It's obviously a very old 114h, but it has black side plates. Anyone seen or know anything more about these?
If im not mistaken when Penn switched over to the 114h series they did a limited run off black side plates. Very rare and definite collectors item! Where did you get it?
wow! a 114h, not a plain 114???
They are great for winning bets with know-it-alls who insist that there is no such thing as a black 114H and what you really have a 114.
That's pretty cool! Guess I'll have to start taking a closer look at the markings on used black-side plate reels I see for sale from now on.
Beautiful reel!!!! Of course you have one Randy!!
Good information guys! Thanks a bunch. Unfortunately not mine...Yet!!!! Just a reel that came through the shop. I told a friend to give me his worst, and he did! I've got a before pic and will get an after when I'm done and post them. Thanks again for the information and help. Love this site!
Hey Randy, what spool is that on yours?
Joe, that is an aluminum Newell Black Marlin spool, part of the Newell Black Marlin Special kit that widened the 114H frame from the stock 2.75" to 3.5", giving you approximately the same line capacity (and drags) as the 9/0 Senator. The kit consisted of the spool, aluminum base and rod clamp kit and the five chromed brass cross bars. They became very popular with the Hawaiian shore fishermen who needed the extra line capacity in a castable reel for the 100 lb.+ ulua that they targeted. They are still used there today, as well as being a favorite of some of the fishermen who fish for sharks from the beaches along your Florida Gulf Coast.
Just in case your friend might want one, I have the kits available in good used condition for $135, or complete reels (with the era-correct standard red side plates with external drag access and amber-swirl bakelite knobs) for $175. Here is a photo of a kit and a few complete reels, along with a couple of reels with the early Tiburon 3.5" wide frames, the ones with the wide four bolt base, not the cheesy little two screw blade that they use on the newer frames.
Newell also made a standard width black aluminum spool and base for the 114H (see photos below), which would look and work great on your friend's reel and which are relatively inexpensive at $$65 for the kit, especially if you were planning to replace the base and spool anyway.
Joe brought the reel by my shop today and I had never seen one either until now. He picked up all the chromed parts needed so it will look new when he is done. The side plates were not swollen and the rings fit right on.
Wow!
Good stuff Randy, Joe and Keith! Awesome reels! ;)
That CN spool is beautiful! Is the Black Marlin the same width as the 6/0 Wide?
Quote from: pompano joe on November 18, 2014, 05:06:18 AM
That CN spool is beautiful! Is the Black Marlin the same width as the 6/0 Wide?
The factory Penn wide 6/0 (114HLW) frame width is 3.25". The Black Marlin is 3.5", .25" wider.
I've been picking them up here and there when I get a chance. Rob, (Norcal Pescador) was the first person to bring it to my attention and he gave me a hot tip on one over in Cali that I was able to procure.
Since then I believe I picked up 3 more. I have them waiting for new chrome parts when I get the dough and stop buying everything Alan C. comes out with.
They aren't easy to find, but they certainly aren't impossible. From what I've heard they were made for the first 1-2 years of the Penn 114h's. I'm sure someone knows better than me.
When I get them shined up I'll post photos.
Nice find Joe!
Randy, of course you have one ;)
Happy hunting,
Dom
PS- Be extra careful if searching Ebay for one. Lots of maroon side plated reels look black if the lighting isn't right for the photo.
Ask me how I know... not once but twice :o
Yep, nice find
From what I've learned thru the years about the 114H, the black sideplates were only produced for a few months in late 1963 and early 1964,...months, not years. They did make enough that they do pop up from time to time, but still a good find in any condition. A lot of collectors are always on the lookout for a possible first edition black 113H, but they only did a few 114H in black, and all the early 113H were dark maroon.
A couple of years ago my son called and said he had purchased on ebay a left hand model 113h with black side plates. I had him send it to me for service. The side plates looked like normal 113h but were black and looked just like any other black side plate. I had also purchased some 113h's and 114h's and I was combining some plates to Accurate or Tiburon frames. I had purchased a purple 113h Accurate frame with maroon side plates for my daughter. I decided the black side plates would look better with the purple frame so I went to service both reels and exchange the side plates. When I took off the black side plates I realized the inside of the plates were maroon.?? :o ::) The "black" side plates did not "look" painted but they were. My daughter still has the purple frame with the black side plates and it still looks good and does not look painted, but---
I would still like to have "real" black side plates in 113h or 114h. ;D
TomT
Quote from: TomT on November 19, 2014, 04:06:23 AM
A couple of years ago my son called and said he had purchased on ebay a left hand model 113h with black side plates. I had him send it to me for service. The side plates looked like normal 113h but were black and looked just like any other black side plate. I had also purchased some 113h's and 114h's and I was combining some plates to Accurate or Tiburon frames. I had purchased a purple 113h Accurate frame with maroon side plates for my daughter. I decided the black side plates would look better with the purple frame so I went to service both reels and exchange the side plates. When I took off the black side plates I realized the inside of the plates were maroon.?? :o ::) The "black" side plates did not "look" painted but they were. My daughter still has the purple frame with the black side plates and it still looks good and does not look painted, but---
I would still like to have "real" black side plates in 113h or 114h. ;D
TomT
Tom, I do not have a set of black 113H side plates, and have not yet seen a reel that had them. I thought that I had won one on eBay, but just like Dom said in his post, I learned the hard way that you can't always trust your eyes when it comes to eBay photos; we tend to see what we want to see. I do search hard for black 114H side plates and I have found a few sets. PM me if you might be interested in a set, or call me at 805-748-9202. I'm on California time.
Thanks,
Randy
I hate when that happens, Tom. Hey, they look good, perform well, and I'm sure your daughter don't mind it a bit. ;)
Ted, Do you know approximately how many they churned out with black side plates?
Randy, They sure look pretty, and now I need another to tie you. ;D ...My fiance' will shoot me dead! :o
If there's a red plated 9/0 (Big Red) than there's gotta be a 113h with black plates, no?
Let's keep the hunt on,
Dom
One of my current fishing reel customers appears to have one of the coveted Black Side Plate 114h reels that he would like to sell to help finance his other endeavors. The reel appears to be in excellent overall condition. What do you guys think it's worth?
More pics of said reel...
If you had the whole package deal , box, wrench, lube catalog.......it is a $150 reel for sure.
Box and other stuff isn't too tough to find, so just the reel in that nice low mileage condition is a $100-$120 reel all day long. The few that pop up on ebay are usually sold as a regular old 114H without the seller knowing any better and not putting those key words in the title, but they are few and far between in great original condition.
One thing I notice about those early 60's 114H reels, they really had the bling with what IMO is an era of the best plating penn ever did on their reels. When new, the chrome looked like liquid. Kinda the same way they made the cars back then, chrome chrome, and more chrome.
Dom: It's only a guess how many black 114H reels were made, but it was just a first run kinda thing and my guess would be less than a couple thousand, which is a miniscule amount compared to how many 114H maroon reels have been put into service since then, so percentage wise, black ones are pretty tough to find, but a constant vigil on eBay and you'll see a handful per year.
Quote from: Max Doubt on November 22, 2014, 04:21:49 AM
One thing I notice about those early 60's 114H reels, they really had the bling with what IMO is an era of the best plating penn ever did on their reels. When new, the chrome looked like liquid. Kinda the same way they made the cars back then, chrome chrome, and more chrome.
So true. Amazing how these older reels come back because to that!
Anybody got a handle like on Tightline's reel. I need one that looks period appropriate to finish mine off.
Tightlines,
That 114h is in better condition than all of mine except maybe one. I've bought them anywhere from $250 when I was new to this game down to $60 which is what I got the last 2 for. The problem with all of mine is that the chrome is destroyed on nearly all of them. Do you guys think the chrome's durability was sacrificed for the bling or do you just think they were rode hard and put away wet?
One thing I've never seen is the box to a black 114h... Is it any different or is it the same as all the rest from that era?
Nice reel bro,
Dom
I just joined the club with this SCORE! on eBay, and I'm pretty pleased with life right at the moment!
Sid
Quote from: sdlehr on April 23, 2016, 07:50:25 PM
I just joined the club with this SCORE! on eBay, and I'm pretty pleased with life right at the moment!
Sid
As well as you should be. :o Dominick