Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Glad you posted again Paul or I doubt I would have seen this post. Your restoration skills are top notch, and I will use some of your painting tips. Thanks!

Quote from: MACflyer on October 13, 2026, 06:07:01 PMGlad you posted again Paul or I doubt I would have seen this post. Your restoration skills are top notch, and I will use some of your painting tips. Thanks!

Thank you MACflyer.

The full properties of the VHT Engine enamel paint are (according the manufacturers data) only activated when the painted parts are heated to 200°C (not sure what that is in °F, sorry) in an oven for 20 minutes, but that makes me nervous, because there are steel pins etc in the alloy body, rotor and gear plate, and the two metals expand at different rates, so at the risk of things moving of falling out, I leave the paint for a week or two to harden properly, though it will never attain the hardness and chemical resistance of a baked one.
That said, I accidentily twice dropped a screwdriver on the same part of a body without a scratch being left behind.

I also now wait 24 hours before attempting the script etching process, as this prevents the surrounding soft paint from leaving bunched up drag marks either side of the groove.
I also use strong magnifying glasses with lights to do this, using my metal scribe tool.

I recently restored another 2nd version Mitchell, and it came out quite well, though the script etching was very shallow, and it created some problems for me.

This is it assembled before final finishing:

Love seeing them restored. I used to do full strip down and paint. I've grown to love cleaning and restoring while keeping the natural patina from years of service. It's just great to see others loving the history and desire to keep them running.

Quote from: Reels_penn4life on October 13, 2026, 10:42:34 PMLove seeing them restored. I used to do full strip down and paint. I've grown to love cleaning and restoring while keeping the natural patina from years of service. It's just great to see others loving the history and desire to keep them running.

Yes, its the same for me really, a good service, clean and polish is also my preference (most of my collection are factory finishes).
The few restorations I do now are usually only to reels that were in really bad shape, and for those that I think are worth the (no small) effort to restore.
Thank you for commenting. 

Hi everyone,

I have a few more restored reels to show (my apologies if I have posted them on the forum already).

Well, not so much restored, although some have been, but more so 'deep cleaned'
A few just needed a service and polish.

Aside from my half bail Mitchell obsession, these are my other passion.

Later edit:

Unfortunately, I didn't add the names under each photo, and I couldn't edit the information for each reel under each picture, so I have added the info in later here.
I'm sure there is a way to do it, but for now, these are the reels in picture order:

1.  Bronson Victor, model no. 378 (trade version).  This 1930's reel, which was supplied to various retailers, is a very basic design, with fake jewelled end caps, though basic, they used my favourite Art Deco wave pattern for the end plates, which increases it's appeal greatly. A less commonly seen reel according to the ORCA Bronson pages.

2. A very rare Pflueger Summit, from early 1970 (just before final production). This does not have the chrome plastic level wind cover of the final 1970 model.
It lacks the spare Pawl and grease/oil window of the earlier reels, and it is as scarce as the prior (late 1969) and last 1970 versions.
It also has a nylon level wind gear (like the modern ABU's) and a welded foot.  A cost saving assembly, yes, but still nice quality in my opinion.

3.  A beautiful example of an Ocean City X-pert, with a disc shaped drag adjuster (some are the star type).

4.  Bronson Jaya R No33.

5.  Wards Precision Model 10 by Bronson.

6. A scarce first version Bronson Mercury.

7.  Wards Precision by Bronson.

8.  Shakespeare Criterion; model no. 1961 from approx 1941. These later models had more bell shaped grasps and a bright chrome finish, as opposed to the earlier 30's brushed chrome. One of my favorite reel models.

9.  Shakespreare 'Kalamazoo' Challenger.

10. Wards 'Sport King' by Shakespeare.

11.  Bronson Hiawatha 6565

12.  Bronson Allkast

13.  Wards Precision 40 by Shakespeare.

14.  Bronson Commander, model 3650.
According to the ORCA Bronson pages, this version of the Commander is very scarce, and has a beautiful Art Deco leaf pattern on the end plates.

15.  Bronson Commander, model no. 3600, Art Deco wave pattern.
Like the Victor, this has the wave pattern, though this was part of their gold seal range, and has a beautiful bright chrome finish, with decorative functional end caps.

16.  Bronson Silver Princess, model no. 3720.
This one is another gold seal reel, bright chrome with a bakelite spacer, and like the previous commander, one of my most treasured reels.

17.  Another Bronson Gold seal 'Commander', model no. 3650.

18.  Bronson Brooklure 25

19. Bronson Meadowbrook, model no. 312.3460
No adjustable end caps).

20. Bronson Belmont, model no. 312.3500.

21.  Bronson Mohawk (no model number).

22. Bronson Mohawk (sears numbered).

23.  1931 Pflueger Summit.

24.  Late 1930s Shakespeare Criterion, model no. 1961 in a brushed chrome finish.

25.  Bronson JC Higgins, model no. 537.3103
This model would have had a satin chrome finish when new.

Stellar work! Now I want to get out the Brasso for my knucklebusters and the tote of Mitchells I have accumulated over fifty years. As if I don't have enough projects...

Quote from: thorhammer on October 15, 2026, 04:57:29 PMStellar work! Now I want to get out the Brasso for my knucklebusters and the tote of Mitchells I have accumulated over fifty years. As if I don't have enough projects...

Thank you thorhammer.
Careful with the brasso on the knucklebusters, that chrome and nickel plating is thin!

The excellent restorations completely aside, the photography is really great, what are you using? The depth of field suggests quite a fast lens...

Paul what is the model of the  last reel with fish & red handle?

Quote from: boon on October 15, 2026, 09:24:23 PMThe excellent restorations completely aside, the photography is really great, what are you using? The depth of field suggests quite a fast lens...

Thank you boon, although I do own and use a high res Nikon DSLR, I took all of these images using my Samsung S25 Ultra cell phone.

The set up is very simple.  I use an old Apple ipad raised up to the level of, and against my computer display, with an led inspection lamp over head, and I remove any dust particles using Adobe Lightroom classic. Scratches, dings and blemishes are not removed to keep them honest.

The resolution of the camera was set to 50mp, and shot in jpg; images taken from a distance far enough to give them a bit more depth of field; they are then cropped down in Lightroom.

Quote from: jgp12000 on October 15, 2026, 10:52:16 PMPaul what is the model of the  last reel with fish & red handle?

Hi jgp12000, that reel is the J.C. Higgins No. 537.3103 by Bronson, a 1950's reel, nicknamed the 7 fish, and made for Sears..

Nice !

Super great job!!

Quote from: Crow on October 16, 2026, 03:57:20 PMSuper great job!!

Thank you Crow

Quote from: Paul9591 on October 13, 2026, 11:48:43 PM

Quote from: Reels_penn4life on October 13, 2026, 10:42:34 PMLove seeing them restored. I used to do full strip down and paint. I've grown to love cleaning and restoring while keeping the natural patina from years of service. It's just great to see others loving the history and desire to keep them running.

Yes, its the same for me really, a good service, clean and polish is also my preference (most of my collection are factory finishes).
The few restorations I do now are usually only to reels that were in really bad shape, and for those that I think are worth the (no small) effort to restore.
Thank you for commenting. 

I actually have a Penn 710 greenie that had such horrible corrosion. It's loaded with craters. But I scrubbed all the corrosion off. Inside and out. Left it as is. A true survivor. Runs smooth too. Just looks rough.