Wooden Handles

[Cuttyhunker]

This is 1bad350's shot of a first year Penn Long Beach he posted in the "Penn reels as you find them" thread.
The reel almost looks like the day it was boxed in 1933 except the handle.  I've seen this on other reels displayed in collections, everything cleaned, polished, and made spiffy except the handle.  I know some collectors love the patina and leave the old stuff "as found".  Is there any reason the old wood handles are ignored when the elbow grease is applied to the rest of the reel?

[Rancanfish]

Originality I would guess.  A difference between cleaning and restoring. But it could be refinished like new easily.  Purists would shrink in horror.

[Ron Jones]

Wood finishing is completely different then other aspects of cleaning up a reel. I know a few people that aren't interested in diving in.
The Man

[1badf350]

 Absolutely no refinishing was done to that reel. What you see is exactly how I received it. All I did was clean it.

[Cuttyhunker]

Chris,
Never said a word about refinishing the reel, just making it look all spiffy with the wood being pretty much left as is. I see that quite a bit at the shows and on some of the web and auction sites.  I'm guessing that cleaning the handle up would be avoided as it may, unlike the rest of the reel  be destructive in that "weak" paint may flake off in the process.  As the serious collector you are would you view a cleaned up "10" reel as being devalued by bringing the handle up to the level of the rest of that reel? 

[oc1]

When you polish anything, be it metal, plastic or wood, material is being removed that can never be put back.  Luckily, there are no reel police so you are free to do what you wish.
-steve

[1badf350]

If there were, you would be the Chief. 

[1badf350]

Bob,
I selectively chose the pics posted of that reel. In actuality its not perfect. Here are some close ups

[Crow]

Yeah...maybe not "perfect", but pretty darn nice !! I look a hell of a lot worse that it does, and I'm not that old !

[oc1]

If there were, you would be the Chief. 

The issue of conservation versus restoration will never be resolved by collectors, curators, archivists and the like.  There is the same argument with everything from fine art to motorcycles and cathedrals to fishing reels.
-steve

[AC49]

When you polish anything, be it metal, plastic or wood, material is being removed that can never be put back.  Luckily, there are no reel police so you are free to do what you wish.
-steve

Steve when a new Penn reel left the factory do you believe the chrome was polished ?
If so the removal of material started then. What we do is clean off the corrosion and give it a polish. This helps to possibly save a reel that would otherwise disintegrate into a pile of dust over time.

Regards
Alan

[oc1]

Steve when a new Penn reel left the factory do you believe the chrome was polished ?
If so the removal of material started then. What we do is clean off the corrosion and give it a polish. This helps to possibly save a reel that would otherwise disintegrate into a pile of dust over time.
Regards
Alan

I think what you describe would be considered conservation Alan.  Stripping the paint off the handle and refinishing it would probably be considered restoration.  Replacing or re-plating the pitted posts would be restoration.

Since the relative merits of conservation versus restoration can never be resolved, some just punt and say it depends on the intent and situation.  If the intent is to have reels to study their construction, evolution, durability, etc. then you would want to conserve them to slow further deterioration but not modify, refinish or replace anything.  If the intent is to create an attractive display then restoration may be in order.

Personally, I think a well-worn and crusty old reel has a beauty of its own.
-steve

[AC49]

Thanks Steve

Personally, I think a well-worn but conservatively restored old reel has the ultimate beauty – but as they say, beauty is in eye of the beer holder !!



Regards
Alan

[Donnyboat]

Yes I have seen some beautiful beers, till I dismantled them, cheer Don.

[Crow]