Around 14 months ago — the pandemic became serious.
About that same time — it was time for me to shift gears a bit with the reel repair, service, and restoration efforts.
Having always enjoyed spinning reels — Particularly the reliable, solid ones from DAM Quick, Penn, ABU, ABU/Zebco Cardinals, and Mitchell — I decided to pretty much specialize in those reels. There were plenty of members who were already experts at working on their conventional reels — so I didn't need to do as much on these, as I had for the last 40+ years.
I have been fortunate enough to have accumulated fairly massive inventories of New Old Stock parts for these spinning reels from old closed down tackle shops. Without that, none of the change would have made much sense.
During the last 14 months, I have been also accumulating additional reels (hard to pass up good values on quality spinners!).
Just tossed them on shelves in piles — to add with the other spinners.
Decided to sort them into groups last week.
Then yesterday afternoon, I also built a hinged display board for the most popular Quicks from 1951 up to 1983. It opens up — and in 10 cabinets behind it that I built and shot together a few years ago — on the North wall of my small shop — are aound 72 large bins of complete DAM Quicks and spools — with maybe 25 or 30 reels in each bin. The Penns, Mitchell's, ABU's, and Cardinals are in the outer shops — along with many parts.
All of the DQ parts are number organized, same with the Penn parts — still need to do the ABU and Mitchell parts.
I am not a collector anymore — and do trade & sell most of the inventory.
There are (4) additional shops plus a new powder-coating shop in other areas of the outer upstairs and downstairs barn.
Will be getting rid of all of the other reels, parts, and junk that doesn't work into the plan.
Nice to start shedding this inventory, that while perhaps worthwhile to others — has run its course.with my future planning.
Best, Fred
Nice Set up Fred.
Good to see someone can actually Focus and Organize these Days.
Looks like you are set for the Next 40 years
All I see missing is a Big Smoker,Industrial Meat Grinder , Sausage Stuffer and a Kegalator.
Now that I am retired I hope to get my shop half that organized, it's not a good thing in the middle of a project when you know you have a part or tool but have to spend more time looking for that item than actually working on the project at hand. I appreciate your organization skills and I know as many reels as you work on it is a must.
My friend, to not be a collector, you have an amazingly focused, comprehensively grouped, inventoried and displayed accumulation :)
Amazing Fred!!! Not only in your organization but your ability to build what you need to be organized. Awesome!
Awesome display Fred! 8)
Looks great, Fred! I envy your accumulation & organization! 8)
Hey Fred, what do you do in your spare time? It sure looks like you don't have any. Dominick
Quote from: Dominick on April 27, 2021, 07:18:11 PM
Hey Fred, what do you do in your spare time? It sure looks like you don't have any. Dominick
If there is one thing I have learned —
All of the money ever printed in the history of the world — won't buy another minute of time.
So, since it is so valuable — I try to make it count.
It is of tremendous importance, IMO, to have a supporting wife who allows this.
Sue has her study and writing room upstairs, across the hall from mine — and I support her hobbies and interests.
Occasionally, there is a little eye-rolling on her part — but never criticism. Same with me.
Most days, we spend an hour or more together in the early morning before dawn — chatting and a little Bible study — then go our separate ways until we come back together in the early evening for dinner and a little TV like Netflix, Amazon, Paramount, Disney, Acorn, or PBS.
Mutual respect, support, encouragement, and separate pursuit of passions and interests — then joining together also.
Kind of corny to some, I know — but it is important to a fairly balanced lifestyle, at least for us.
Best, Fred
Glad for you, Fred. You've decided what you want to do, and are trying to do it in an organized, 1st class, way. If you were 20 yrs. old, I would say you are diving in too soon and too deep. But, with your background and experience, it makes perfect sense to go after it whole hog and do it the way that will make you feel the most gratification. And, your relationship with your spouse is the bedrock of it all; I know I couldn't do most of what I do, and have done, without my wife with me [I am lucky (blessed)].
Frank
fred truly amazing, looks like your number 1. you are the best, you and sue definately live a splendid life , that's what it's all about being a fantastic couple, love it. take care my friend have a wonderful summer. when your going to sell parts let me know. my best to you and sue harryk
Fred you've really set up your hobby/business beautifully. You must take great satisfaction in maintaining the parts and expertise to keep the DQ line alive and vibrant!
An organised mind-admirable! 8)
I think that Fred's impact on our hobby is frankly understated. To begin with his efforts to secure and accumulate old tackle shop inventories - which I am sure that many old tackle/reel shops have probably sadly ended up in dumpsters as the original owners moved on but he was able to prevent that with so many others. And these are parts that will probably never see the light of day again as far as aftermarket repros. And secondly his amazing dedication to taking the time and effort to organizing what he has accumulated so that it actually has positive impact going forward - if someone needs an "XYZ" he will pretty quickly know if he has one - after all you can have the greatest accumulation of parts in the world (I think he may be up there) but IF you can't find what you are looking for it is just really a large pile of obsolete junk; and that is not what Fred has. And lest my post make it sound like he is just a "parts clerk" his knowledge of what all of those parts are, and the reels they go in and how they work together is something I have benefitted from many times. Thank you Sir! - john
Yeah. Really. Well said John. Always amazing Fred.
This is basically just a hobby for me. Keeps me busy and productive.
Each year, I give away and trade far more than I ever sell. Few folks understand this — (as my wife rolls her eyes and smiles). But that always brings many times more in return — than a few dollars might.
There are many things in our life that are of much higher importance than reels, at least to me —
So, hopefully, everything in balance with a perspective on other life things that are truly more important — higher up the ladder.
Enjoyment of our hobbies in very important, though...
A mentor once shared with me — it is easier to be organized instead of disorganized — in anything we choose to do in life.
This will help eliminate frustration and time-wasting — which in turn reduce our quality of life.
Basically, whatever systems we set up HAVE to work for each of us — smoothly, quickly, and efficiently.
The system must work for us — we cannot afford to work for the system.
Best, Fred
Fred, every time you post it just reminds me how disorganized I am by comparison. You're probably right, it likely is easier to be organized than disorganized. It's front end work instead of back end work.
Getting first into servicing reels and later into building rods, I've learned to be far more precise/detail oriented than I previously thought possible. And it has bled into other aspects of my life with beneficial results. Maybe better organization is coming, it just takes longer? I do have all my reel parts and tools in one box though, and make a point to put them back in that box when I'm finished with them. That way I know where they are when I need them again, and I've learned to label small parts that aren't immediately identifiable. Only took 34 years to figure all that out.
Randy Pauly of Vintage Offshore contacted me a couple of days ago — asking if I had any Newell clamps. Said he had an old DAM Quick 275 2-Speed reel (one of my favorites, and a rare reel) to trade if I had any Newell clamps.
Told him I only had a couple — but I did have a box of new old stock Newell parts that he was welcome to.
Exchanged photos — made a trade — sent off that afternoon.
Randy also said that he was going to include some extra spinning reel goodies for me.
Today, the reel shows up — and there is a goodie all right — another DQ 275 2-Speed reel!!
Thanks Randy!
Another member contacted me yesterday — saying he had around 16 pounds of organized and numbered DAM Quick parts. He also wanted to trade for some Penn reels. We made a deal.
Trades work well when both parties get what they want.
I really appreciate our members as I transition into working primarily on vintage quality spinning reels like DQ, Penn, ABU/Zebco Cardinals, and Mitchell's.
Just wanted to give credit and appreciation to our members.
Best, Fred
Fred ,
you need to be very very Carefull as you are boarder line on Having a MONOPOLY on Dam Stufff! ;D
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR76pSepWEOhYivP49REsIKSk4P8i0AoRJWgNEij64R7piLTPm0giWwIUdQPwhCidnXhZA&usqp=CAU)
Quote from: Wompus Cat on May 08, 2021, 04:07:42 PM
Fred ,
you need to be very very Carefull as you are boarder line on Having a MONOPOLY on Dam Stufff! ;D
Yeah, but it's just a little niche that has been developed over 40 years, Henry —
Just trying to stay in my own lane — steady, controllable, and enjoyable.
With 150,000 new old stock DQ parts — and generally 400 or 500 complete reels in stock — I keep looking for others that might have some stuff to sell from time to time. It is amazing how much some folks charge for just (1) DQ part — it takes my breath away.
That old saying —
"If I could buy you for what your worth — and sell you for what you think you are worth...I would be a millionaire overnight".
But we need to remember, it is just reel parts.
Glad to have the parts for myself — and just as important, for others who appreciate these top quality DQ reels.
Best, Fred
Fred,
I have a question for you since you seem to be the guy to talk to about vintage spinning reels.
In recent years I have fallin' in love with the old Penn spinners. Mainly the smaller sizes like the 720. I love the minimal build, and their ability to fish harsh saltwater conditions with little maintenance.
But as far as vintage spinners go, Penn is the only brand I have used.
What I would like to know is if there are any other brands of spinning reels, from the 60's and 70's, that are just as durable in harsh surf conditions as the old Penn Greenies and Z series reels?
Cheers!
The small Penns from the 70's are rugged, hard-working, and attractive reels, Jenx —
To me, this group includes the 720, 722 green, blue, and bronzes — plus the 716, 714, 712 in both the old greenies as well as the black Z's.
Other comparable quality reels would be, IMO —
ABU/Cardinal 3's and C3's with the lower rear fulcrum brake drag knobs.
DAM Quick — 265, 110, 110N, 1000, 1001, 220, 221, 1202, 1400, 1401.
Mitchell 308, 408.
Also to be considered, and some of my favorites —
Shakespeare 2052, 2062, and Sigma 2201-025 Whisker Titan
Daiwa Mini-Mite, Mini-Spin, 500C, 700C, 1000C, 70X, 70RL, 7250RLA
Eagle Claw 1225
There are of course others that don't come immediately to mind — but key attributes of most of these reels are:
Aluminum bodies and rotors, minimum or no plastic parts, small, tough, capable.
While the best of these will have a steel worm drive pinion supported at the front and rear — coupled with bronze or brass mains — and a main support bearing —- there are some of the others that will also hold up nearly as well, if not equally durable.
The basic thought is that these reels are intended to be fished within their engineered range — if done so, and serviced every couple of years — they will all be winners, IMO.
Problems always occur when the gears are made of aluminum, pot metal, zinc, etc.
And beware of reels with cheap chromed parts, plastic Christmas ornament exterior parts, shiny decals, and 4 to 12 bearings. These manufacturers are substituting Marketing for Engineering.
Many of the 70's & early 80's Japanese spinners are also of decent quality. Problem with any reels in this category — is no parts availability — unless you have a donor reel to cannibalize.
Best, Fred
That is a lot of info. Thank you Fred.
I really like the look of the Penn 720/722 reels that come in blue, bronze, and teal, but that Shakespeare 2052/2062 is a handsome looking reel as well. I will have to keep my eyes out for one of those.
I occasionally run across older (non Penn) spinners on OfferUp and Craigslist, but I have never before bought one. Now that I have your list as a guide maybe I will snag one up one of these days to tinker on.
Thanks again for the info. It's much appreciated.
Fred,
Wanted to add my thank you for taking the time to post your thoughts, organization and reel knowledge. You have inspired me to reorganize my limited collection of reels. I love the pegboard display for your reels. I have mine in boxes and have to unpack when looking for a vintage reel to fish. I sometimes find a reel in a box that I forgot that was in my collection. I'm going to follow your pegboard example for my reels. Again thank you! Love this forum!
all i can say is , FRED, you are the man. not only your inventory, organization, quanity of reels and parts, it's your generosity, kindness, thoughtfulness, companship, and being a great husband that makes you a fantastic person and friend, i'm proud to have made your acquaitence , had some trades and dealings with you, your one of a kind, thank you for letting me into your life, take care my friend. harryk