Why not Ocean City?

[oc1]

Does that dimple on the bridge plate at about five o'clock in your photo have a post on the other side?  I'm going to send it but am not optimistic about it working without doing brain surgery.  I don't have a 107 but do have an Inductor and a 935.  All are wide-spool 250 yard size.  They both have a bridge and dog like the one in my photo but yours is different.
-steve

[sciaenops]

There are 2 nubs on the other side of the bridge (see pic) which look to have formed matching grooves in side plate. Believe dog/spring setup on this one (107) is similar to my 993 (pictured). Bridge mounting holes are tapped (no retaining nuts like the 993) and shape is a bit different than yours too.

[oc1]

We saw a 988 above.  When it was introduced in 1948 they also came out with the 987 shown here:  They disappeared from the catalog about 1952.

The 987 spool height, spool width, clutch, tailplate and frame are identical to the 988.
http://www.raingarden.us/snap/987a.jpg

But the 977 has no drag and no anti-reverse
http://www.raingarden.us/snap/987b.jpg

The 987 cost $7.00  The 988 cost $7.50.  You got a lot for fifty cents back then.  Anti-reverse and drag are considered essential today, but in 1948 fishermen were more skillful and did fine without them.

The reel was bought because I was making a new rod.  A homemade carbon fiber blank.  Grips were shaped from high density Divinicell foam and filament wound with carbon fiber.  This will be the last homemade blank for a while.  I ran out of the latex exam gloves used to handle epoxy and it will be months before they are available again.

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/987d.jpg

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/987e.jpg

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/987f.jpg

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/987g.jpg

-steve

[Decker]

But the 977 has no drag and no anti-reverse

The 987 cost $7.00  The 988 cost $7.50.  You got a lot for fifty cents back then.  Anti-reverse and drag are considered essential today, but in 1948 fishermen were more skillful and did fine without them.

It might be fun to try fishing with a knuckle-buster some time.

I really enjoy seeing your creations, Steve!   

[oc1]

OK.  I promise this is the last one.

Unlike Penn, OC also catered to the light tackle and freshwater crowd.  They had a ton of old-school knuckle buster levelwind baitcasting reels.  But the OC 2000 was somewhat special.  It was introduced in 1948 after two years of development and was billed as The Ultimate in Baitcasting Reels.  The 2000 was still being made when OC was sold to True Temper in 1957, but True Temper did not continue it.  It is mostly aluminum, including a one-piece cast aluminum frame which is was impressive for the day.  It provides great alignment.

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/2000a.jpg

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/2000d.jpg

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/2000c.jpg

They made a big deal about the friction casting brake.  There was a little thumb lever on the rim of the head plate that moved a brake shoe that pressed on a spool hub to slow it down.  I'm not impressed and think Shakespeare and others had similar friction casting brakes decades earlier.  Actually, I'm disappointed because OC already had the Inductor surf reel with the world's first magnetic casting brake.  I don't know.  Maybe the alnico magnets (this was before neodymium magnets) were too heavy to be put into a small baitcaster.

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/2000e.jpg

The three-screw bridge is nice because the extra screw gives the bridge, and thus the gear and gear shaft, extra stability.  

The clicker (sorry, no photo) is controlled by a little lever on the tail plate rim.  Again, Shakespeare and others had already done this.  The levelwind (sorry, no photo) worm is driven by the main gear.

I chopped up my reel by removing the friction brake and adding magnets.  The levelwind assembly was completely removed.  Finally, the top cross bar was removed.  This opened up a full 180 degrees of the top but it is still rigid because of the one-piece frame.

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/2000b.jpg

The reel is now on a 9.5 foot Silaflex fly rod blank that was extended to 10.5 feet with a bamboo handle.  

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/2000f.jpg

http://www.raingarden.us/snap/2000i.jpg

A reel without free-spool is usually a non-starter for me.  But, this thing casts a 1/4 ounce very well for a knuckle buster.  I assume the secret is in the rigidity.  I've been using it the past few days and do not feel handicapped at all.  Caught a small one.

After modifying the reel I realized there is another tail plate design that has cool cosmic planetary graphics.  Really mid-century space-age.  Wish I had one of those instead.



The 2000 cost $20 when it was introduced in 1948.  Most baitcasters of the time cost three to ten bucks.  By 1954 the price had increased to $25.  But, 1954 was the year the ABU Ambassadeur 5000 was introduced at a price of $45.

-steve

[mo65]

   I never knew the 2000 had an aluminum frame. Thanks for educating us on these cool old OCs Steve, and how modifying them makes for a killer light tackle casting reel.

[sciaenops]

I found parts on eBay for my OC 107 rebuild & scavenged the dog which fit perfectly. I also replaced the thick leather washer with 2 HT-100 (6-60 size I think) and added a thin keyed metal.  Thought I was done but now drive train skips & chatters under load.  Swapped out the main gear & pinion but no change.  When I mate the spool to right side drive train and hang on while cranking, I can rotate the spool backwards (against retrieve direction), so do I have a bad spool?  Something else I'm missing?   

[sciaenops]

The spool looks wrong to me  as I think for the gear you have those dogs need to be sticking up not flat like you have there .

I believe you're right.  Seen other spools with raised "block" like tabs.  Will post an ad for one. 

[oldmanjoe]

Most likly the problem is here with the pinon and sleeve. 
A small burr or hang up .   And while it is appart you can chek this fitt.

[oldmanjoe]

 Another thing that caught my eye is what way are you putting the yoke plate retainer .   First picture is up side down. second picture is correct.

[sciaenops]

Got a used spool of eBay, and everything seems to work fine now.  Note the raised block tabs, which obviously made the difference.  Spooled up w/30# but will not push this reel - just local shallow bottom fishing and the 3 "B"s.

Thanks for all the help, you all are the best. still have the "green-aloy" spool and internals if anybody is in want/need.

[oldmanjoe]

http://www.orcaonline.org/ocean-city-salt-water-and-the-numbered-reel-page/

I would keep checking the pinion and  drive sleeve .    The photo that you posted ,you can see that the pinion is a little higher than the drive sleeve.
  The green spool is unique to the 107.

[Mapmaker]

1st time posting, but have really enjoyed reading and learning since finding this site.

I bought my father an OC reel as a Father's Day gift a few years ago, and it looks good in the old OC box on the mantle at my parent's home in Ocean City, NJ.  The reel is the Ocean City 970.  Common reel, lots around, but the really good condition box is what made the piece for my parents.

But, I bought myself an OC reel at the same time, and I haven't been able to find many details or any pictures of this reel.  I bought it because it reminded me of a Penn Senator, and I knew that Otto Henze had worked for Ocean City before founding Penn.  Hoping this group can help me learn more about this reel.

My best guess is that the reel is a used "New" Ocean City reel, #114.  The number 400 is on the reel foot.  The ORCA site doesn't have any pictures of the 400 size reel though, so I am basing my guess on old catalogues.

I'd really like to learn more above it the history of this reel, so all info is welcomed.  Thanks.

[foakes]

Welcome aboard, Steven!

There are a few OC experts around.

One of the best is Mike Cacioppo -- one of our members.

He recently authored a book about Ocean City.

This would help you to gain the best information about your reels.

Best,

Fred

[oc1]

It's early.  That handle was only made until about 1935.  It has the then new quick take apart feature.

Mike's book is down in the workshop but I can try to see if it has more information tomorrow.'

This brings up sensitive point though.  Should I quote Mike's book here and possibly make him miss a sale?  Everyone who collects or is interested in old reels should get it anyway.  Not only does it get down in the weeds about all the different OC models, it is a great history lesson that provides insight into the whole industry.

-steve