I hope you can help me.
I'm looking for historical information on a reel made in Turin, Italy, for a company that's definitely North American.
I've spent a long time researching it, but haven't found anything useful.
It's the "BERMUDA 100," a reel identical to the ZANGI "Pelican 100" and similar to the "ORVIS 100A."
I purchased this rare reel in England about seven years ago, and it appears to be the only one found so far. The seller explained to me that the reel came from the USA, but had no other information.
It was definitely made by ZANGI, especially since the internal body features the same symbols and casting codes.
Naturally, it's marked "Made in Italy."
Regards
Sergio
Quite a few quality reel manufacturers made "trade reels" for primarily sports retailers such as Herter's, LL Bean, Sears Roebuck, JC Higgins, Kmart, Ted Williams, Orvis, and many others.
Some of the manufacturers included Zangi, DAM Quick, Penn, Alcedo, and a few others.
They were either sold to the retailer, and rebadged —- or more commonly badged at the manufacturing facility under contract.
Zangi made reels for many sports retailers, as well as other reel manufacturers. Such as Holliday Reel Co., Pescador, and others.
Yours is likely a trade reel.
Like you mentioned, it is likely rare — since I looked in the three books I have by Ben Wright, and it is not in there.
It would be interesting to find out more history.
Best, Fred
Serigo,
Midway Tommy did a nice breakdown of the Orvis 100 reel.
https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,30796.msg358986.html#msg358986
Looks like a good read.
Wayne
Hi Fred,
I was fortunate enough to purchase several very rare reels from the great Ben, and when I showed him the Bermuda 100, he replied that he had never seen this model. Naturally, I own all his precious books.
Because I'm an obsessive enthusiast with the extensive production of ZANGI spinning reels, and also the later Coptes, I've diligently recovered almost every model ever made.
Today, we're familiar with the entire range of models made for brands like ABU, SEARS Roebuck and Ted Williams, Pescador, Herter's, Holliday, Dorado, OldPal, Webley, and True Temper.
We're even familiar with the competitor's copies made in Japan, like the TASCO Model 58, the OLYMPIC Model 85, the COMPAC CAPRI, the COBRA N.Y., and the COBRA REGIS N.Y.
Unfortunately, this unique and rare BERMULA 100 remains, about which we know practically nothing, except that it was almost certainly made by ZANGI in Turin!
I hope to be able to resolve and document this gap in the future.
Sergio
Hi Wayne,
Thanks for pointing this article out to me...
The photo in the post is mine, and the reel is the same.
In the past, I've sent several emails to friends in the US, always seeking information on this rare reel.
Sergio