I found someone offering this old combo and it's a very intriguing find. Tell me what you guys think, he's asking $165 for the combo?
Here's how the ad reads:
Not used since 1986 - owned by my father. Penn Senator Salt Water rod and reel, 10/0 one piece solid Bamboo Rod -
This very heavy duty. Stamped on Reel : There is NO rust. Penn Senator Penn Fishing Tackle Mfg. Co. Philadelphia, Pa.
I did not clean it but looks as if metal will clean nicely
and a couple more:
Thats been on Craigslist forever. If it were local to me I would have bought it.
I think that reel will clean up nicely.
If it were near me, I'd jump on it too!
Nice. The rod looks like hickory in the photo.
-steve
I would buy it !!! John Taylor
Thanks for all the feedback! I had a feeling some would chime in with this sentiment.
the reel should come up good, I think the rod is worth that much without the reel, good luck cheers Don.
Very cool combo Darin. Love the one piece rod, and the reel looks like it has tons of potential.
Ted
Quote from: oc1 on October 14, 2018, 08:59:19 AM
Nice. The rod looks like hickory in the photo.
-steve
I too thick it is hickory . That is a good find . Joe
Grab it!
Sal
That's worth picking up. As a package Great Wall hanger and the reel is definitely a user...Bill
Thanks everybody, going to pick the combo up on Tuesday, will post some photos here when I get home...
So I picked up the old combo and was blown away at the story and history of the rod and reel (Story Added Below).
I'm now planning/researching for the upgrades that might be possible for this reel after I clean it up. I haven't restored an old reel
yet, so will need to research for the info to do it right. I'd love to know more about the rod, but there's no markings on it? The
man said he thought it was bamboo, but he was just guessing, he doesn't remember his Father ever saying. The rod feels super
strong and well built, has a neat gripping feel above the reel from the way they stained/sealed it. It also is flat on the top part of
the rod when you're in fighting position and is rounded underneath (I hope that made sense). Hope you guys enjoy the pictures, and
any knowledge on the rod and upgrades for the reel would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Darin
So as the story goes... The man who sold me his Father's reel was about 65-70yrs old, he said his Dad used the reel up until his death in 1986.
One thing I loved that he told me is his Father was old school and never used a fishfinder or navagation when fishing, but he would always bring home
fish though. The Dad called this reel his "Good Ole Trusty", and he caught a lot of fish on it over the years, his goal though was catching big Groupers
when he went. The Son said he remembers his Dad bringing home a 200+ pound Jewfish (aka Goliath Grouper) one time back when it was legal and
said he caught one much bigger after that on the same day, but let it go. He didn't really want to sell it because it of course reminded him of his
Father, but he needed to get rid of all his extra stuff, they were moving into a small condo in a retirement community soon. Lastly, he wants me
to send him a pic of the first fish I catch with his Dad's reel and I told him I would for sure.
and some more pics
Cool!
The first thing that comes to mind if yer gonna fish it, is an ss gear sleeve. This'ed be hidden when assembled, keeping the reel original lookin.
Wow, what a great find Darin!
I can't wait to hear the story behind it!
If it were me, I'd keep it as is and put it on a wall with the history in a frame next to it.
Quote from: xjchad on October 16, 2018, 09:01:21 PM
Wow, what a great find Darin!
I can't wait to hear the story behind it!
If it were me, I'd keep it as is and put it on a wall with the history in a frame next to it.
This is what I would do
Beautiful combo, you don't find these often.
I'm with the two gentlemen above, it would brighten any room.
Sal
That rig has character...I'd be tempted to leave it as is. 8)
Quote from: 1badf350 on October 16, 2018, 10:33:30 PM
Quote from: xjchad on October 16, 2018, 09:01:21 PM
Wow, what a great find Darin!
I can't wait to hear the story behind it!
If it were me, I'd keep it as is and put it on a wall with the history in a frame next to it.
This is what I would do
I've got to agree. I wouldnt clean that reel up much. Any thing I did would be to preserve the condition it's in. However I've guns over 100 years old that I've preserved in the condition I purchased them but I still shoot them. I really dont like the idea being a wharehouse for some one else. By just keeping stuff I never use. That rod & reel would look great on the wall any ones man cave... Jeff
I think I'd strip the line off to makes sure there's nothing funky going on down there,other than that keep it OG. Might want to jot down the story that goes with it and keep it with the set up.
It looks like wall hanger is the consensus for most here. I'm not sure I have a wall to hang it on, my little corner is full, lol.
Where's all the rod gurus? Should I post something in the rod section?
Thanks for all the comments!
The reel dates to 1950's
Sometime around 1960 the logo moved above the eccentric to 12 o'clock position....your logo is below the eccentric
Wow ! So this combo just raked in more cool points... Jeff
Quote from: Darin Crofton on October 17, 2018, 01:54:45 AM
It looks like wall hanger is the consensus for most here. I'm not sure I have a wall to hang it on, my little corner is full, lol.
Where's all the rod gurus? Should I post something in the rod section?
Thanks for all the comments!
Darin,
You can hang it on my wall, I've got plenty of room!
Quote from: Maxed Out on October 17, 2018, 01:55:25 AM
The reel dates to 1950's
Sometime around 1960 the logo moved above the eccentric to 12 o'clock position....your logo is below the eccentric
Wow, thanks Ted, I appreciate the feedback and info!
Quote from: xjchad on October 17, 2018, 02:07:06 AM
Quote from: Darin Crofton on October 17, 2018, 01:54:45 AM
It looks like wall hanger is the consensus for most here. I'm not sure I have a wall to hang it on, my little corner is full, lol.
Where's all the rod gurus? Should I post something in the rod section?
Thanks for all the comments!
Darin,
You can hang it on my wall, I've got plenty of room!
I'd have to throw a few more reels in the box tomorrow, Chad... lmbo ;D ;D ;D
I would be afraid to fish with the rod Darin. The oils could be dried up in the wood and it may not be a strong as it used to be. I still think it's hickory. No one would have made a hickory (or any wood) rod after the very early 1950's. The wrappings and the way the handle fits into the reel seat makes me think it was either home made or rebuilt. Someone may recognize the reel seat manufacturer. The ring guides look like Mildrum. Never seen anything like that roller tip though. Have no idea what the foregrip is. The foregrip looks like alligatored varnish in the photo. Seems like it would have been wrapped with something but the wrapping may have rotted away. The line is Dacron. Most likely Gudebrod green spot. Those pitted ring guides would chew up Dacron line immediately. If you remove the line and find the spool is corroded you can wash the line to get the salt out and dry it. You would need to cobble together a line dryer spool though (some scrap plywood for the flanges and welded wire for the arbor is cheap and easy).
It's all just cool as heck. I would keep it as-is and not mess with it. Replacing that broken ring might cost more than getting another project reel.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on October 17, 2018, 07:16:07 AM
I would be afraid to fish with the rod Darin. The oils could be dried up in the wood and it may not be a strong as it used to be. I still think it's hickory. No one would have made a hickory (or any wood) rod after the very early 1950's. The wrappings and the way the handle fits into the reel seat makes me think it was either home made or rebuilt. Someone may recognize the reel seat manufacturer. The ring guides look like Mildrum. Never seen anything like that roller tip though. Have no idea what the foregrip is. The foregrip looks like alligatored varnish in the photo. Seems like it would have been wrapped with something but the wrapping may have rotted away. The line is Dacron. Most likely Gudebrod green spot. Those pitted ring guides would chew up Dacron line immediately. If you remove the line and find the spool is corroded you can wash the line to get the salt out and dry it. You would need to cobble together a line dryer spool though (some scrap plywood for the flanges and welded wire for the arbor is cheap and easy).
It's all just cool as heck. I would keep it as-is and not mess with it. Replacing that broken ring might cost more than getting another project reel.
-steve
Steve,
Between you and Ted I believe I have a pretty good idea what we're looking at here.
Thank you for all the details of my find I was looking for! It's hard to stop looking
at it, wondering what it was like to use it so many years ago.
Darin
This is a great story and thread, thanks for sharing Darin.
Cheers, Justin
Quote from: redsetta on October 17, 2018, 06:51:41 PM
This is a great story and thread, thanks for sharing Darin.
Cheers, Justin
Thanks Justin!
well Darin, when are we going to get the story, been great so far, thanks for sharing, Ted you say the reel dates back to the 1950 or sixty, it look like it has roller bearings, what Date did Penn start installing them, cheers Don.
If you're not familiar with tearing down the old Senators, there are plenty of you tubes as a guide. Like Steve, I've never seen a roller tip top quite like that, probably home made or from a small rod-builder back in the day. Good score.
So as the story goes... The man who sold me his Father's reel was about 65-70yrs old, he said his Dad used the reel up until his death in 1986.
One thing I loved that he told me is his Father was old school and never used a fishfinder or navagation when fishing, but he would always bring home
fish though. The Dad called this reel his "Good Ole Trusty", and he caught a lot of fish on it over the years, his goal though was catching big Groupers
when he went. The Son said he remembers his Dad bringing home a 200+ pound Jewfish (aka Goliath Grouper) one time back when it was legal and
said he caught one much bigger after that on the same day, but let it go. He didn't really want to sell it because it of course reminded him of his
Father, but he needed to get rid of all his extra stuff, they were moving into a small condo in a retirement community soon. Lastly, he wants me
to send him a pic of the first fish I catch with his Dad's reel and I told him I would for sure.
I play some golf near Hernando and thought when I got there I'd swing by and take a peek. Glad you got it, I'm setting up my boat to troll with old Penn 49's and retro rods, you go get some salt on the old girl and enjoy!!
Quote from: Cuttyhunker on October 18, 2018, 07:39:41 PM
I play some golf near Hernando and thought when I got there I'd swing by and take a peek. Glad you got it, I'm setting up my boat to troll with old Penn 49's and retro rods, you go get some salt on the old girl and enjoy!!
Great, let me know if you ever come to Tampa, I'd love for you to see it. Probably won't touch it for awhile as well, so there's time.
That sounds fun with the old 49's, I'm fixing up some 349's to deep drop with.
Thanks!
I cleaned up one of your shots and you can see the headplate 10/0 logo under the eccentric. in the early 50's it was moved to under the lug so you scored an early gen2 Senator, if no part numbers a little older.
Quote from: Cuttyhunker on October 18, 2018, 09:38:01 PM
I cleaned up one of your shots and you can see the headplate 10/0 logo under the eccentric. in the early 50's it was moved to under the lug so you scored an early gen2 Senator, if no part numbers a little older.
Wow, thanks for the info Cutty! I'm not going to check for part numbers for a little while, but will post again when I do.
If anyone wants a wall hanger let me know, I don't really have room for it and from you guys advice I don't want to split up this combo and use the reel.
It should probably stay just the way it is. So I'm going to sell it to someone who really wants a piece of history and can envision it hanging somewhere
in their home or office. Let me know if you're interested and I'm sure we could work something out, not wanting to make a bunch of money on it, just want
the rod and reel to go to someone who appreciates it. Thank you, Darin
Did you sell this combo yet ??..or did you decide to keep it ?? Just curious
Ted
Quote from: Maxed Out on October 30, 2018, 12:22:55 AM
Did you sell this combo yet ??..or did you decide to keep it ?? Just curious
Ted
Sorry Ted I just saw this. I sold it to a member on here. Didn't really have room for it, sold it for what I paid, wanted it to have a good home!