cache for sale.
Don't need anything myself, but will file this away for future use.
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: isaacabner46 on November 10, 2022, 07:36:01 AM
Quote from: redsetta on July 10, 2022, 09:18:51 PMHi lads,
I had the very good fortune to be able to buy a stash of Modena-era, NOS Gladiator parts.
Many of the parts are universal and for all models, but there are also quite a number of model-specific parts - gears, shafts, drag plates, handle blades and handles etc - for the 4/0, 9/0 and 12/0.
My main aim in buying them was just to save 'em from ending up in the landfill.
It'd be great to see them back inside working reels, so if you have any specific needs or even want the whole lot, flick me a PM.
I'd also be keen to hear if there are any old Gladiators out there that could do with a new home...
Cheers, Justin

(https://alantani.com/gallery/36/3590-100722205751.jpeg)

Quote from: redsetta on July 10, 2022, 09:18:51 PMHi lads,
I had the very good fortune to be able to buy a stash of Modena-era, NOS Gladiator parts.
Many of the parts are universal and for all models, but there are also quite a number of model-specific parts - gears, shafts, drag plates, handle blades and handles etc - for the 4/0, 9/0 and 12/0.
My main aim in buying them was just to save 'em from ending up in the landfill.
It'd be great to see them back inside working reels, so if you have any specific needs or even want the whole lot, flick me a PM.
I'd also be keen to hear if there are any old Gladiators out there that could do with a new home...
Cheers, Justin

(https://alantani.com/gallery/36/3590-100722205751.jpeg)

buenas amigo
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: isaacabner46 on November 10, 2022, 07:38:59 AM
buenas necesito repuestos para un viejo gladiator 12/0 saludos
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: redsetta on November 11, 2022, 01:29:35 AM
¿Qué partes necesitas?
Title: Re: Modena Italy Gladiator Reels
Post by: Mark MAlta on March 20, 2024, 08:00:00 PM
Gladiator reel schematic 1 and 2 speed
 And manual