I stopped at $151, it sold for $153, somebody sniped me at the last minute. I'm cool with it and now we know what one actually looks like. Looks like normal Shakespeare maroon paint, HI emblem, brown drag knob like the Eagle Claw and black crank handle knob.
A better shot of the brown drag knob.
Correction, it went for $189.36...must have been a flurry of last minute bidding.
So these reels are just a rebadged different color version of a different, More common reel. In the world of 3d printing and at home powder coating etc I'd be surprised if there's no counterfeit "rare" reels in circulation.
I pondered that too, BUT there is MODEL A incised in the side panel on the reel, which is something I haven't seen on any Shakespeare labeled reels. I also THINK there is a raised lip around the HI emblem, which would indicate to me this is likely legit. I can't make sense of the brown drag knob and black knob on the handle...seems like they should match, either black or brown. This is the first photographic evidence I've ever seen of this particular reel, so we'll take what we get.
It's legit, I checked the original listing closely. The price is so high because it's so rare and in such good condition. Thanks for noticing the listing and posting photos. Those pics spurred my memory. I now remember seeing and bidding on one of them in the past. I was probably ten years or more ago. The one I bid on wasn't in quite as good of shape, but my memory tells me it sold for $125+ way back then.
The color isn't exactly the same as the Shakespeare maroon models, it's more or less a cross between the Shake maroon and the Eagle Claw bronze.
To be clear I'm not suggesting the above specimen is not legit or is even in question. Conceptual discussion only, no accusations or implications here.
Just that it's similarity to a much more common and less valuable reel, combined with the state of modern technology, opens the door to the possibility of such things existing given there are other examples of "rare trade reels"
And also that color variations etc, if believed to be original, tend to make a reel more valuable. Other examples include an upside down logo, etc. and all of this could be created from scratch if one were properly or improperly motivated.
I didn't mean to hijack the thread
There are certain "unicorns" I watch closely for online sales and this is one of them. Guess I'll have to just keep looking.