Greetings Ohana,
Well, since most of us are holed up inside our homes waiting out the pandemic, I thought I'd share a little something that should generate some interest and discussion. Back in 1986 when Geraldo Rivera hosted a TV special on 'The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults', an item that was found inside that didn't receive the exposure that it should've has now come back to light. I give you the 50/0 Penn 'Senator' prototype reel!
This reel was conceived as part of a series that Penn was thinking of dubbing the 'Snallygaster Series' of BIG game reels. For obvious reasons, the objections of the Penn bean-counters aside, this reel series never made it into production. I can't imagine there would've been a strong retail market for a reel of this magnitude, unless you were hoping to raise a small submarine, or Moby Dick. I doubt even Arnold Schwarzenegger on his best day would've been able to heft a reel, mounted to a compatible rod, of this size for a very long fight, with whatever was on the other end.
The reel appears to be spooled with a sizeable diameter of some kind of braid, possibly from a mountain climbing supplier. The spool appears to be made of stainless steel, closely resembling cooking pot lids. It's surprising that a reel of this caliber was designed with only six spindly posts, in addition to a fairly standard reel foot. Some of the parts seem to be of varying proportions, which isn't uncommon with prototypes. The drag assembly is made up of actual drum disc brake shoes from a Model 'T' Ford. The side plates appear to be made from some exotic wood, perhaps ebony pine.
Footnote: This is what can happen when a person is confined to their garage workshop for days on end with no reels that need rebuilding. This also underscores the phrase, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste'.
A few more photos.
that is one big reel.
Hey Dave! I hope my wife doesn't notice the missing pot lids. ;D
Do you have any thing that verifies it's a Penn ? I'm far from an expert but the machining & final shape of parts looks much different to me than an all Penn factory made reel. The reel foot & rivets are one place I noticed.
The spool & cross bars seem different for a Penn reel of this size also. . Now all of this could still be Penn stuff being a one off it doesn't always fit or follow a companies prior thoughts. I just dont know. Interesting reel.
The only link to Penn being the manufacturer was a note found with the reel from Al to Ernest Hemingway, thanking Ernest for picking up this reel from the Penn factory before they met up for a fishing trip to Cuba. Good times! ;)
You lie! This is actually a series of prints by Andy Warhol. ;D
Spydie,
That is way cool!
You did a great job on that man! 8) 8)
WOW ! Regardless with that note & any other verification if true this is a nice historical piece... Jeff
Quote from: nelz on April 10, 2020, 04:43:42 PM
You lie! This is actually a series of prints by Andy Warhol. ;D
You got me Nelz! ;)
Quote from: xjchad on April 10, 2020, 04:44:38 PM
Spydie,
That is way cool!
You did a great job on that man! 8) 8)
Thanks Chad! It's no John Elder masterpiece, but it did help pass some time. ;)
Love it !! How's the free spool ?
Quote from: Rivverrat on April 10, 2020, 04:45:03 PM
WOW ! Regardless with that note & any other verification if true this is a nice historical piece... Jeff
I know, holding it I can almost smell the mojitos they must've tossed down while out fishing. ;D
Quote from: Crow on April 10, 2020, 04:53:46 PM
Love it !! How's the free spool ?
Surprisingly good for a non-ball bearing set up. You have to be patient, and let it run until IT decides to stop. Any attempt to halt the spool's progress might result in an injury akin to being wrapped around the axle of a chariot (since it is Easter, decided to go with Charleton Heston 'Ben Hur' analogy). ;D
The rings, posts, and stand have a white appearance kinda like brushed aluminum. Something about the stand looks like it was made from a chunk of aluminum, but maybe just my imagination. Pretty big gap between the spool & rings. I'll look forward to hearing what the experts here have to say.
Cooool! The pot lids, are they the spool flanges or the side-plate rings, or both?
The Phillips Head Screws are interesting --
Unless the head-plate was removed so we reel mechanics could see details -- it is not going to convince.
Best, Fred
It cannot be real. The shift lever is at 11oclock, and gear train is at 7 oclock. This leaves no place for internal components to fit. Definitely a phony
The reel isn't that big, it's just a really small can of soup, table and chair
Is it April fools month?
Neat conversation piece anyway as it got a lot of people stirred up.
Al Capone's safe? Geraldo would have said something about that as he is a boater and possible fishermen.
Quote from: Maxed Out on April 10, 2020, 06:04:26 PM
It cannot be real. The shift lever is at 11oclock, and gear train is at 5oclock. This leaves no place for internal components to fit. Definitely a phony
I have no where the knowledge of Penn reels that most of you have but this reel does have several things going on that dont jive with a Penn reel, prototype or what ever . Especially when Penn had on hand better dimensioned stock to build such a reel of this size. The spool for instance had a lot of time spent on it for it to not fit.
Oooops I answered my own prior question... Jeff
Cool gizmo, but no lugs.
Quote from: wfjord on April 10, 2020, 05:18:13 PM
The rings, posts, and stand have a white appearance kinda like brushed aluminum. Something about the stand looks like it was made from a chunk of aluminum, but maybe just my imagination. Pretty big gap between the spool & rings. I'll look forward to hearing what the experts here have to say.
I am no Penn expert other then having fished them 50 years back and It does not look "right" to me.
The screws in the posts look too small & not countersunk and I've never seen Phillips heads.
You can see machining marks on the foot and also handle.
Sideplates....na!
Does not change the fact that it is interesting.
I am also waiting for one of the experts to comment.
Spyderman,
Cool display and fun story.
Some good craftsmanship there, and clearly too much time, but you know what they say about idle hands.
Did you make that cool looking reel the side plates are made out of wood
Kim
It's wood painted in black and silver!
It doesn't take an "expert" to see that this reel is an oxy-moron.
The eccentric should be straight up from the bridge. Take a look, if the eccentric was way off kilter like this 50/0, the Jack could not function at all. I laid a jack on this Penn to give a visual of where the jack would be on this 50/0. Sorry to pop everyones bubble. We know it has no internals
A great piece any way you look at it. My best guess based on using your photos, is that it measures about 8 3/4" high and 7" wide across the plates and spool. A true big boy. On looking at the seat, the thickness of the foot would require a special built rod seat to accept the reel. That would never fit on any rod seat I ever saw. There are no harness rings or rod harness rings either. I can assume that the Philip head screws are replacements during the restoration process or building process?
Quote from: Gfish on April 10, 2020, 05:24:47 PM
Cooool! The pot lids, are they the spool flanges or the side-plate rings, or both?
The spool flanges.
Quote from: Swami805 on April 10, 2020, 06:12:18 PM
The reel isn't that big, it's just a really small can of soup, table and chair
You've figured it out, I didn't build the reel, I built the small can of soup, table and the chair. ;)
Quote from: Cuttyhunker on April 10, 2020, 07:09:05 PM
Cool gizmo, but no lugs.
As soon as I can get to Home Depot, it'll receive sets of lugs. ;)
Quote from: ReelFishingProblems on April 10, 2020, 07:51:23 PM
Spyderman,
Cool display and fun story.
Some good craftsmanship there, and clearly too much time, but you know what they say about idle hands.
Thanks! Some of the brethren have clearly understood that this was an exercise in fantasy and time management. Others ... I'm no so certain ... ::)
You need to make a matching rod
Quote from: Cor on April 10, 2020, 07:43:56 PM
Quote from: wfjord on April 10, 2020, 05:18:13 PM
The rings, posts, and stand have a white appearance kinda like brushed aluminum. Something about the stand looks like it was made from a chunk of aluminum, but maybe just my imagination. Pretty big gap between the spool & rings. I'll look forward to hearing what the experts here have to say.
I am no Penn expert other then having fished them 50 years back and It does not look "right" to me.
The screws in the posts look too small & not countersunk and I've never seen Phillips heads.
You can see machining marks on the foot and also handle.
Sideplates....na!
Does not change the fact that it is interesting.
I am also waiting for one of the experts to comment.
I wouldn't hold my breath, unless they have a vivid imagination, and want to add to the fiction ... :D
I for one want to believe.
Now that you have the sample, start building a working one.
We all have the time.
What if between the machinist masters here, a working version of this was made
Quote from: Reeltyme on April 10, 2020, 08:05:48 PM
A great piece any way you look at it. My best guess based on using your photos, is that it measures about 8 3/4" high and 7" wide across the plates and spool. A true big boy. On looking at the seat, the thickness of the foot would require a special built rod seat to accept the reel. That would never fit on any rod seat I ever saw. There are no harness rings or rod harness rings either. I can assume that the Philip head screws are replacements during the restoration process or building process?
10" high and 8" across the plates and spool. Harness rings will be added when I can get to my local Home Depot (large screw eyes should suffice). ;)
Quote from: ReelFishingProblems on April 10, 2020, 08:24:25 PM
You need to make a matching rod
LOL! No, I'm hoping the quarantine is lifted before I resort to that to pass the time. :D
Quote from: ReelFishingProblems on April 10, 2020, 08:26:56 PM
I for one want to believe.
Now that you have the sample, start building a working one.
We all have the time.
What if between the machinist masters here, a working version of this was made
Actually, I'm surprised that someone here hasn't already attempted to build a working monster reel. I built this primarily to display at fishing shows, where I'd have a table to display and sell the reels that I've refurbished. I pretty much restore and refurbish mostly Penn reels, but I'll work on any reel that comes my way.
Quote from: Maxed Out on April 10, 2020, 06:04:26 PM
It cannot be real. The shift lever is at 11oclock, and gear train is at 7 oclock. This leaves no place for internal components to fit. Definitely a phony
What type of clock are you referring to? And I take exception with your accusation that this is a phony! It's a genuine figment of my fertile imagination. ;D
Quote from: Cor on April 10, 2020, 07:43:56 PM
Quote from: wfjord on April 10, 2020, 05:18:13 PM
The rings, posts, and stand have a white appearance kinda like brushed aluminum. Something about the stand looks like it was made from a chunk of aluminum, but maybe just my imagination. Pretty big gap between the spool & rings. I'll look forward to hearing what the experts here have to say.
I am no Penn expert other then having fished them 50 years back and It does not look "right" to me.
The screws in the posts look too small & not countersunk and I've never seen Phillips heads.
You can see machining marks on the foot and also handle.
Sideplates....na!
Does not change the fact that it is interesting.
I am also waiting for one of the experts to comment.
The directions the commentary is taking is proving fascinating to watch. :D
Quote from: Maxed Out on April 10, 2020, 08:02:52 PM
It doesn't take an "expert" to see that this reel is an oxy-moron.
The eccentric should be straight up from the bridge. Take a look, if the eccentric was way off kilter like this 50/0, the Jack could not function at all. I laid a jack on this Penn to give a visual of where the jack would be on this 50/0. Sorry to pop everyones bubble. We know it has no internals
A double jack Penn, very interesting...and I resent your calling my creation an oxy-moron! >:( You have hurt its feelings. :'(
Interesting... Ted has a good point, but the eccentric could be modified to make it work at its correct location.
Any chance you could open it up so we could see the clutch assembly?
The seat would be very hard to mount on a standard rod, it's too thick.
The rings don't look that good when you take a closer look.
The reel might be fake, but can't tell
If you don't mind, could you show the inside of the reel?
Thanks!
Sal
Quote from: Alto Mare on April 10, 2020, 09:29:00 PM
Interesting... Ted has a good point, but the eccentric could be modified to make it work at its correct location.
Any chance you could open it up so we could see the clutch assembly?
The seat would've be very hard to mount on a standard rod, it's too thick.
The rings don't look that good when you take a closer look.
My take on this reel...
If I don't get to see the inside, it's fake.
Prove me and Ted wrong and show us some pics of the inside.
Sal
Sheesh what a grouch... Dominick
Quote from: Dominick on April 10, 2020, 09:42:05 PM
Quote from: Alto Mare on April 10, 2020, 09:29:00 PM
Interesting... Ted has a good point, but the eccentric could be modified to make it work at its correct location.
Any chance you could open it up so we could see the clutch assembly?
The seat would've be very hard to mount on a standard rod, it's too thick.
The rings don't look that good when you take a closer look.
My take on this reel...
If I don't get to see the inside, it's fake.
Prove me and Ted wrong and show us some pics of the inside.
Sal
Sheesh what a grouch... Dominick
You are correct! That didn't sound good at all.
I modified it!
Sal
Quote from: Alto Mare on April 10, 2020, 09:55:36 PM
Quote from: Dominick on April 10, 2020, 09:42:05 PM
Quote from: Alto Mare on April 10, 2020, 09:29:00 PM
Interesting... Ted has a good point, but the eccentric could be modified to make it work at its correct location.
Any chance you could open it up so we could see the clutch assembly?
The seat would've be very hard to mount on a standard rod, it's too thick.
The rings don't look that good when you take a closer look.
My take on this reel...
If I don't get to see the inside, it's fake.
Prove me and Ted wrong and show us some pics of the inside.
Sal
Sheesh what a grouch... Dominick
You are correct! That didn't sound good at all.
I modified it!
Sal
Hey Sal!
No, sorry, I can't open the reel to reveal the innards. In retaliation for having taken the liberty of snatching two of her pot lids, my wife took all of my Phillips screwdrivers and ground the tips off of them. ::)
Nice work Spyderman - it looks good.
Mike
Quote from: Spyderman on April 10, 2020, 10:28:05 PMNo, sorry, I can't open the reel to reveal the innards. In retaliation for having taken the liberty of snatching two of her pot lids, my wife took all of my Phillips screwdrivers and ground the tips off of them. ::)
Wow, that lady's petty handy with tools. ;D
Oh my gosh the spool is pot lids. They are so shiny with rounded edges I was like why would some one spend the time turning a spool like that that fits no other reel including the one its on... Jeff
Quote from: mhc on April 10, 2020, 10:29:43 PM
Nice work Spyderman - it looks good.
Mike
Thanks Mike! ;)
Quote from: nelz on April 10, 2020, 10:30:35 PM
Quote from: Spyderman on April 10, 2020, 10:28:05 PMNo, sorry, I can't open the reel to reveal the innards. In retaliation for having taken the liberty of snatching two of her pot lids, my wife took all of my Phillips screwdrivers and ground the tips off of them. ::)
Wow, that lady's petty handy with tools. ;D
She's a force to be reckoned with. ;)
Quote from: Rivverrat on April 10, 2020, 10:33:08 PM
Oh my gosh the spool is pot lids. They are so shiny with rounded edges I was like why would some one spend the time turning a spool like that that fits no other reel including the one its on... Jeff
Welcome to the party Jeff. ;D
Alright dude! You're keepin yourself busy, keepin up your sense of humor, and keepin us entertained. Good one!
You just gotta take that widget out on some kinda rod and see what reactions you get from other fishermen and people in general.
And I thought I had the Biggest Reel. :o
You have some exceptional skills. It's not a reel, but a sculpture.
-steve
Quote from: ReelFishingProblems on April 10, 2020, 08:24:25 PM
You need to make a matching rod
To make it you can start with a #2 better DF 4 x 4!
You can buy one already built
Just google "fishing reel toilet paper holder" ;D ;D
Love it! Great job!
I used to have a giant Everol of similar caliber, maybe from the same vault! Yours shows much better craftsmanship though.
How long did it take? That's some craftsmanship there! I think you could have made the spool out of wood too. 👍🏼👍🏼
Quote from: Gfish on April 11, 2020, 01:35:17 AM
Alright dude! You're keepin yourself busy, keepin up your sense of humor, and keepin us entertained. Good one!
You just gotta take that widget out on some kinda rod and see what reactions you get from other fishermen and people in general.
Couple those with my Heddon 'Zara Spook' giant fishing lure (which I have listed for sale in our Tackle section ;)) and I think I'd be getting a lot of attention. ;D
Quote from: oc1 on April 11, 2020, 03:42:43 AM
You have some exceptional skills. It's not a reel, but a sculpture.
-steve
Precisely, thanks Steve!
Quote from: Maxed Out on April 11, 2020, 05:50:12 AM
You can buy one already built
Just google "fishing reel toilet paper holder" ;D ;D
Just Googled it, and there's a bunch of them out there! :D
Quote from: Robert Janssen on April 11, 2020, 07:52:01 AM
Love it! Great job!
I used to have a giant Everol of similar caliber, maybe from the same vault! Yours shows much better craftsmanship though.
Thanks Bob! I seriously doubt the quality is anywhere near close to the perfection of an Everol reel. :D I've only owned one Everol reel, and it was a gem.
Quote from: Caranx on April 11, 2020, 09:35:29 AM
How long did it take? That's some craftsmanship there! I think you could have made the spool out of wood too. 👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks! It took a little over a year to cobble together. I worked on it on and off as time and mood permitted. I brought it down the homestretch these past two weeks, as confinement definitely provided the time and focus to git 'er done. ;D
Nice work! Your craftsmanship and creativity are really impressive. It definitely needs to be on display somewhere.
I was getting savvy to the joke, but at the same time thinking at the outside chance you were trying to make a serious claim, it was going to be really interesting to see how you were going to wiggle out of it. :)
Quote from: wfjord on April 11, 2020, 04:25:41 PM
Nice work! Your craftsmanship and creativity are really impressive. It definitely needs to be on display somewhere.
I was getting savvy to the joke, but at the same time thinking at the outside chance you trying to make a serious claim, it was going to be really interesting to see how you were going to wiggle out of it. :)
I can wiggle like a worm on a hook if I have to. ;)
Greetings all!
After quite a bit of thought, I've decided to offer my 'prototype' reel for sale. Price is $300, and I'll cover the shipping to any U.S. address. Great piece to display with your reel collection, or just as a piece of unique fishing folk art. Anyone interested?
I hear crickets. :D
Are those side plates really made of wood? Dominick
Well, there is that absolutely gorgeous Penn Reels display stand that Chris recently shared (and I do hope we get to see it with some neat reels on it) but I would be afraid this reel, while a conversation piece, might actually make it collapse :D - john
But then I do like the concept that it's really just a 9/0 next to some Barbie Doll props... - john
Could you make an even bigger one to be used as a garden hose winder/storage?