Hi all! I love these little Microlites and have added 3 more to my arsenal,one was completely grease choked with very hard crusty grease, the last month. Up to 11 now. All are in excellent shape. Only things missing are 1 needing the side cap and 6 or 7 of them missing the bail cover cap, which seems to be a high loss part. Two of eleven were rebuilds the awesome Fred Oakes did for me. Just hadn't seen any activity in awhile, so decided to post. Hope everyone is well!
Thanks
Jeff
They are excellent reels, Jeff —-
I have a large crate of 265 Microlites that I pulled out Thursday. Maybe around 30.
Each will be fully restored over the next few weeks.
Along with 110's, 110N's, 1000's, & 1001's.
It is time to get these out of the bat-cave and into member's arsenals.
If you need any parts for those, or any restoration work —- just let me know.
Typically, 265's in that condition will need 10-12 parts, plus a complete teardown, service, tune & adjust.
You can DIY, or I could do it for you.
These reels were far ahead of their time. And if manufactured today with the same materials & features —- they would be in the $250 range. But for a few bucks —- these can be restored to last another 65 years of steady fishing.
Pair it with a Fenwick, Wright-McGill, Ugly Stik, or similar ultralight rod —- and it balances perfectly.
High speed 1:5 worm drive gearing, metal spools, center double-supported and balanced main gear of phosper machine cut bronze, main ball bearing, all aircraft grade metals, reversible crank to right or left, fold down crank & bail, not quite 8oz, and holds 110 yards of 4lb mono.
A few parts and a few hours of work will revive these reels for another lifetime of fishing.
Frankly, I have been told on first-hand authority from the son of one of the Chief engineers at D-A-M — that in 1958, since small spinners seemed to be the future — they received orders to design the best microlight spinner for this growing market. They did not know how to do this. The concept was new to these master machinists and engineers. So what did they do? They reverse-engineered one of the strongest reels ever manufactured by anyone to date — their highly successful large DQ Super 270 —and shrunk all of the components down to a palm sized powerhouse that would fit in an anglers pocket. Check it out — nearly every part in both reels is the same — only much tinier in the 265.
This reel was introduced in 1960, and was an immediate success, even though it cost nearly twice what the competition was charging.
Best, Fred
I considered selling one of my 265s to thin the herd,you guys
Just talked me out of it :al
Quote from: jgp12000 on February 16, 2025, 12:55:23 AMI considered selling one of my 265s to thin the herd,you guys
Just talked me out of it :al
As long as users realize that when cleaned and burnished these reels are very smooth, you just are never going to get that "spin forever" rotor you get with the 100 bearing Tupperware reels today. Although there are a couple out there that are decent, just not the same.
Thanks
Jeff
The one impressive thing I forgot to mention about these Microlite 265's that few folks ever know or even realize, is...
The spookily tight tolerances that even after 65 years stay the same with no flex or degradation or slop. The German engineers mindset was that by using proven, top quality materials that mate perfectly with each other —- they could and expected to produce a lifetime reel to be handed down to one's children —- and their aim was "0" defects.
It was the same way they made their watches, clocks, tools, Panzers, Messerschmit's, Mercedes, Porsches, and VW's.
No "built-in obsolescence" —- just solid results that they took a lot of well deserved pride in.
Practicality meets solid function and value.
Those days are mostly gone.
Best, Fred
Quote from: foakes on February 16, 2025, 01:35:48 AMThe one impressive thing I forgot to mention about these Microlite 265's that few folks ever know or even realize, is...
The spookily tight tolerances that even after 65 years stay the same with no flex or degradation or slop. The German engineers mindset was that by using proven, top quality materials that mate perfectly with each other —- they could and expected to produce a lifetime reel to be handed down to one's children —- and their aim was "0" defects.
It was the same way they made their watches, clocks, tools, Panzers, Messerschmit's, Mercedes, Porsches, and VW's.
No "built-in obsolescence" —- just solid results that they took a lot of well deserved pride in.
Practicality meets solid function and value.
Those days are mostly gone.
Best, Fred
Definitely! Hard to use any third party parts. I purchased a 10 pack of bearings, 6x19x6mm I think, and had a bearing I thought was bad and went to put it in and it just slid right on the worm gear. I keep the gear itself would probably spin inside of the bearing, so I was able to clean the old one again and the catch was gone. I need to find out what the cover plate screw size and thread are.
Jeff