So ... was out and about today and stumbled across this lil' gem .
Shakespeare Marhoff model # 1964 level wind with adjustable drag.
As close to new old stock as I'll ever find. Complete with oem packaging,
manual, soft bag case, wrench , and most unbelieveable original
sales receipt. Sold in Pittsburgh, PA., by the "Union Supply Company".
Date on receipt indicates sale made on " 4/21/1950 " for $13.20 !
I gave too much.... $15.00. ::)
I'm not sure it was ever used.... does not look to have been. The original
"plastic arbor" (removeable) is still on the reel. With or without arbor
allows 100 yds of 15 # test or 50 yds. . The handle grips look to
to be bakelite. The reel caseing is embossed "nickel silver" and the
package insert the kibbles and bits to be anodized aluminum (as used
by the Navy Department on the aluminum floats on their sea planes...
with the recommendation to fresh water rinse after use ).
So, above all else, "the Team Tani creed" ...do no harm. Will be a man
cave display piece until I decide what to do with it. Perfect history. I
am grinning ;D ! Museum piece worthy.
Originally sold to a Mrs. H.M. Reed ... don't know the rest of the story.
Charles
https://imgur.com/a/UG1zFZI
Absolute STEAL of a REEL DEAL !
look for some embossed letters like FE stamped on the side plate and we can get close to year of manufacture if it's not on the Receipt (another Plus )in you find .
Congrats
Thank you Wompus !!! With the aide of a lighted magnifying
glass I can clearly read "GE" embossed on the side plate.
Unbelievably smooth action on retrieve. Quiet. Very cool
sounding "Click" . From an era when even these small reels had
attention to detail and quality construction. The marketing for the
"Amazing Wexford line " on the box and "Built like a Watch"
are some of my favorite bonuses.
The GE corresponds to the year of manufacture as 1946 .
Not necessarily THE YEAR your Reel was made but that particular model was introduced in 1946.
And this is NOT necessarily true as other tell tale signs are in the patent markings on the foot ,shape of insignias on it
(LIKE ) Built Like a Watch and or Honor Built and some more lil things to look up .
Thanks again for the data points. My brothers suggest I try to locate
surviving family members and move the reel/collection on to them.
My wife is good at family tree research...may just give it a try.
Charles
I commend your Good Intentions with exception in that I see this way too often these days where a family member collector for many years has a vast amount of Reels he has built up for years to leave to his siblings who after their demise can't wait to dump them to the curb or Good Will or just stick them in a yard sale otherwise you would not have it to show us now.
Sad but True.
Duly noted Wompus. Sometimes I get caught up looking at
this stuff with my heart not my head.
You guys are probably already aware of this .... a "go to"
reference source.
Charles
https://www.orcaonline.org/marhoff-reels/
There is information on line about Marhoff the man and his relationship with William Shakespeare Jr.. He was well-respected by all and the Marhoff model is at or near the top of the Shakespeare line of direct drive baitcasters.
They're a nice little reel but there are a ton of them out there. A nice box, etc., is a great bonus. I picked one up at an antique store a couple of years ago with the pouch & all the goodies in the earlier box for $10. I couldn't pass it up even though I don't collect casting reels. :)
oc1 ...thank you for the reminder to widen my search.... looks like a
talented reel designer. Sad about his tuberculosis but glad to learn Mr.
Shakespeare brought him back on board to help with medical bills until
his passing. Mr. Marhoff should be in the Fisherman's H.O.F. (if there is
one) . Love the history.
Charles
Tommy... thanks for chiming in. I was hooked when I saw all the
accoutrement that came in the packaging. Sure would be interesting
to find how it made the journey from Pittsburgh P.A. out here to
locale in the desert southwest. Most of these Marhoffs I've come
across are in massive disrepair and I usually just pass. One might
say ...this one reeled me in... ;D
Charles
Nice find !
Nice find! The green GE model was quit popular and for good reason as they were touted for their fishability. Quite a few of them to be found online but such a nice one, in person, is an exciting find. I have several Shakespeare Marhoff's going back to the 1926 model (a black model), and a couple GE's (green, 1946>), one in nearly new condition. I plan to fish with them and so have painstakingly disassembled, burnished, lubed, and tweaked them to get them into fishing shape. They cast very well once dialed in.
Oh yes... the handle knobs are of a celluloid plastic called Pyralin.
Crow and Paul.... Thanks. Most of these reels
that I see in the "wild" out here in the desert
aren't in good enough condition to warrant rescue.
Can honestly say I've never heard of "Pyralin".
Thanks for that info. I've seen the exploded view
of the Marhoff type reels and it looks beyond
my current skill level to re-hab....unless I pick
up one of those beater models I've occasionally come
across. Complex looking engineering crammed into
a small space.
Quote from: cdaline on February 26, 2022, 03:00:14 AM
the Marhoff type reels and it looks beyond
my current skill level to re-hab
You'll be surprised. There's not much to them. Four screws and you're done. Marhoff came along slightly before the trend toward using a bridge to give more stability to the main gear. They still cast pretty well due to good old fashioned precision. What they called an adjustable "drag" we would call a friction brake today.
I'll second Steve's encouragement. They are simple and straightforward to work on. Take pictures if you think you might not remember the order of something. If you decide ti fish with it, or another one, you'll need to make it sparkle inside. To get the most out of it for casting, strip off all grease down to bare metal. Apply a small amount of grease on gear teeth. Oil for other moving parts, especially the spool spindle ends (beneath tension cups) and the levelwind mechanism. Keep these oiled for each day of fishing.
With Box and Papers, Receipt, and not all beat up I would shelf it as there are GOBS of others to take apart and fish .
In fact I will give your money back plus 3 more useable Marhoffs and pay shipping both ways if you are going just to use this as a fishing Reel... ;D
Fellers... didn't mean to imply I was going to put the reel back
to work. Makes a great shelf sitter. Last night was sippin'
some Maker's Mark with the neighbors, brought out the
reel and shared the tale. Many ooohs and ahhhs. 8)
Charles
btw ...did some amateur sleuthing.... this info will remain
with the reel.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/mcall/name/helen-reed-obituary?id=8580535&utm_source=webshareapi&utm_medium=share_button&utm_campaign=wsapimobile_beta
Velly Intelesting !
That would easily put the kids in their 70's now and getting rid of stuff.
Make it 3 1/2 Marhofs in trade ;D
fished for many years with a GE Marhoff. Quieter than most Pfluegers but heavier spooled. The old members of the Shakespeare tournament casting team told me they removed the levelwind when casting for distance. They are incredibly common as there was a lot of built-up demand after WWll was over. There is also a saltwater GE model that is slightly heavier and anodized black rather than green. A mint green one is hard to pass up as they are a beautiful reel. I have about 10 in the box and can't sell one at a show for $30. If you are going to fish with one or have one to display it is best to get one made in the 40s as the knobs on the handle will be a marbled translucent color and these have held up well. The reels starting in the early 50s have solid white colored knobs and the plastic has broken down over time and corrupts the nickel plating on the handle and eventually simply crumbles away. Lots of replacement parts around. A repair tip: occasionally the felt pad on the drag system will come detached from the spring brass arm that holds it against the spool flange as part of the anti-backlash system. I wrestled for years trying to reattach the pad before hitting on success. I clean the oil out of the pad and off the brass-colored arm and use a tiny bit of "Shoe-Goo" to cement it on. Have not had one come off since.
Thanks for sharing the Shoe Goo idea, Bill.
I've ended up with 2 good fishable Marhoff's, a GE and HB ('39). Not the easiest casters I own but will get the job done. The GE is in nearly new condition.
I'm sure most know this but Walter Marhoff's claim to fame is his invention of the single double threaded shaft level wind. Wm Shaklespeare Jr was never one to pass up a better idea (example: Oct 1905 purchase of the Rhodes patents) and purchased Walter's patent and rights to his reel. That level wind has remained the same for over 100 years. Should you run across one that says "Marhoff Reel Company" as the one shown here, it was made before Mr Shakspeare bought the Marhoff Reel Company in May of 1908.Marhoff reel co 2014 002.jpg Marhoff reel co 2014 004.jpg